Abergavenny RFC - 39

Cwmbran RFC - 13

THE 2012/13 season began for Abergavenny on Saturday with a home friendly and a win against Division Four East side Cwmbran.

The game was played over four 20 minute periods to give coaches ample opportunity to change players. This also gave players a first chance to adapt to the new rule changes in engagement at scrum and a five second 'use it or lose it' rule when the ball is presented at breakdown to speed the game up.

Aber began with what appeared to be their first choice team that ended last season.

However, it was Cwmbran took an early lead through a mammoth penalty from their outside half from the half way line to make it 0-3, and this remained the score after a largely uninspiring opening first quarter where the home pack were giving the visitors a torrid time in the scrum sending them backwards at a rate of knots.

The game began to come alive in the second quarter as Aber began to pick up the pace. Scrum half Sandy Aitken floated a long pass out on half way to flyer Will Williams who caught it at full pace and turned three defenders inside out before crossing the try line, 5-3.

This was immediately followed at the kick off with another try after Dan Anstey at lock took the kick off and laid the ball back for the backs to attack. The ball was spread left to Jack Flower (centre) who fed wing Ian Davies outside him who in turn drew his defender and fed Stuart Davies (outside half) inside him to canter over unopposed, 10-3.

The third try came from a line out five yards from the visitor's line. Won by Dan Anstey and fed flat to Stuart Davies who darted for the line from 10 yards but was tackled, blindside flanker Josh Hitchman picked the ball and dived from a yard to score, 15-3. A penalty kick from Cwmbran ended the second quarter 15-6.

The third quarter saw many changes in the pack with coaches Mark Fleet and Howard Davies giving players opportunity to impress. This included many players who mostly represented the Quins last season and a few up and coming older youth players knocking on the door of senior rugby.

The change in personnel had an effect on Aber's attacking prowess and the only score of the third quarter was by Cwmbran's outside half who scored a try which he converted having scored all of his clubs points and now brought the visitors back in the game 15-13.

The last quarter saw Aber run away with the game as they injected more pace into their phase play. A further four tries were scored all through the pace of their backs with some fine ball skills. A 40 yard run in from Sean Jones on the wing began the rout followed by a great handling move through centre field began by number eight Paul Cornock and finished by Stuart Davies.

The best try was began and finished by 'will o the wisp' Will Williams from his own 22 using his searing pace to open up midfield and then interlinking with Stuart Davies and Ian Davies before receiving the ball back to score under the posts.

The final try was the result of some quick thinking and a tap penalty which saw Ian Davies release Stuart Davies to complete the scoring. Two conversions by Lewis Evans saw Aber home comfortably 39-13.

More important than the score was the opportunity to blood a few new players at this level and blow away a few cobwebs in readiness for the opening game of the season in Division Three East where Aber host league newcomers Abercarn at Bailey Park on Saturday, September 1. kick off is at 2.30pm.