Abergavenny RFC - 12

Garndiffaith RFC - 21

ON a Bailey Park pitch battered by blustery conditions, Abergavenny couldn't quite keep the wind out of Garndiffaith's sails as the Division Three East leaders sailed to a nine point victory.

The home side began the game with a number of enforced changes due to injury.

Lock Dan Horler had broken his arm at Senghenydd last week and could miss the remainder of the season. He was replaced by Dan Anstey who partnered the ever present Steve Coles in the second row.

A lack of fit scrum halves meant that Paul Cornock stepped into the old size nines and gave Rudi Lewis an opportunity to impress as blindside flanker. Tom Rees took to the pitch at openside and Josh Hitchman completed the back row trio at number eight.

Hooker Gareth Williams joined the now regular front row of props Owen Staphnil and Brian Wright.

Outside half Tom Haynes was joined by Ed Davies (inside) and Captain Stuart Davies (outside) at centre.

Will Williams and Ian Davies were on the wings and Ryan Williams slotted into the full back position.

Beginning the match with a strong wind pushing at their backs, Aber took advantage by kicking into their opponent's half and dominating territory with a solid platform laid by the pack.

However, against the run of play it was Garn who scored first by keeping the ball in hand and playing a quality passing game.

In a move started from their 22, the visitors scored through their winger, who rounded the last Aber defender and ran in to score near the posts for a converted try after 15 minutes of play.

From this point on, the visitors played the conditions and kept the ball in hand as they took the game to Aber and forced them to defend deep from within their half.

The home pack contested the break down well but struggled to retain possession and break free of the visitors' stranglehold, which was choking the game out of them.

A loose kick gave the Garn an opportunity to attack again and a maul was set up under Aber's posts. Garn showed patience and eventually drove over for another converted try to double their lead (0-14).

Aber kept their heads up and won a scrum against the head just outside the Garn 22. Cornock looped and passed, but the ball was knocked on and the Garn cleared.

However, in recovering the ball the visitors were turned over by openside Tom Rees and Aber went on the counter.

Cornock chipped to the wing and Ian Davies chased. After hacking the ball through, he dived to recover it, popped the pass to support, but the ball hit a defender's knee. Fortuitously, it then fell into the waiting arms of Rudi Lewis, who scored from five yards out to makes it 5-14 at the interval.

Aber began the second-half playing into the wind with enterprise, and running the ball at every opportunity, with Stuart Davies, Will Williams and substitute Nathan Byrne prominent.

Yet lady luck is a cruel mistress, and once more against the run of play, the Garn scored under the posts to give them a 5-21 cushion.

The visitors continued to keep Aber under the cosh using the wind to their advantage. However, It was the homeside who went out on a high by scoring the best try of the game.

Stuart Davies and Will Williams linked from deep and carried the ball 60 yards upfield before a pass was fed to number eight Hitchman, who fixed his man and released Nathan Byrne outside him, who strolled over for a well-worked try.

The try was converted by Ryan Williams for the final score of the game.

Next Saturday Aber travel to Croesyceiliog for a 2.30pm kick-off.