A SHADOW of sadness swept over Crickhowell RFC as the death of former player Steve Powell was announced. Steve was a Crickhowell prop forward of the early to mid 1990s and his death at the young age of 47 was felt by all those at Crickhowell who knew him.

The sympathy of all at Crickhowell RFC go out to all his family and friends.

With Crickhowell's and Blaina Utd's league matches postponed the two sides played out a friendly fixture at Duffryn Park, Blaina.

It was a game that both teams needed with the season having been disrupted by some awful weather and the Six Nations tournament.

The match was watched by a goodly number of spectators who were entertained to some excellent rugby union football. Which was only to be expected when the second place team in division six east played the third placed team in division six central.

Both sides showed some rustiness in the early stages but it was Crickhowell who opened the scoring. Good ball from the ruck in their own half was spun wide to the left and there fullback  Andrew Reynolds combined with Joe Powell to gain ground on the Blaina try line. The ball was again recycled and it was Reynolds who was on hand to score near the corner flag.

Adams Howells converted from the touchline with a magnificent kick. Blaina bounced back at Crickhowell and got a score of their own also converted and this is how it remained until half time.

In the second half it was Blaina who drew first blood when they scored an unconverted try in the corner.

Crickhowell were not for the folding though. They took the game to Blaina with the pack in great form. Ken Birch, Mat Price and Matt Poole gave Blaina a real mauling in the tight while Alan Taylor, Mungo Parks and John Bennett were all over the pitch in the loose backing up the inventive threes who, after Nigel Mason's short range unconverted try, served up three spectacular efforts, two of which were converted by Howells.

Andrew Renolds claimed a second touch down following some good approach work by Berwyn Carrington and Joe Powell got over following some immense work in the tight by Birch and Price who led a maul by Crickhowell that took the Blaina pack to its knees.

The icing on the cake was Powell's final try as he weaved his way over from 22 metres. Conditions for playing rugby football were excellent and neither Blaina or Crickhowell disappointed. Both sides wanted to entertain and the whole match was played in the right spirit.