Undy AFC - 1

Abergavenny Rhinos - 9

HOPING to carry their unbeaten league form into the cup, the Rhinos Blacks travelled to Undy AFC on Saturday to play in the first round of the Gwent County Cup.

In typical cup fashion, form books were soon out of the window with both sides unable to make a breakthrough until eventually the pace of Mason Brice, and Jack Williams combined to create the first goal, with Brice neatly tucking home from a Williams assist.

This could have been a springboard for the Rhinos to take control of the game, but Undy had other ideas and from a set piece free kick, a long ball was perfectly delivered into the box for one of their large defenders to head into the top corner.

This gave the home side renewed confidence, and although Rhinos managed to net one further goal before half time, this time Brice turning provider for Williams, the game was in the balance.

The Rhinos returned in the second-half with a few substitutions, which appeared to pay off immediately when Ioan Davies- Hall sweetly connected with a loose ball from just inside the penalty area which cannoned into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.

The Rhinos were gaining in confidence and when Leon Bugler was bought down outside the penalty area, he stood up to convert his own free kick high into the right hand corner of the goal.

The Rhinos now had clear control of the game, and although Undy battled hard to close down Rhino attacking play, when Josh Salway- Stevens headed in from Brices corner the result was never going to be in doubt.

Further goals from Brice and Williams owed much to the inventive running and crossing of Jojo Evans, and the tightening grip of the midfield duo Joe Mayo and Ollie South over their Undy counterparts.

Tougher tests await for the Rhinos defensive unit of Morgan Waite, Ellis Owens, Harry Francis, Goalkeeper Jack Preece and Captain Kai Stafford, but encouragingly Owens and Francis in the fullback positions are becoming more adept at turning defensive duties into attacking opportunities which is encouraging for the team, and the coaching staff.

In the end the game concluded with a convincing win for the Rhinos, who will next Sunday play Undy AFC away.