Crickhowell RFC -18

Tredegar RFC -13

In a much anticipated and well-attended top-of-the-table clash to start the New Year, Crickhowell welcomed Tredegar RFC to Parc Broyd for the first time on Saturday.

It was a tense game played at pace from both sides. Crickhowell gained ascendancy in the scrums early on and dominated field position for the first quarter of an hour or so but Tredegar made amends and much of the first half was played in the home team’s half.

With both teams at deadlock and the half-time whistle approaching it was Crickhowell who scored the first try through the skill and elusive running of Ryan James. Captain Leon Rees failed in his conversion attempt and Tredegar managed to pull back three points with a well-placed penalty awarded when Crickhowell’s backs were deemed to have crossed just before half-time.

Early in the second half Rees managed to stretch Crickhowell’s lead to 8-3 with a penalty.

It was a game which saw the sponge-man on the field many times and injuries to the Tredegar front row meant that scrums went passive - a feature which favoured the visitors.

Tredegar scored their own try when a gap in Crickhowell’s defence opened up and there was little the home team could do to prevent the try, which was converted.

With over 50 minutes played in the first half and the second half looking to go the same way the light was beginning to become a concern and it was ‘rugby by moonlight” towards the end of the game.

Crickhowell stuck gamely to their task and finally made their breakthrough with a well-worked try from John James which Rees converted.

Tredegar were still in striking distance however, but another Rees penalty left them looking for two scores with both time and the light running out.

The visitors managed another penalty late on but it was not enough, leaving the final score 18-13.

The club would like to thank President Lawrence Watts for sponsoring the game.

Crickhowell remain undefeated in League Three East Division and stretched their winning margin at the top of the table. With some tough games to come, however, they cannot afford to rest on their laurels as their scalp is becoming highly prized. This weekend sees old rivals Hollybush return to Parc Broyd.