Abergavenny RFC - 21

Oakdale RFC -11

Abergavenny were back at Bailey park on Saturday to play Oakdale in the league in a fixture which could have caused the home side a few problems as the away side had only lost three games all season.

The home coaches were forced to make a few changes due to unavailability. Jay Adams and Rob Lothian came into the front row with skipper Ieuan James. Luke Williams joined Josh Van Mael in the second row and Josh Davies returned from long term injury to play number eight flanked by Rudi Lewis and Dan Beavan.

Rhob Connick was at scrum-half and was partnered by Nathan Williams who at 18-years-of-age was making his first team debut.

Dan smith and Nathan Byrne continued in the centre. The back three was made up of Sam Vaughan, Will Williams and Jacob Buttler.

Aber started the game playing all the rugb,y keeping the ball for long periods and putting the away side under sustained pressure and were rewarded with three well struck penalties by outside half Nathan Williams to give them a 9-0 lead.

Oakdale replied with two penalties of their own but it was still the home side that was playing all the rugby and soon increased their lead with a cracking team try well finished by wing Sam Vaughan to leave the score 14-6 .

Abergavenny finished the first half on a high when they ran the ball out of their own half the ball reaching winger Williams who made ground before putting in a deft chip which he regathered to feed ever present flanker Rudi Lewis who scored under the posts converted by Nathan Williams to give the home side a 21-6 half-time lead.

The second-half was a different story all together with the away side making some telling substitutions and really taking the game to Aber who spent most of the second-half on the defensive and it was only the home side’s sheer determination that kept the Oakdale side to a single score and left the final result 21-11.

A special mention must be given to young outside-half Nathan Williams who made an excellent debut and looked very much at home in the senior game.

Abergavenny RFC would like to thank match sponsor FR Ball insurance for their continued support and they selected the whole Aber back row as their man of the match - Josh Davies, Dan Beavan, and Rudi Lewis.

Next week Aber play their last home game of the season at home to Chepstow. Come along and cheer the boys on in their push for promotion.

On Tuesday night Abergavenny Quins entertained Gwernyfed in the semi-final of the Ivor Jones cup and after a very entertaining game came away with a resounding 33-14 victory.

Aber’s team was very much a mixture of youth and experience with five youth team players making their senior debuts - Nathan Williams, Ben Morgan, Ben Pugh, Alun Chesworth-Rickards and Jack Meridith .

The Quins scored some excellent tries by Nathan Williams, Itchy Pritchard, Steve Jones and Jack Meridith. with Williams adding 15 points with the boot.

The Quins now face Talywain in the final on April 27 at the Pontypool United ground .