Abergavenny RFC - 24

Caerphilly RFC - 3

ABERGAVENNY bowed out of Bailey Park with a bang as they put Caerphilly to the sword and won a match where their prop forward scored three tries.

Following their 17-0 victory over the visitors in November, Aber went into their last home game of the season with a resolve to defend well and deny Caerphilly as many points as possible.

Aber took to the field with a front row of Owen Staphnill and Frank James at prop with Gareth Williams hooking. There was an unfamiliar looking engine room of Dan Anstey and Josh Hitchman in the second row, but a familiar back row of Paul Cournock at number eight with Tom Rees open side and Sean Buck blind side.

Lewis Evans and Kieran Skinner formed the half back partnership, Ed and Stuart Davies played at centre, Will Williams was at full back, and Nathan Byrne and try scoring sensation Ian Davies were on the wings.

Aber put the visitors under early pressure and confined them within their 22. A series of penalties in their favour gave the home side opportunities at the line-out to take and drive. A quick tap penalty on the five yard line released tight head Frank James who barrelled over for the first five points.

Last week the backs shone for Aber, this week it was the grunt and groan of the forwards who ground out a victory.

Josh Hitchman provided some tackle bursting runs and Frank James has proved a revelation over the past three games with his contribution in the tight and the loose.

Some excellent driving play from the forwards set up good field position and from a line-out on the visiting five yard line Dan Anstey took the ball and the pack drove. James surfaced with the ball and his strength carried him and several tacklers over for his second try. 

A penalty in front of the posts for Caerphilly was all they had to show for the first half and Aber went into the interval leading 10-3.

In the second-half, the home pack completely dominated the scrums giving Paul Cournock plenty of opportunity to run at the Caerphilly defence.

Despite losing a man to a yellow card, the visitors made a contest of the game with a spirited display.

Supporters had to wait late into the second half for the next score and once again, when it came, it came from the forwards. Hitchman took a high line-out ball and Aber formed a rolling maul to drive the ball 25 yards to the try line before crumpling over.

The ref raised his hand indicating a try, and who should emerge with the ball, but Frank James, who claimed that rarest of things for a prop forward - a hat trick.

The try was converted by Lewis Evans to give the home side a 17-3 lead.

With victory in the bag, Aber set their sights on another try for a bonus point victory but Caerphilly proved stubborn, that is, until a loose kick was collected on the wing by substitute Gareth Bevan.

The sub passed inside to Stuart Davies in support and a gap appeared in the defence allowing Davies to run through to score under the posts for a try he converted to secure the bonus point victory.

Next weekend Aber travel to Pill Harriers who will no doubt provide a sterner test than of late.