Cefn Forest RFC - 10

Crickhowell RFC - 12

CRICKHOWELL'S win against Cefn Forest was a real gutsy performance by the away side who found themselves facing not only a gale force wind but a Cefn Forest side bolstered by a number of permitted players, and which bore no resemblance whatsoever to the outfit Crickowell had dispatched fairly easily at home earlier in the season.

You can only play what is in front of you and Crickhowell did just that. They stood toe to toe with the home teams pack and in an incident strewn first half it was no place for the faint hearted.

Guy Solomon putting in his best performance of the season stayed where the battle was hardest. He was well supported by the rest of the Crickhowell eight who have developed as a really resilient unit this season.

They had great support from the backs who marked their opposite numbers out of the match. Cefn Forest took the lead with a well taken penalty goal given against the away side's front row but Crickhowell struck back when Thomas Bevan Jones scored, followed by an excellent conversion by Leon Rees into the strong headwind.

Although Cefn Forest were to grab the lead with a converted try of their own they had to face the gale in the second half and that proved crucial. They just did not possess a player who could game manage the conditions and it was Crickhowell, using the wind sensibly, who began to take control.

This resulted in an excellent effort by Nick Cudmore who scored the try to put Crickhowell back in front. The conversion attempt failed.

Cefn Forest picked up their heads and came back at Crick but the defence and the pack in particular held firm. On the stroke of time Cefn Forest won a kickable penalty but the wind put off the decision maker who elected to kick for touch. The kick failed to make touch and was acrobatically fielded by Nick Cudmore who had the presence of mind to call for the mark. The referee agreed and Crickhowell ran out winners.