A WEEK last Tuesday Abergavenny welcomed promotion rivals RTB Ebbw vale to Bailey Park in a crunch league fixture which the home side needed to win to keep their promotion dreams alive.

Aber had a full squad to select from with the addition of their dual registered players. Jay Adams, Ieuan James, and Mat Charles made up the front row. Will Evans and Dan Horler were in the engine room. Josh Davies, Rhys Dawe, and Dan Beavan, were the back row. Lewis Evans and Matty Sevenoaks formed a new half-back partnership with Rhod Webster joining up with Joe Evans in the centre. In the back three Antony Squires was joined by Danny Haymond and James Lewis.

The visitors started the game at a furious pace, making the home side defend for long periods, during which they conceded a couple of penalties, one of which was converted by the RT’s outside half.

Abergavenny settled down and started to dictate the pace of the game and In doing so put the away side on the defensive for a long period. The pressure eventually paid off when from a well controlled line out, drive lock Will Evans scored the games first try, converted by Haymond. Abergavenny then produced their best rugby of the season, playing very controlled and clinical play, resulting in three more first-half tries, scored by number eight Josh Davies, wing Antony Squires, and Danny Haymond, who converted two of them to give Aber a bonus point and a 26-3 lead at half-time.

The second-half started similar to the first with RTB on the attack. Their persistence was rewarded with a converted try to bring the score back to 26-10.

From the restart it was business as usual with Aber in dominant mood. Dan Horler scored a converted try, followed by James Lewis, and lastly the outside half capped a fine individual performance with the last try of the game, all three were expertly converted by Danny Haymond to give Abergavenny a 47 -10 victory.

Abergavenny travelled to local rivals Nantyglo on Saturday hoping to come away with another bonus point victory.

The coaches made several changes from Tuesday evening, resting a couple of key players ahead of the bowl semi-final. Nathan Harris and Rob Lothian propped hooker and captain Ieuan James. Will Evans had a new partner in Luke Williams, and Nathan Thomas was at number eight, flanked by Dan Beavan and Alex Howes. Rhob Connick returned to partner Matt Sevenoaks at half-back with Dan Smith returning from injury to partner Joe Evans in the centre. The back three was made up of wingers James Lewis, Sam Vaughan, and Danny Haymond continued at full back.

Aber were straight on the attack from the first whistle and only determined defence prevented an early score. Continuous pressure resulted in wing Sam Vaughan opening the scoring with an unconverted try.

Two further tries were scored before half-time - a push over, touched down by number eight Nathan Thomas, converted by Haymond, and a fine individual try by Alex Howes to give Aber a 17-0 half-time lead.

Early in the second period a Dan Smith score increased Abergavenny’s lead to 22-0, but credit to the home team, they never gave an inch and were rewarded with a try of their own, 22-5.

Aber now rung the changes. Matt price came on in the front row, Joe Symonds and Josh Davies slotted into the back row, and Nathan Byrne and Nathan Williams took their places in the back three

The pace and intensity off the game was upped and Aber and were rewarded with two more tries, scored by Josh Davies and full back Danny Haymond, one of which was converted by Nathan Williams, to make it 34-5 at the end of play.

On Saturday the club are away in the semi-final of the Swalec Bowl. The match is probably the biggest game the club has been involved in over 30 years, with the prize being a date at the Millennium Stadium.

Everybody at the club is extremely proud of what the team has achieved so far this season and wish them all the the best of luck for next Saturday.

There are still places on the fourth supporters’ bus so anyone wishing to make the trip and support the boys please contact the club for info.

Kick-off is 2.30pm at Llanharan RFC this Saturday.