Abergavenny RFC - 13

Crymych RFC - 10

ABERGAVENNY were expecting a tough encounter when West Wales division one side Crymych descended on Bailey Park and that’s exactly what they got.

Jamie Knight returned at loose-head, Ieuan James continued at hooker and Luke Wright had his first start at tight-head.

Mathew Collins made his first start of the season, pairing Dan Horler in the second row, and Dan Beavan was given the number eight Jersey, flanked by Rudi Lewis and John Hockey.

Sam Vaughan stepped in at scrum half with Rhod Webster at outside half. Matt Sevenoaks and Nathan Byrne formed a new centre partnership, and Will Williams Dan Dunmore and Dan Cox completed the starting line up.

Abergavenny’s kick-off did not go ten metres and gave the initiative to the away side who took full advantage and attacked the Aber line to score with a well taken try, 7-0.

Crymych went straight back on the attack and forced a penalty to go 10-0 up.

From the kick-off Genny lost flanker John hockey to a dubious yellow card but this seemed to galvanise the home team and they began to play some good rugby with both backs and forwards handling the ball in long periods of pressure on the Crymych line.

Eventually the pressure told and Dan Horler took an excellent inside line to cross for a well deserved try, the conversion was missed but soon after Rhod Webster kicked a penalty to bring the score to 8-10.

On the stroke of half-time Aber once again pressed the away side’s line and were rewarded with their second try again scored by Dan Horler to Abergavenny the lead 13-10 at half time.

The second half was a tense affair with the away team throwing everything into attack and the home side defending like their lives depended on it.

Aber introduced replacements Gareth Williams Curtis Price and Josh Hitchman into the pack and Ryan Joyce and Aled Thomson in the backs.

These changes up front helped to stabilise the home scrum and get Aber a couple of penalties to help ease the pressure.

As the game drew to a close Aber were once again reduced to 14 men when number eight Dan Beavan was carded but the rest of the team managed to keep their line intact to record a well deserved victory.

On Thursday night Abergavenny are away to Blaenavon in the Ben Francis cup. kick-off is at 7.15pm.

The club would like to thank every one who attended Eunice Aylett’s funeral and a total sum of £646 was collected for the Welsh Charitable trust.