Pill Harriers - 22

Abergavenny - 19

Abergavenny travelled to Newport on to play Pill Harriers for the third time this season. Abergavenny's team was much changed from the side that played Brynmawr. Quins stalwart Rob Lothian joined Ieuan James and Owen Staphnil in the front row with Mark Squirrel and Rhys Willard returning to make up the second row. It was a good to see Josh Davies coming back into the side at blindside joining captain Paul Cornock and Rudi Lewis making up the back row. The back division had a settled look about it with only Wil Williams returning to the side taking his place at full back.

Abergavenny started the game brightly with a side with much more cohesion and spirit than in previous weeks. The scrum was much more solid and marginally had the upper hand. A slip in concentration allowed Pill a position deep in Abers 22 from where they scored from a driving line out which was converted to give them a 7-0 lead. Soon after, a lack of discipline gave Pill a penalty on the half way line from where there outside half kicked the ball deep into the Abergavenny 22. From a lineout if was a case of Deja Vu and Pill scored again. Abergavenny immediately went on the attack from the restart moving the ball fluently along the backs and putting the home-side under pressure. From a lineout deep in the Pill 2 the Abergavenny pack gave Pill a taste of their own medicine and used a driving lineout for Marks Quirrell to score. The Abergavenny were now playing with a lot more confidence and continued to attack at every opportunity. Abergavenny's back line defence were stopping Pills attacks at will and when Pill s backs spilled the ball in attack, quick hands by the centres Beavan and Davies put out side half Rhodri Webster over for a converted try. Before half time Pills out- side half kicked a penalty to leave the score 15-12 to the home side.

Abergavenny started the second half very much in the ascendency with the backs attacking at every opportunity but the odd dropped pass and unforced errors seemed to be our let down. Pill were awarded a very dubious scrum penalty on the half way line, which the out-side half duly pegged into the corner, and from the resulting lineout Pill once again drove over for a converted try. With time running out Aber threw everything into attack an only some resolute defence by Pill stopped them scoring. In the very last minute of the game Aber managed to create some space on the left wing for Wil Williams to score in the corner which was converted by Rhodri Webster, to leave the final score 22-19 to Pill.

This was a far better performance by this young Abergavenny side and they thoroughly deserved a bonus point from this very entertaining game.

Abergavenny are away this week to Croesyceilog kick off 2.30.

Abergavenny - 24

Croesyceiliog 21

Abergavenny were away to Croesyceiliog in the league at a ground that in recent years they had found it hard to get a result. The side had a settled look about it with one change in the pack with Josh Hitchman replacing injured captain Paul Cornock and behind Rob Morgan and Dan Dunmore coming into the backs and James Spooner taking over at scrum half. Abergavenny started the game well playing with great intent and running the ball at every opportunity. It was not long before Abergavenny made a good line break which resulted with the dynamic Wil Williams scoring a try converted by Rhodri Webster to give Aber a great start to the game. From the restart like so many other teams Abergavennys lack of concentration allowed Croesyceiliog to score a converted try to level the scores. Genny went straight back on the attack with the backs looking particularly dangerous with ball in hand. Jack Bruton fielded a long kick down field making good yards before passing to Wil Williams who made fools of several tacklers before handing on to Rhodri Webster who cantered 25 yards to score under the posts which he duly converted to leave the score 14-7. At this point in the game it looked like Croesyceiliog were going to have the upper hand when after a minor fracas at a scrum, Aber prop Owen Staphnill was red carded and sent from the field to leave Abergavenny with 14 players for the next 50 minutes. Abergavenny held on to their seven point leave until half time and turned round for the second half with the wind at their backs.

Despite being a man down Abergavenny continued to pressurise the Croesyceiliog try line and only resilient defence by the home team prevented them scoring however a penalty goal by Rhodri Webster increased the lead to 17-7. With the game drawing to an end Croesyceiliog threw everything into attack and were putting the tiring Aber side under a lot of pressure and at this point Aber brought on experienced forwards Nathan Harris and Gareth Williams who steadied the ship for a while. Croesyceiliog continued to probe and managed to get numbers out wide for their winger to score a converted try leaving the game finally balanced at 17 -14. This young Aber side responded to this try by Croesyceiliog by throwing everything into attack and putting Croesyceiliog under severe pressure and from broken play on the Croesyceiliog 22 exciting prospect Dan Dunmore ghosted through the Croesyceiliog defence to score under the post, which Lewis Evans converted to seemingly put the game beyond the home side. From the restart with only minutes remaining Croesyceiliog refused to give in and scored a converted try in the last few seconds of the game to leave the final score 24-21 to Abergavenny.

Coach Mark Fleet said it was a terrific team performance full of guts and determination but if one player had to be singled out young second row Josh Davies was outstanding clearing up any loose ball and taking the game to the Croesy pack at every opportunity.

Next week Abergavenny entertain league leaders Blaenavon and a large home support would be very much appreciated.