News

Abergavenny returned to Bailey Park last Saturday to face promotion rivals Machen. The Aber side showed only a few changes from the previous weeks cup victory. Curtis Price started in the front row with Ieuan James and Matt Charles, Dan Horler returned to partner Luke Williams in the row with Alex Howes starting in the back row with Dan Beavan and Josh Davies . Rhob Connick and Rhod Webster were the half backs. Dan Smith was partnered in the centre by Joe Evans who has returned to the club from Brecon with Nathan Byrne moving out to the wing along with Antony Squires and Jacob Butler at full back.

The game started with Abergavenny taking the game to Machen not allowing them to settle and keeping them pinned down in their twenty two and only desperate defence stopped the home side from scoring. In this first quarter Aber were completely dominant and their set piece play was first class. After a couple of close range line outs they managed to break through the Machen defence to score a try by Dan Horler converted by Webster to take the lead mid way through the first half.

This score seemed to stimulate the away side and they now began to put the home side under some pressure aided by some wayward home kicking. Just before half time Machen's centre made a clean break evading several tackles to score a fine individual try converted to level the score at half time.

What ever was said at half time it seemed to work because Aber produced their best half of rugby all season beginning with two excellent tries by full back Jacob Butler, one converted by Rhod Webster to restore a 19 -7 lead.

The next score soon followed by second row Luke Williams converted by Webster to stretch the lead to 19 points. Aber now flooded the replacements on with Rhys Dawe, Nathan Thomas, Rob Lothian and Jay Adams freshening up the pack and Lloyd Holder in the backs.

Abergavenny's pack was now totally dominant pushing the away side off their own scrum ball on several occasions and further scores were imminent.  From a very well controlled driving line out Rhys Dawe grounded to claim a try converted by Rhod Webster.

The home side continued to attack the Machen line at every opportunity and when the Aber eight produced a terrific scrum to provide scrum half Rhob Conick with good ball he took the chance well with a 30 meter sprint to the line to finish the scoring, leaving the final score 38 -7, a terrific victory for the home side.

 Aber Quins were also at home to a strong Pill Harriers side but after a terrific game ran out winners 29-19. Next week the first team travel to Oakdale who are third in the league and the Quins travel to local rivals  Crickhowell for an Ivor Jones cup game, please come along and support both teams.

This week has been tinged with sadness at the club with the news off the death of Mike Bruton, a former player, committee man and loyal supporter, all at the club send our condolences to Mikes family.