Fixture

After the previous nights’ disappointing rugby Abergavenny supporters were hoping for a better result when the home side entertained the table topping Pontypool United at Bailey Park.

Owen Staphnil and Gareth Williams returned to join Ryan Morgan in the front row, Dan Morris partnered Dan Horler in the engine house with CJ Woodhouse and Josh Davies returning on the flanks with Mark Squirrel at 8. Wil Williams returned at fullback and Gareth Beavan resumed his centre partnership with Dan Smith.

Abergavenny kicked off the game and young winger Dan Dunmore rose high to claim the kick off and Abergavenny immediately put pressure on the Pontypool side. The away side had a penalty to clear their line but from the resulting lineout an untidy tap back from the Pontypool pack the ball was snapped up by Abergavenny's Dan Horler who stretched over to score an unconverted try. Pontypool fought their way back into the game and were rewarded with a penalty goal to leave the score 5-3. Abergavenny very nearly scored their second try when fullback Wil Williams picked a ball up deep in his own half and ran through most of the Pontypool side only to be tackled 5 yards short of the line. Abergavenny continued to run the ball at every opportunity and were eventually awarded a penalty for offside kicked by outside half Rhodri Webster to leave the score 8-3 at half time.

Pontypool started the second half with much more purpose to their play with their driving lineout being particularly successful. It was from a lineout near the Abergavenny line that Pontypool drove the ball over for their first try of the game leaving the score 8-8.  Within minutes of the restart Pontypool were again putting pressure on the home side and from another driving lineout Pontypool’s forwards broke free to score another try, thankfully their kicker was again off target and it went unconverted. Abergavenny responded immediately by keeping the ball through several phases building up some momentum and were rewarded with a penalty kicked by Rhodri Webster, leaving the score 11-13. Almost immediately from the restart Pontypool managed to turn the ball over and from a fierce driving maul, Pontypool forwards broke free to score a converted try. The score was 11-20 and many of the home supporters were beginning to think the game was out of sight, but in recent weeks this young Aber side have shown great guts and determination and today was no different. They upped their tempo and with good handling from forwards and backs managed to gain a foothold in the Pontypool 22. Pontypool were penalised at a ruck and Aber opted for a scrum 6 metres out. The Genni pack were now dominant and were pushing the away side back over the line when the Pontypool scrum half kicked the ball out of the scrum and the referee awarded a penalty try, bringing the score back to 18-20.

Pontypool continued to play attacking rugby but great pressure from the Abergavenny centres resulted in the ball going loose and wing Ieuan Mainwaring hacked the ball through and then won a 50 meter race to touch down for a try which was converted by Rhodri