News

Abergavenny first team traveled to Dowlais to play in the first round of the Swalec plate on Saturday but were soundly beaten by a more composed and clinical side 36-15 .

Abers side showed several changes from the previous week with Rob Lothian and Ryan Morgan joining Curtis Price in the front row, Will Evans partnered Dan Horler in the row Alex Howes returned to join Josh Davies and Rhys Dawe in the back row . Young Will Robinson formed a new half back pairing with Rhod Webster,  James Lewis and Nathan Byrne were in the center and the back three were made up of Nathan Williams and the two Butler boys Jack and Jacob .

Dowlais started the game with a strong wind behind them and used it to good effect to keep Aber pinned in their own 22 for the first ten minutes of the game and were eventually rewarded with a penalty to take the lead . From the restart Aber managed to get a foothold in the Dowlais half and after a good period of possession levelled the scores with a well struck penalty by Nathan Williams.

From the restart Abergavenny went straight back on the offensive and when a high kick was expertly regathered by Jacob Buttler he off loaded to put Nathan Williams in under the posts which he converted to give Aber a 3-10 lead . That was as good as it got in the first half as Dowlais used the conditions to their advantage with their goal kicker proving deadly accurate and their out side backs clinical racked up 28 unanswered points to go into half time 31-10 up .

The second half was a different kettle of fish as Aber now had the elements in their favour and kept the home side  pined down in their own half but resolute defence by the home side and  some small handling errors prevented Aber from scoring . Abergavenny's coaches now unloaded the bench with Cj Woodhouse Ben Roberts and Fred Pursey bolstering the pack and Rhob Connick and Rhys Miles - Hewinson the later coming on to make his debut .

Abergavenny never gave up and were eventually rewarded with a well worked try scored by Jacob Butler but Dowlais then came back and scored in the dying minutes to leave the final score 36-15 and the dream of returning to the principality stadium well and truly shattered .

Next week Aber return to league action with a visit to Talywain and the youth are away to Mumbles so if anyone fancies a trip to the Gower get on the bus and give the young fellas your support .