Fixture

Match Report: Croesyceiliog RFC v Pontypool United RFC

Woodlands Road. 4th September 2016. 11am Kick Off.

The Crusaders first game of the 2016/17 season was a home match against local rivals Pontypool United. The team knew they had to prepare well for this match as the United side, in their second season as a team, boasted much of the District Under 11s team from two season’s prior and had held the Crusaders to a 19 all draw in their only meeting to date. The Croesy boys warmed up well and were definitely up for the game and new Team Captain Ieuan Tucker spoke passionately to the team about what he expected of them in the next 50 minutes.

United won the toss and their experienced outside half Sam Berry kicked high and to the left. Crusaders Hooker Cameron Bolton was confident under the ball and took it well before driving up field and setting up a ruck. The first few minutes of the game were dominated by the forward battle. United were dangerous at the breakdown with all their forwards keen to compete for the ball and often quicker to the tackle area. The Crusaders weathered the initial storm and had to be strong in contact as the United forwards targeted the Croesy fly half Matty Taylor every time the ball came out to him, stifling the Croesy attacks. But 5 minutes in Number 8 Jordan Morris attacked a United maul and managed to rip the ball from Loosehead Prop, Vinnie Birden before popping it to scrum half Sam Harvey . He then sent a lovely flat pass to Taylor who was again targeted by the rush defence. But this time just prior to being hit by two players he managed to pop a short ball to Inside Centre Ieuan Tovey making his debut for the team. Picking a lovely line Tovey burst through the first two tackles and then outpaced the United full back Jack Davies to score from 60 yards out under the posts. Taylor kicked the conversion to make the score 7-nil to Croesyceiliog.

From the restart Bolton again took a fine catch and made good yards. Again there was a period of competition between the forwards with both sides committed in tackles. United continued to dominate at the breakdown, getting more numbers to the tackle area and denying Croesy the ball. But in defence the Crusaders were excellent. United had powerful ball carriers but time and again the Croesy players cut them down before they could break the gain line. This was clearly frustrating United who kicked away possession and then began to concede penalties for going off their feet at the breakdown. With a quickly taken penalty the ball was again moved to Tovey in the Centre who stepped the defence on the half way line and ran in unopposed under the posts for a second time. Again Taylor converted to take the score to 14 – nil.

When they restarted it became obvious that United were trying to change their tactics and moving the ball wider earlier to the wings. First Luca Elliot, the United Right Wing, took a long pass from Berry and broke the first line of defence before being dragged down a few yards short of the line by Tucker. Then the ball was moved left from a ruck to the United left wing who cut through inside the Croesy 22 to score in the corner. The resulting conversion was missed by Berry leaving the score 14 – 5. Shortly afterwards, with United in the ascendency, Berry ripped the ball out of a Croesy maul and ran clear to score. Although he was again unable to land the long conversion attempt making it 14 – 10 to Croesy who were really under the hammer with 15 minutes gone of the first half.

Croesy suffered more bad luck when Centre Tovey was forced from the pitch by injury to be replaced by Joe Ellis. Shortly after indiscipline in the Croesy half by United saw the ball moved wide through Ellis to Full Back Kian Boddenham who gave a quality pass out to Right Wing Tyler Westcott. Still with lots to do Westcott beat the United defense to race down the line to score in the right corner. Taylor missed the conversion leaving the score at 19 – 10 at half time.

The start of the Second Half saw Pontypool United come back strongly through their forwards. Their scrum improved and they were starting to profit around the ruck, driving Croesy further and further back. As the half wore on the Crusaders defence and work at the breakdown improved. Owain Weston, Josh Davies and Luke Gulliford all upped their work rate and gave the United players no time in possession, whilst Nathan Barrett and Jordan Morris carried hard into contact. Deep in their own half Croesy were awarded a scrum. Bringing tight head prop Jack Pearce on for the injured (and exhausted Luke Gulliford) gave Croesy a solid scrum and a planned move saw left wing Max Thomas-Frost sent through the middle by Taylor. With a typically powerful run the wing beat the first line of defence before off-loading to Boddenham who outpaced United’s fastest player to score under the posts, in a run reminiscent of his brace in last season’s cup final. Taylor again converted to make the score 24 – 10.

That score knocked United who had been working hard all day through their powerful 8 Will Gregory and open side Ollie Mayo. In the last quarter of the game the Croesy team appeared fitter and a yard faster to everything. Clearly reflecting the hard work they had put in during pre-season. Replacement Scrum half and the second debutant. Sam Alford, terrorised the United defence and his running threat and provided a good alternative to Sam Harvey’s strong passing game in the first half. Whilst replacement full back Rhys Wilkins-Jones profited from United kicking to the Croesy back three. He picked up one loose kick late in the game and powered through the defence before passing to Thomas-Frost who in turn passed to Josh Hamer wide on the right who was rewarded for his hard work all game with the try of the day, having returned the ball from the Croesy 22. Taylor made the conversion and the match ended with a 33 points to 10 victory for Croesy Crusaders.

It was a tough opening game for Croesyceiliog. United worked relentlessly to disrupt the Croesy attacks and frustrated many of their planned moves. There is work to be done in both the lineout and the scrum, and the passing in the backs needs to be slicker. But this was still a fantastic win for the Crusaders who’s fitness and effort was impressive. This group of players worked for each other and no one took a backwards step. If they tighten up on the set plays and give the same level of commitment this will be a fantastic season.

Next week sees Croesy under 13s face another tough fixture, with an away trip to Newbridge RFC.

Well done to all the players. And congratulations to Sam Alford and Ieuan Tovey on making their competitive debuts for the team.