Abergavenny240307
Abergavenny 17 Croesyceiliog 34
Croesyceiliog went into this game knowing that only a win would keep their slim chance of avoiding relegation alive against an Abergavenny side who were one place and one point above them in the league table. But they got off to the worst possible start conceding a converted try inside 5 minutes. The home side completely dominated the opening quarter and were soon 14-0 up with their pack rampant. A Matthew Entwistle penalty reduced the deficit but it was soon restored with an Aber 3-pointer. Abergavenny squandered numerous chances to extend their lead but it was Croesy who grabbed a life line just before half-time with a try from resurgent wing Andrew Paraskeva, converted by Entwistle, following a delicate chip ahead from scrum-half Ritchie Williams.
Talk about game of two halves. Aber could and should have been out of sight by half time but it was Croesy who came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. Making using of the Bailey Park slope they pegged the home side back in their 22 even though they struggled to win their own lineout ball when they got there. A clearance kick from Aber was recovered by Croesy who put the ball along the backs to send wing Rhodri Davies on a weaving run to the line for a second converted try.
Croesy could sense the home resistance was crumbling and good work from Justin Smith ripping the ball away in a maul on the home five yard line won Croesy a vital scrum. More pressure resulted in a 5 metre penalty which Entwistle took quickly and forced his way over, again converting before adding a penalty to put Croesy 2 scores clear.
The Croesy pack had by now gone from being totally outplayed in the first half to being totally dominant. To prove it they won a lineout on the Aber 10 metre line and proceeded to drive it fully 40 metres to the try line before Aber dropped the maul and conceded a penalty try, again converted by Entwistle.
This win moves Croesy off the bottom for the first time this season and with 4 games to go their hopes of avoiding relegation remain, mathematically at least. On Saturday they host 4th placed Treherbert in another must-win game.
Croesy side:
1. Marc Watkins; 2. Simon Jones (Rob Taylor 40 mins); 3. Justin Smith; 4. Mark Smith (Tim Hanks 30 mins); 5. Jim Sergeant; 6. Richard Gibbins; 7. Jake Nash; 8. Gavin Howells; 9. Ritchie Williams; 10. Gavin Holmes; 11. Rhodri Davies; 12. Matthew Entwistle; 13. Shane Williams; 14. Andrew Paraskeva (Ieuan Wakefield 70 mins); 15. David Davies.
Scorers: Tries: Andrew Paraskeva, Rhodri Davies, penalty try, Matthew Entwistle plus 2 pens and 4 cons.