Rhydyfelyn away 14th April 07
Rhydyfelyn 33 Croesyceiliog 35
Croesyceiliog signed off their season with a pulsating 33 - 35 win over Rhydyfelyn and in doing so moved out of the relegation zone for the first time this season. However, the win is unlikely to stave off relegation as the teams immediately below them, Llantwit Fardre and Nantymoel each have four games to play and just one win from either will send Croesy down.
Whatever the final outcome of the league this game was a thriller with the lead changing hands no fewer than 6 times. The Cockerels back row pair Gavin Howells and Jake Nash ran in 5 tries between them to give Croesy a 19-32 lead with just minutes remaining. Howells grabbed a hat-trick which capped a fine first season for the club since signing from English club Taunton. Nash was also in outstanding form with his powerful running and deserved his scores.
But Croesy inexplicably allowed the home side to retake the lead with 2 converted tries, the second with just a minute of normal time remaining. However, Croesy captain Matthew Entwistle, so often the match winner this season, did it again, sealing the win with a penalty with the last kick of the game in the fifth minute of injury time.
The Croesy side can be proud of the way they performed in the latter part of the season, picking up 5 wins in their last 7 games. The players have worked hard in training and shown tremendous commitment. If they do get relegated they have shown during this period that they have the potential to bounce straight back up. This Saturday Croesy travel to Devon where they take on Brixham RFC.
Croesy team: 1. Marc Watkins (Anthony Gardner 40 mins); 2. Simon Jones (Rob Taylor 40 mins); 3. Justin Smith; 4. Mark Smith; 5. Jim Sergeant; 6. Jake Nash; 7. Richard Gibbins; 8. Gavin Howells; 9. Ritchie Williams; 10. Gavin Holmes; 11. John Misljen; 12. Matthew Entwistle (Jon Berrow 30 mins blood) 13. Shane Williams; 14. Rhodri Davies; 15. Richard Lewis.
Sub unused Ieuan Wakefield
Scorers Tries Gavin Howells (3); Jake Nash (2); pens Matthew Entwistle (2); cons Matthew Entwistle (2).