Monmouth 2nds 300906
Croesy 2nds 36 Monmouth Druids 22
The Seconds gave the club something to cheer with an exciting six try performance against Monmouth Druids in this Pontypool & District League match. Croesy always looked to have too much pace for an aging Druids side but it was a case of having to wrestle the ball from their powerful pack before they could make their pace show. Monmouth made the strength of their forwards pay with two first half tries, the first from a driving maul and the second from a pushover to take a 12-0 lead. Croesy hit back with a well-worked try for left wing Tom Curren who outflanked the visitors defence after some good ball retention by the Croesy side for a 5-12 half time score.
Monmouth increased their lead early in the second half with a penalty but Croesy soon hit back with a try for the outstanding flanker Paul Fisher after a quickly taken penalty by scrum-half Chris Wright. Shortly after Croesy took the lead after quick hands across the back line and a pass back inside from wing Liam Crowley put centre Stuart Fitzgerald over for a try converted by replacement centre Matthew Entwistle. Ever green (with a bit of grey) prop Carl Bigham increased the lead with a short range burst over the line from another quickly taken penalty. Monmouth hit back to level with a converted try but Croesy soon regained the advantage with another converted try. Once again the backline created it with great pace and handling allowing full back Richard Lewis to go over. Croesy sealed the win straight from the kick off with another cracking try. Outside half Gavin Holmes broke from his 22 and raced clear. When he was stopped it was left to the supporting Fisher to finish off under the posts for a full time score of 36-22.
Croesy 2nds team: 1.D Barber; 2. G Cowens; 3. C Bigham; 4. J Sergeant (Capt.); 5. J-P Harris; 6. C Taylor; 7. P Fisher; 8. J Nash; C Wright; 10. G Holmes; 11. T Curren; 12. N Marsh; 13. S Fitzgerald; 14. L Crowley; 15. R Lewis.
Subs (all used) D Fozdick; N Willis; M Entwistle; C Williams (too tall); K Mogford.
Scorers: tries - P Fisher (2); T Curren; S Fitzgerald: C Bigham; R Lewis. Cons - M Entwistle (3).