Fixture

Match Report - Caerphilly v Abercwmboi U14s - Final Score 31-7 - KO 12.30

Written by Warren Lewis

It was definitely the start of winter at Caerphilly RFC this afternoon; a cold and overcast afternoon greeting both teams for the first lunchtime KO of the season, such was the demand for pitches at the ground today. 

The teams were well matched and both sets of players played the game in good spirits. The first quarter was dominated by strong forward play from the visitors only equalled by some outstanding tackling from the Cheesemen.

Strong tackling from Louis Bellamy and Owen Hughes eventually forced a knock on which resulted in a scrum on half way. Connor Mayo picked up from the base and showed a nice turn of pace to score the first try of the match.

Abercwmboi were blessed with some strong runners and a superb tackle from Sam Davies saved a certain try with the inside centre making a strong run.

Good tackling by Cian O'Sullivan & Ellis Hughes continued to thwart the visitors' line breaks. The home team moved the ball nicely, but the visitors were quick to kick through on a fumble in midfield with Wil Lewis just doing enough to distract the Abercwmboi centre to force him to kick the ball dead.

The Caer 15 then put some lovely passes together in the Abercwmboi half which sucked in the visitors' defence creating space for Eli Weekes to make a barnstorming run and release the backs for Danny Richards to weave straight through the gap in midfield for the game's second try. The second half concluded with Sam Davies making a determined straight run through the heart of the Abercwmboi defence eventually taking 5 players to bring him down.

12 - nil half time

The second half continued in the same vein with a nice run from Huw Ashman this time making good ground into the Abercwmboi half.

The game was won by the team's defence, with Eli Weekes and Scott Pritchard both winning turnovers at crucial moments. A high tempo line speed in the backs and strong tackling also served to nullify the strong Abercwmboi centre partnership.

Logan Turner and Oliver Scarfe put in a good shift at close quarters and a signature tackle from Louis Bellamy saved another certain try as the game moved into the final quarter.

Eventually, the Caer team made good ground and quick thinking from Lewis Adams with a tap and go penalty released Callum Morris to score from short range.

The game continued to ebb and flow and another quick penalty released Scott Pritchard this time to run straight and score under the posts. A further outstanding run from Sam Davies almost saw another score but some great last ditch tackling from the visitors forced a knock on from the attempted offload. 

Eventually, the Abercwmboi team got a deserved score when their strong centre burst through a now tiring defence; to their credit the visitors kept going right to the end. 

Caer responded positively though picking up the pace again for the last 3 mins with a run by Abeishek and pick up by Scott Pritchard sucking in the defence for Connor Mayo to jink his way over the line for the final score. 

Well done to both teams today - a very entertaining and tough encounter where the home team's defence and line speed laid the platform for a hard fought victory #togetherasone.