Fixture

Caerphilly RFC travelled to Monmouth last weekend facing a difficult encounter in their latest Swalec League fixture. Outside half Matthew Hurley helped himself to 22 points as the Castletown side overcome a strong Monmouth side at Chippenham Playing fields.

Caerphilly took the lead playing with a strong wind at their backs inside the first 5 minutes as second row Gary Davies made nuisance of himself at the kick off, Caerphilly eventually braking towards the try line Josh Williams storming his way to the line. With 3 players outside him, the flanker was just unable to release the ball before being hauled down with inches to spare. Hurley stepped up however to slot between the posts.

Placing the ball behind the home side Caerphilly kept the attacks from deep, but during their first break for the line, Monmouth won a series of penalties and then a scrum just in front of the posts. A quick ball from the scrum seemed to be knocked on, but missed by the official. The ball was quickly spread wide for the home side to score in the corner.

Caerphilly regained the lead on the quarter hour mark, Hurley again on hand with a penalty. The home side closed the gap on the half hour mark with a penalty, but minutes later they were down to 14 men with a high tackle made by their centre on second row Will Oliver, Hurley again slotting the ball between the posts, leaving the half time score at 8-9.

Caerphilly failed to gain any real advantage with the wind behind them and the home side made them pay the price for a lacklustre first half performance as they scored 10 unanswered points with a penalty kick and a converted try, Caerphilly having lost their hooker to the sin bin on 44 minutes.

Another slotted penalty from Hurley on 53 minutes closed the gap, but the visitors were chasing the game against the wind. Caerphilly entered the last quarter 6 points adrift before finding any real form. Breaking up field they won a penalty on the half way line which Hurley pushed into the corner. Winning Monmouth lineout ball they pushed into midfield only for the attack to break down. Recycling the ball, Hurley darted from deep and found a gap, which he exploited to get behind the defence and crossed the line with 3 defenders in toe. Adding the conversion gave the visitors a slender 1 point lead.

Monmouth outside half Paul Emanuelli saw half a chance on 70 minutes and with the wind behind him slotted a well thought drop goal form the half way line, giving the home side a slender 2 point advantage. Another break from deep down the right saw Williams breaking through the tackles giving the visitors the space to spread the ball right. Centre Matthew Nuthall made the hard yards and the ball was eventually in the hands of full back Joe Haley who drove over in the corner giving the visitors a 3 point advantage.

Desperate for points the home side twice had chances to break, their desperation showing on the last as the pass out wide sailed into touch. Caerphilly drove up field eventually winning a penalty for Hurley to complete his 22 points, slotting the ball between the posts for a 21-27 Hard Fought victory.

Elsewhere the 2ndXV defeated Builth Wells 5-66 with a hatrick from Tom Candy and a brace from Simon Skinner, while outside half Luke Williams scored a try and slotted 8 conversions. The youth team defeated Risca 6-15 to progress to the 2nd round of the Welsh Cup. Next week the 1st team entertain Hartridge, kick off 2:30pm, while the 2nd team welcome Wattstown in a 2pm kick off.