Fixture

Caerphilly finally ended their win drought with a hard earned and deserved victory in the local derby last weekend at Virginia Park. In a well behaved match full of passion, 3 yellow cards and atmosphere the Green Army of Caerphilly were victorious, progressing to the 2nd round if the Swalec Plate.

Caerphilly came strong out of the blocks and out the visitors under pressure from the kick off. Indeed, thy were awarded a penalty after just 2 minutes, outside half Lloyd Rowlands slotting the ball between the sticks for their first points. Rowlands was again on hand to extend the lead as the home side kept the pressure on the visitors line, 6-0 in as many minutes.

Caerphilly should have extended their lead within the first quarter, twice knocking on with just 5 mtrs left to the line. He home side lost Full back Nigel Jones with just 13 min in the clock, he was ably replaced however with Luke Williams, filling the 10 slot Rowlands moving to full back.

Senghenydd almost got themselves back in the reckoning just after the quarter hour, a charge down and back ahead almost paying dividends, a knock on eventually giving the home side the chance to clear.

Minutes later and the visitors were on the attack again. From just inside the Caerphilly half, a break from the base of the ruck saw the ball spread wide to the wingers, good covering from Caerphilly spoiling a 3 on 2 overlap.

A combination of good defence and poor handling kept the visitors out before being handed another opportunity following a break by scrum half Joe Bray, taking play into the 22 before spilling the ball to waste another good chance. A missed penalty by Rowlands was all they had to show for it.

With the half time looming the visitors launched an attack down the right, however a stamp and some retaliation eventually landed both sides with a player in the bin for the start of the second half,  Caerphilly enjoying a narrow lead having had 63% possession.

The visitors started the second half stronger, forcing a mistake and eventually winning a penalty, taking an attacking lineout in the 5mtr area. Collecting the ball, the pack drive for the line, second row Rib Channon eventually crossing the line for an unconverted try.

Caerphilly were next to score. Following a drop out 22, the home side took play back into the visitors half and centre Will Worthington was on hand slicing through the Senghenydd defence, like butter, to score in the corner and extend the lead, the conversion going just to the right of the posts re-establishing the 6 point lead.
Both sides huffed and puffed, however mistakes by both teams robbed them if opportunities as play moved up to the 80 minute mark. The visitors lost another player to the bin on 78 minutes. However, unreturned by the fewer numbers, the side pressed on, just falling short at the end as they lost the ball during a ruck in the Caerphilly 5mtr area. The sliced clearance from the base crossed the touch and the game was at an end.

Coach Keiran Crawford heaped praise upon the commitment and determination of the players from the outset, and hoed that they can continue, taking this new found confidence forward to the League. This week sees the side travel to Croesyceiliog to resume their league fixtures, 2:30 kick off.