Fixture

               Caerphilly completed a well-orchestrated win at Caldicot in the National League Division 2 East last weekend running in 3 tries against 1 at Longfellow Road. Despite the snow-covered valleys and freezing conditions, the pitch was in excellent condition, maybe a little too soft as the Caerphilly backs struggled to get grip.

                It was the home side that took the lead with a penalty kick inside the first 3 minutes, however, they failed to turn pressure into more points as both sides struggled to get a foot hold in the game. Caerphilly lost second row George Oliver after just 18 minutes, then found themselves down to 14 men, 10 minutes later, as No.8 Sam Haley was given a yellow for some foul play at a ruck. This giving the home side a platform to attack their visitors.

                Working their way upfield the home side had a series of attacks from a 5mtr lineout, their forwards exerting serious pressure on the smaller Caerphilly side. Moving back to the left following a dart at the line under the posts, Caerphilly’s Matthew Hurley anticipated a pass out wide and intercepted a pass to run the length of field and score out wide with the home defence unable to catch the outside half. He was unable, however, to add the additional points.

                The home side grabbed the lead back within minutes, with the visitors still down to 14 men, working their way upfield following another series of penalties to win a 5mtr scrum down the left. A much stronger Caldicot pack pushed the scrum within inches of the line and as the scrum crabbed the ball was swung to the backs where the centre was on hand to cut the Caerphilly defence in two, adding the conversion and a 10-5 lead.

                Both sides huffed and puffed in the second half, but neither could break each other down as they both failed at the last in each other’s 22. A series of changes by both sides changed the dynamic of the game slightly, and it was the Caerphilly side that benefited from the changes. Following a Caldicot mistake the visitors found themselves with a 5mtr lineout. Flowing a catch and drive the maul eventually worked its way to the line for no.8 Haley to dive trough a gap and touchdown over the line, evening out the score at 10-10, Hurley failing to convert out wide.

                A bewildering decision from the referee almost turned into points for the home side. Breaking from deep, Caerphilly’s Tom Candy appeared through, on the half way line. The Caldicot defence scrambled and the final tackle very nearly decapitated the full back, however, the official failed to see it that way and the home side broke up to the Caerphilly try line.

                Following a knock-on Caerphilly were awarded a 5mtr scrum under their own posts. Spinning the ball out left the home side expected a clearance upfield, but the visitors spotted a gap and spun the ball wide. With Candy’s addition to the line, the full back cut a good angle and found himself in acres of space, running from deep inside his own 22. With a solitude defender the beat, a deft sidestep on the half way line took care of that to leave an open field to run half the length and complete a breath-taking move from end to end. Hurley added the additional 2 pints to give the visitors a lead at 10-17.

                Caerphilly had to weather an onslaught at the end as the home side laid siege in the final 10 minutes, and as Caerphilly cleared upfield from another attack the home full back failed to gather a high ball and knocked on, referee deciding that that was enough additional time. The 4 points keeping Caerphilly in touch with the top of the table.

                Caerphilly Youth had a good win against Abergavenny 20 points to 3 at Virginia Park last weekend, centre Jorge Lucey grabbing 10 points with a try, conversion and penalty, Alex Jones and Michael Morgan grabbing a try apiece. Next week Caerphilly visit Garndiffaith in a return fixture, the second team welcome Nelson, both kick off’s 2:30pm.