Fixture

Caerphilly’s mad October came to a completion at Abercarn last weekend as they suffered another defeat having playing all top 3 sides in the month. The core of 23-13 somewhat flattered the Gwent side as a strong second half by the Green and Whites could and should have gained them victory.

The home side took an early lead thanks to the boot of outside half Jamie Baker, on 4 minutes, the Caerphilly defence guilty of offside. The visitors struggled to maintain parity in the set pieces, and top of the table Abercarn used it to their advantage. Outside half Matthew Hurley levelled the scores on 12 minutes, the home side also guilty of offside during a Caerphilly attack.

Both defences were strong and cancelled each other out, with both sides making brakes but unable to complete the moves in the last quarter of the field. A missed penalty from Hurley on 33 minutes was costly as the home side went up the other end only for Baker to be given the chance to give the home side the lead, which he took gladly.

A 6-3 score at half time quickly become 9-6 as both outside halves traded penalties early in the second half. With the stalemate remaining, it was the home side that eventually broke the deadlock. A missed penalty saw Caerphilly clear their line to touch. Winning the lineout the home side drove for the line before no. 8 Gareth Peebles brake through to score, Baker adding the difficult conversion from wide.

With daylight between the two, Abercarn played with freedom, and their running rugby paid off. A deep kick from Baker saw Hurley knock on and gift the home side a scrum. Breaking right of centre. Full back John Steer entered the line and broke the tackle to cross under the posts and extend the lead.

Caerphilly weren’t prepared to give up, and with a number of changes they broke right. Bringing play back into the centre, replacement second row Marc Davies broke through to score just left of the posts, Hurley adding the spoils and leave the visitors 10 points adrift with a quarter of an hour to go.

Minutes later Hurley intercepted in his own 22, but the home side defence scrambled and caught him just short of the line, a knock on giving advantage back. A tense final 10 saw Caerphilly on the ascendancy, and the home side found themselves reduced to 14 men on 72 minutes. With Caerphilly playing catch-up they passed an opportunity for a penalty conversion after Abercarn’s hooker was guilty of a high tackle, opting to go for the corner. The catch and drive was on, but the home defence was up to the task and eventually cleared their lines. Despite a gallant effort from the visitors attacking at every opportunity, the home side held on to the lead.

With the top of the Youth leagues suffering lack of match time, Caerphilly Youth travelled to Mountain Ash to play their Welsh Cup 2^nd Round Tie and went down 9 points to 3, the lack of game instrumental in their early exit from the competition.

Caerphilly take a break next weekend giving way to the World Cup Final, but will be in action on Thursday evening at Abercwmboi where they play the first round of the Mid District Cup, 7:15pm kick off.