Fixture

Caerphilly no.8 Gareth England grabbed four try’s as Caerphilly defeated Llanhilleth at Virginia Park last weekend to end their barren run in the Swalec Welsh League Division 3EastA fixture. Flanker Tom Axenderry pitched in as the Green and White’s secured their bonus point win.

It was the visiting side that squandered the first chance at goal, a series of penalties giving outside half Ashley Prew a shot of goal in the first 5 minutes. But with a stiff wind the effort went wide

Caerphilly struck back as captain and outside half Nathan Gittings twice found touch to take the home side up to the 22 mtr line. Full back Simon Skinner was given his first attempt at goal on the 10 minute mark, which he duly slotted between the posts. Minutes later and Skinner was given another shot, after Caerphilly worked their way up field with another series of penalties, this time however, the wind pushed the kick wide.

Persistent offending pushed referee Simon Beard to produce the first of the visitors yellow cards on the quarter hour mark and from the resultant scrum England grabbed his first try driving over the line after collecting the ball from the base of the scrum, Skinner converting.

England was on hand again on the 25 minute mark, collecting from another close scrum and driving over the line, Skinner on hand to convert again. It took a great defensive effort minutes later to keep the visitors at bay as they won a series of 5 penalties in the Caerphilly 22, eventually losing the ball for Caerphilly to clear on the half hour mark before England grabbed his third on the stroke of half time. Having broken from deep through the centres, England was on hand to collect the ball in the 22 before being put into space from centre Chris Thomas to go over and give Caerphilly a 22-0 lead at half time.

With the wind behind them in the second half, the restart crossed the dead ball line giving the visitors an advantage. Caerphilly gave away a penalty and the visitors were on the 5mtr line. The resultant lineout was won and Richard Phelps was pushed over the line for a visitors score.

England grabbed his fourth on 50 minutes, just before his exit from the field, taking the ball from another set piece to be helped over the line, his pack in toe. Forward partner Tom Axenderry was next on the score sheet, 5 minutes later as he performed a sidestep on the 22 mtr line to wrong foot the defence and cross in the corner, Skinner adding the difficult conversion and a 34-5 lead.

Try as they may, and despite the visitors again reduced to 14 men, Caerphilly failed to break the Llanhilleth defence any further, and despite a couple of try saving tackles from Skinner and Gittings, the home side could do nothing to stop a last minute score as the Centre Will Davies collected an interception in his own 22, Caerphilly on the attack, to run the length of the field unopposed to score a consolation try, Prew adding eh difficult conversion at the end of the game.

Elsewhere the Youth team defeated Nelson in the Caerphilly and District Cup by 53 points to 0 as Lewys Willacott grabbed a Brace, followed by try’s for Connor Kawulock, Cyle Powell, Rhys Jones, Rhys Evans, Josh Lewis, Sam Haley and Jacob McCarthy, while Captain Ben Candy chipped in with 4 conversions.

This weekend sees Caerphilly 1^st XV entertain Bridgend Sports Club in the 3^rd Round of the Swalec Bowl, whilst the 2ndXV travel to Abercwmboi, both 2:30pm kick off, and the Youth team welcome Caerleon for a 2:00pm kick off.