Fixture

Caerphilly survived a late onslaught at Virginia Park last weekend, but eventually triumphed against a strong and well motivated Aberbargoed team.  A brace of tries from the visitors in the final 10 minutes left a tense finale for the home club, however a last minute try sealed the 2^nd round victory and a sigh of relief as Caerphilly progressed to the third round.

A fourth minute penalty from Matthew Hurley gave the home side an early lead, the outside half doubling the points on 12 minutes as the visitors were caught offside in front of their posts. The inconsistency of Caerphilly was evident again as they threw away 3 golden opportunities in the first quarter, a wild pass out wide, a delayed pass in centre field and a knock on short of the line the main culprits. A series of attacks took their toll on the visitors, with Hurley having added another penalty they found themselves down to 14 men, flanker Craig Browncott having been sent to the bin for persistent transgressions.

Aberbargoed, however, made the most of a stereotyped pass in midfield, collecting the ball in his 22, centre Jamie Clarke sprinted the length of the field to score under the posts Rhys Haggerty adding the conversion. The visitors were reduced to 13 men on the 31 minute mark but held on well to leave the score 9-7 at the half way point, the home side ruin missed chances.

It took 6 minutes of the second half for the home side to extend their lead. Caerphilly winger Josh Watkins, this time, intercepting a pass in his own 22 and running down the wing, scoring under the posts unopposed, Hurley adding the spoils.
With the addition of substitutes, the home side found themselves somewhat in disarray when replacement scrum half Vaughn Thomas was stretchered from the field on 60 minutes, forcing the home side into a series of unplanned changes in the ranks.  A 62^nd minute try from acting scrum half Nathan Gittings extended Caerphilly lead, breaking through the midfield to cross out wide.  

Gittings was guilty of a cynical tap and go after the visitors had been awarded a penalty on half way, and was duly dispatched to the bin. With the extra numbers the visitors made the most of this space and crossed the line twice in a 5 minute spell. Chris Jenkins and Clarke finishing some good moves to bring the visitors within touching sight of the home side.

However, further indiscipline from Aberbargoed left them spending the last 5 minutes rescued to 14 again, and despite a brave effort whilst on the front foot, it was the home side that had the last laugh, Hurley breaking through at the final whistle, out wide and put the tie beyond a gallant Aberbargoed side.

Caerphilly resume their League Division 3 East A campaign this week end, travelling to league leaders Abercarn, kick off 2:30pm, whilst the Youth Team travel to Mountain Ash for an important Welsh Youth Cup  2^nd Round match, kick off 2:30pm.