Fixture

With just 15 points separating 5^th and 11^th position, Caerphilly RFC more or less secured their position in the National League Division 2 East for next season with a 9 try victory of gutsy Caldicot forcing them to continue their fight for survival just above the relegation zone.

Following some indifferent play over the last couple of months the team reverted to the running rugby they are now renowned for and gave their backs a day of running. It wasn’t all plain sailing however as the day started badly, the weather forcing the cancellation of many fixtures following torrential rain over night. It took an army of volunteers several hours to remove the excess water from the field, allowing play to go ahead.

Matthew Hurley opened the scoring with a try on 15 minutes, both sides evaluating each other during the first quarter. A well worked try 5 minutes later from Lewys Willacott was assisted by Hurley as he placed a well-directed kick towards the corner as the winger collected to go over under the posts. The shell-shocked visitors struck back from the restart winning the ball from the kick then a penalty as Caerphilly strayed offside, full back Rhys Harrision stepping up to convert the penalty.

The home side attacked from the restart and won possession from which Jac Jonathan found himself heading for the line following a pass from Hurley. Despite the close attention of the Caldicot defence the scrum half fought his way to the line, Hurley adding the conversion for a 19-3 lead.

A period of territory and possession paid off for the visitors scoring 2 converted try’s as they turned pressure into points scoring 2 converted try’s through no.8 Joe Perks and winger Will Francis, Harrison converting. It was Caerphilly who had the last say of the half, however, Hurley converting a 38^th minute penalty for a 22-17 lead at the half way point.

Despite the heavy ground, the home side had the better of the second half running from all over the field crossing the whitewash 5 times, Hurley adding 2 conversions, without response from the visitors. First to score was Joe Bezzani, the flanker bursting through a tackle on the 22 to find space behind the defence, quickly followed minutes later with a popular try from prop Kieron Thomas. Having had the ball stripped from them in attack the prop wrestled the ball from the scrum half, and, spinning he found that the parting of the waves had occurred in front of him as he dashed for the line to score under the posts. The lucrative third quarter ending with replacement Lewis Crane crossing. Running from all over the field, the side broke down the right, the replacement finding a gap to burst through from the 22 as the ball was swung back left, going over in the corner.

Next over the line was Replacement Liam Union, the centre finally going over on the right following a blunder from referee Rhys Jones, adjudging a knock on from a break on the left which put the Union clear heading for the line, the ball being pushed back from a Caldicot defender. Club captain Tom Axenderrie quickly followed, diving over after collecting loose ball from the 5mtr line, giving the home side an unassailable 51-17 lead with just 15 minutes to play.

The home side sat back a little and to Caldicot’s credit, the visitors never gave up and enjoyed a purple patch of 10 minutes pressure as they lay siege upon the Caerphilly try line, scoring through centre Sean Lewis, but failing to add to this despite the pressure and gain a valuable try bonus point. The game was eventually wrapped up by Caerphilly man of the match full back Cyle Powell going over in the corner in the 9^th minute of injury time. The win catapulting the team to 3^rd in the league.

Next week, Caerphilly travel to bottom placed Nantyglo in search of the last 5 points to guarantee another season in division 2 East. Kick off 2:30pm.