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Division Three East

October 16 2010

BATTLING TILLERY COME UP JUST SHORT

Newport HSOB (7) 14 Abertillery (7) 12

A battling display brought Tillery a richly-deserved bonus point, but not alas revenge for the two defeats in a week by the Old Boys which effectively relegated the Green & Whites two seasons ago. With a little more of the rub of the green, Tillery might well have won, which shows the progress the team has made, and the big, powerful but, on this showing, rather one-dimensional HSOB side could have hardly complained. The hosts though shouldn’t be criticised for playing to their obvious strengths and their scrummaging brought them a somewhat contentious penalty try that won the day, Adam Morgan’s late difficult penalty attempt to snatch the game for Tillery just falling short.

The home side started as expected using their big, burly blindside flanker as a battering ram and the focus for their attacks. With the hosts’ players feeding off his powerful incursions, the Green & Whites were under early pressure, but they held firm as the Old Boys eschewed a number of kickable penalty chances.

Then just as it seemed as if Tillery had weathered the opening storm when they established position in opposition territory, the Old Boys scored as some poor tackle attempts failed to bring down the hosts’ main weapon on the charge. He made a good thirty metres before finding good support inside and slick passing led to a try in the corner by the home right wing, which was excellently converted from the touchline.

Undeterred, the Green & Whites returned to the offensive and were unlucky not to get a try first when they were held up just short after some great driving play, and then as Gareth Edwards was just beaten to the ball after a kick and chase. They were not to be denied though and another series of drives created quick ball for Miles to slice through. He was held up short but the increasingly impressive Ross Paul coolly picked up and went over under the posts unopposed for a converted score.

H-T: 7-7

Tillery started the second half in great fashion as Price picked up on half way at a scrum and burst through clear on the blindside. Davies and Penn in support exchanged passes before the ball was moved right and Miles again sliced through, this time going over for an unconverted try.

Sensing that the visitors held the aces behind, the Old Boys reverted wisely to their tight game, establishing good field position and causing Tillery problems at the scrum. Despite that, the Green & Whites tackled manfully to keep the home side at bay without too much of scare.

Then the game’s turning point came when with fifteen minutes remaining Jon Price was sin-binned for killing the ball at a ruck. In the context of previous transgressions by both sides at the breakdown, it seemed somewhat harsh. Down to seven men, the Tillery pack was under intense pressure at a series of scrums but held firm. Eventually though the pressure told when the outmanned Green & Whites’ forwards were shunted backwards and the referee awarded a penalty try.

Two points behind, Tillery now mounted a late effort to salvage the situation as Price returned to the fray. Again, the Old Boys looked distinctly uncomfortable, cynically infringing at times as Tillery’s more mobile forwards started to create gaps.

With just minutes remaining and Tillery now sensing the a winning score, the referee had no other option than to award a penalty thirty-five metres wide out. Up stepped lock Adam Morgan who struck the ball well only for it to drop agonisingly close under the posts. With that the home side decided to keep matters tight, their final effort to spread the ball almost costing them as Ashley Bayliss just failed to hang on to loose ball with a way to the line clear in front of him.

RESULTS AND TABLE - 16/10/10

Joe Rossiter on the charge from a line out at HSOB