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Division Three East

A highly promising start which culminated in an early lead through a David Rossiter try only flattered to deceive as Tillery slumped to a comprehensive defeat at the hands of an adventurous Abergavenny side that was full value for its bonus-point win in this first-ever league meeting of the clubs.

Up front, the Green & Whites pack more than held its own against the hosts, with the scrum and line-out in particular functioning well. But behind, the home backs had too much wit, invention and pace running in six tries. To their credit, Tillery continued to battle to the bitter end and probably deserved more for their efforts than the solitary try.

Tillery started in fine fashion moving the ball slickly and dictating the early pace. A neat Gareth Edwards grubber set up good field position in the home 22 and when the hosts transgressed, the Green & Whites elected to kick for touch. The decision proved a good one as the Tillery pack shunted its way over the line for David Rossiter to touch down for a well-worked try.

At this stage, the visitors looked comfortable but suddenly they went off the boil and the danger signs were obvious when it first took an excellent Darren Miles’ tackle on home centre Stuart Davies and then some home handling errors to deny a try.

Eventually a home score came as Tillery failed to clear their lines with a loose kick. It appeared that home wing Williams spilled the ball forward, but the play was allowed to continue and live-wire flanker, Josh Hitchman sped through after some slick handling.

Tillery’s restart went long and immediately they paid the price as from the scrum the home side’s backs combined superbly well to set up a second try for Hitchman.

With confidence visibly oozing through the home ranks from the two rapid-fire scores, their backs again worked the ball wonderfully well with a clever overhead pass by full back Williams setting up Stuart Davies for a try.

The home side were now in full flow and nearly added a further try whilst Tillery suffered as influential number eight Kevin Day was forced to depart with a nasty ear injury.

HT: 21-5

Tillery started the second half like the first, dominating the game with the pack pinning the hosts deep in their 22. Aled Penn went close to getting a second Green & Whites’ try and they were unlucky when Jonathan Price was held up over the line.

The home side were fortunate not to see at least one yellow card as some lenient officiating allowed them to transgress repeatedly. Tillery eschewed a straightforward penalty opportunity to reduce the deficit to within two scores and did so again only for a tapped penalty move to go badly awry.

With that, the game’s fate was sealed as the home side broke the stranglehold with a slashing counterattack, Davies going over for his second score and a bonus-point try. Home pivot, Nathan Preece then finished off a neat move for a further touchdown before wing Will Williams displayed a blistering turn of pace to race through from near his own line setting up Davies for his hat-trick with the best score of the game.

Tillery might have scored at the end as they pressed but couldn’t take advantage of an extra man after home lock Coles belatedly saw yellow for killing the ball.

A very disappointing start for Tillery then in this opening fixture of the new season, but there was more than enough up front to build on and take heart for the challenges ahead.

TEAM:

Referee

Ian Davies (Porthcawl)

Conditions

Warm and sunny - ground excellent

RESULTS AND TABLE - 12/9/10

Dan Meredith cleans up at line out prior to David Rossiter’s early try

Click here for the opposition’s match report

September 11 2010

BATTLING TILLERY RUN RAGGED
Abergavenny (21) 40 Abertillery (5) 5