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Division Three East

October 2 2010

TENACIOUS TILLERY OUTMUSCLED AT GARN
Garndiffaith (8) 27 Abertillery (3) 14

Lasgarn View, or ‘The Tump’, proved what an unforgiving place it can be for visiting sides. The Green & Whites gave their now almost-customary gutsy, committed display and restricted the hosts to a narrow interval 8-3 lead, having led for much of the opening period. But the abrasive, bigger Garn power pack held the upper hand throughout, especially in the scrum, denying Tillery any worthwhile platform. Three home tries in the first fifteen minutes after the break settled the game, Jon Price’s late try coming as just reward for his own personal performance and that of his team before time ran out on a potential bonus point.

Both teams failed with early penalties before some backchat in the home ranks gave Jamie Davies a better chance and he slotted the kick for a eighth-minute Tillery lead.

With the home side determined to ram home their weight advantage in the scrums, there was a brief fracas with Dean Griffiths holding his own, but the Tillery prop was forced to retire after a shoulder stinger injury minutes later.

The visitors’ line-out was going well with Adam Morgan stealing home ball, but the Garn pack were enjoying the better of the scrum and loose play although this wasn’t matched by their decision making and handling behind which frittered away possession and Tillery were able to hold onto the slight lead without too many scares.

The home pressure eventually told as outside-half James Davies slithered his way through a gap for a neat touchdown. The conversion failed but full back Tom Davies stretched the advantage with a penalty in a surprisingly lengthy spell of injury time.

H-T 8-3

The opening period of the second half settled the game. The Tillery pack was ruptured at a defensive scrum and there were anxious moments as lock Dafydd Jones received treatment on the field as a result before being replaced by Adam Collins.

The Tillery defence held firm at a series of close scrums but the home side at last got a score with an excellent try. A powerful forward drive gained territory and sucked in the Green & Whites’ fringe cover before the ball was spread left, some deft handling sending in the home left-wing in the corner.

Garn now benefited from some good fortune for two rapid-fire tries although it would be churlish to deny that they deserved it for their dominance. First, a Tillery counterattack broke down on the 10-metre line and the ball sat up nicely for the home scrum-half to gather and race through unattended. Then a clearance kick and chase rebounded backwards off a Tillery player straight into the hands of a Garn player who went over for a simple score.

Tillery refused to buckle and with Jon Price and Dan Meredith at the forefront of the Green and Whites’ efforts, two Davies penalties reduced the deficit to 27-9.

A last-ditch tackle by Miles, which on another day with another referee might have brought a penalty try, prevented a further home score in the corner and it was Tillery who finished the stronger. Price deservedly went over from close range after an excellent Dan Meredith-inspired drive but there was no time to grab another try which might have brought a bonus point.

Referee

Ian Paul Buckland

Conditions

Overcast - ground good

TEAM:

Ross Paul launches a box kick against Garndiffaith

RESULTS AND TABLE - 2/10/10