Saturday 27th September 2008

TILLERY DRAW COMFORT TO GO THROUGH

Hirwaun (19) 19 Abertillery BG (0) 19
after extra time, Abertillery go through as away side

After more than two hours of hard, uncompromising rugby under a warm September sun, there was still nothing to separate these sides and so Tillery progressed to the next round of the cup by virtue of being the away side.

Not even the most hardened Tillery supporter would have predicted that after an hour's play which the fired-up home side had totally dominated, gaining a well deserved 19-nil lead through three excellent tries. But the introductions of Adam Pegler and Dan Meredith, who shored up the scrum, and Darren Miles, who added rapier thrust and greater urgency behind, turned the tide as Tillery retaliated with three tries of their own in the last eighteen minutes to draw level dramatically.

Neither side could add to their tally in a tense extra twenty minutes allowing Tillery passage through, but it was hard not to feel sorry for a Hirwaun team who had given their all and must have thought they were on course for a shock as normal time ebbed away.

The hosts had struggled league wise in recent seasons but seemed determined to put that behind them as they tore into an out-of-sorts callow Tillery team containing seven players under 19 years of age. Two tries in the opening eight minutes gave Hirwaun a 12-0 lead and by the interval they had extended that with a thoroughly merited third converted touchdown.

H-T: 19-0

If Tillery thought they would gain succour from the slope in their favour in the second half, they were mistaken as Hirwaun continued to be the more lively, inventive side. But they couldn't add to their score despite heavy pressure as at last the Tillery tackles started to count.

With over an hour gone though it seemed too late for the Green & Whites to gain anything from the game other than a semblance of respectability. Young props Luke Berry and Matthew Phelps had given their all to match their heavier, more experienced opposite numbers in the tight and the appearance of Adam Pegler and Dan Meredith now gave the visitors momentum up front.

Darren Miles had also come on behind and he immediately made a difference taking a quick throw-in to set his backs in motion, Aled Penn looping around neatly to score an unconverted try in the corner. Then Miles scorched through from 40 metres out after taking a neat inside pass, Chris Stevens' conversion just making it off the post.

The home side were now in a state of panic as Tillery attacks rained in from every phase of play. Penn went close again and the pressure told as Luke Pegler wormed his way under several attempted tackles to scamper over under the posts. Stevens add the two extra points to level matters, but a now rampant Tillery were unable to add a further score.

F-T: 19-19

Despite being on the rack at the end of normal time, Hirwaun enjoyed much the better of the opening period of extra time. They had an early chance to regain the lead but a penalty kick went wide.

In the second period, Tillery upped their game again and dominated. A nice kick and chase by Penn nearly resulted in a try and there were several other try-scoring opportunities for the Green & Whites. The tiring home side however held fast although they were unable to break Tillery's territorial stranglehold and it was the Green & Whites' players who eventually held their weary arms aloft at the final whistle.

Tillery BG website man of the match:  Darren Miles

Weather: Warm and sunny
Ground conditions: Excellent

Scorers:
TRIES: Aled Penn, Darren Miles, Luke Pegler
CONVERSIONS: Chris Stevens (2)

Abertillery BG Line-up:
C Stevens; Penn, Bowden, N Stevens (Miles, 55), Bowen; Edwards, L. Pegler; L Berry (A Pegler, 52), J. Rossiter, M. Phelps (D. Meredith, 52), Lane, A Collins, D Rossiter, Penny, Collier.