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Division Three East

With more composure and control, Tillery would probably be celebrating a quarter-final place in the WRU plate. Through the dominance of the front five in the tight, the Green & Whites enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory for large parts of this entertaining tie. But they lacked the sharpness to capitalise when it mattered, perhaps the three-week weather-enforced lay-off taking its toll, in contrast to a Builth side that clinically took its chances which, together with their tenacious defence, saw them through.

An excellent crowd, bolstered by good travelling support from mid-Wales, greeted the two sides and on a very sticky pitch, Tillery made the better start, their pack steamrolling the Builth eight at the first scrum for a penalty that was slotted over superbly by Daniel Haile from close to the touchline.

The home side continued to enjoy the better of the opening exchanges as the pack got on top but against the run of play the Bulls gathered the opening try with an excellent counterattack that started on their 10-metre line. They moved the ball well left and some exemplary support play saw No. 8 Ben Duggan race clear and over for a try converted by Rob Lloyd.

Tillery returned to the offensive but surprisingly eschewed the easy opportunity of a penalty kick at goal some 20 metres out electing instead to go for the corner and the opportunity was missed as Builth cleared their lines. Eventually Tillery took a much more difficult chance as Haile landed a penalty from the 40-metre line but that was cancelled out by a Lloyd penalty as Tillery played themselves into trouble with some wayward passing.

Just before the interval, Greg Lane was yellow carded for an innocuous, yet unnecessary late challenge on the Bulls’ full back and Tillery suddenly found themselves eleven points in arrears as Ben Duggan broke free on the blind side and some sloppy tackling in the home ranks allowed the Builth tight head to go over for a try converted by Lloyd.

H-T: 6-17

The second period started with the visitors seemingly intent on going for a killer score and they extended their lead with a Lloyd dropped goal. Two scores adrift, Tillery brought on the power of Craig and Lee Meredith and changed their tactics to a more direct driving game.

This paid dividends as the visitors, forced onto the back foot in the loose, now started to transgress and after a string of penalties, Duggan saw yellow although he personally appeared a little unlucky when he tried to jackal ball at a breakdown. With an extra man up front, the home eight now exerted huge pressure on the Bulls’ line, which was furthered weakened when their left wing was also dispatched to the sin bin. Four times the Tillery eight drove and each time they were held up over the line as the visitors’ defence showed superb spirit and commitment.

Then just as it seemed Tillery were to be denied as Builth turned the ball over, the Green & Whites won the ball back and from the resultant scrum ten metres out, the referee had no option than to award a penalty try as the Bulls pack crumbled in retreat, Luke Pegler adding the extra points.

With the home side now very much in the ascendancy and fifteen minutes remaining, it seemed highly likely that Tillery would draw level. But mystifyingly they ran several penalties when the better option seemed to gain field position deep in Bulls territory from which to launch attacks upfront.

And Tillery paid the price as some loose passing forced them onto the defensive in their own half and they killed the ball for Lloyd to slot the decisive kick with five minutes to go.

Tillery M o M - Matthew Phelps

   18 February 2012
BULLS BREAK ABER’S PLATE AMBITIONS
Abertillery (6) 13 Builth Wells (17) 23

Division Three East

Latest Table

Results - 21 January 2012