Following back to back league defeats, Pontllanfraith travelled across to Pontypool to take on Abersychan with promotion hopes on the line. Coach Neil Clarke and Wayne Grimstead had the envious task of selecting a squad from 31 available boys. Ethan Jones got a well deserved first league start in the backrow whilst three former club captains were on the bench providing a wealth of experience.
Fraith started strong with winger Rhys Collier carrying the ball just short of the Abersychan tryline allowing flanker Ethan Jones to pick up and bundle his way over in the corner for the opening score. The home side responded well and playing with the slope and the wind, spent long periods in Pont’s half. They did earn a kickable penalty but the left hand upright denied them 3 points. Pont soon were on the scoresheet again, a good counter attack had them inside the 22 with a huge overlap, at which point captain Jake Bean decided to pick and go on his own and score anyway.
The half continued in a scrappy manner with countless scrums, Pont had the edge at Scrum time and were dominate in the lineout, but it was Abersychan who finished the half stronger getting a score from close range. They were knocking on the door to level the scores with the final play of the half, but good work from the Fraith defence held up the driving maul to turn the ball over.
Half Time: Abersychan 5-12 Pontllanfraith
Coaches Neil Clarke and Onki emptied the bench at half time and it paid immediate dividends with two substitutes combining immediately after the break. When Abersychan failed to deal with the kick off, the ball fell into Lewys Lippiets hands who providing a beautiful offload to Nathan Meyrick for try number three. Pont finally got their bonus point when Jake Bean dotted down after a pushover scrum from 5 meters out.
With the bonus point in the bag and the pressure eased, Pont looked more fluent and full back Ieaun-Rhys Beal went over from 30 meters out after good hands across the backline. Lippiet and Meyrick combined again for another try with hooker Lippiet who, with hands that only Josh Morrill could dream of, threw an inch perfect pass to put Nathan Meyrick through who showed a clean pair of heels to two defenders to score his second. Fair play to the home side, they kept plugging away and scored an opportunistic second try after a clever kick and chase. Pont had the final score though, which went to Lewys Lippiet who bowled two defenders over on his way to the line, capping off a fine return to the club for Lippiet.
Full Time: Abersychan 10-43 Pontllanfraith
More good news followed as it filtered through that neither Forgeside nor Hollybush gained a bonus point victory, this meant that the destiny of the league title was back in Pontllanfraith hands. A bonus point win this coming Saturday against West Mon would give Fraith promotion to division 4 and the league title.
As per the norm this season, big thank you to all the fans who once again packed the sidelines and cheered the boys on.
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