Pontllanfraith kicked off 2024 at the Welfare looking to continue their unbeaten league run against top of the table Abersychan. Fraith made 5 changes to the side that beat Forgeside before Christmas.
Having been notoriously slow starters recently, the message from coach Neil Clarke was to start fast, and after receiving the opening kick off Fraith soon opened the scoring. Consecutive lineout takes from Mark Counsell and Nathan Meyrick saw Fraith march down the field before Captain Jake Bean stormed over the line for a try in his first game back since returning from knee injury. Soon after the restart Pont were back in Abersychan’s 22 and following a delightful set piece move off the back of the lineout, centre Matthew Morgan powered his way over the line for try number 2.
Abersychan kicked a penalty to halt Pont’s momentum and the visitors had all the territory and possession for the remainder of the first half. Following several infringements for high tackles, the referee finally lost patience and sent flanker Richard Meyrick-Parker to the bin for 10 minutes. Soon after, with Abersychan threatening Pont’s tryline, scrum half Rhys Collier also received a yellow card for hands in the ruck. Abersychans scrum was providing Pont’s pack the biggest test of the season so far, with Fraith’s forwards having to work hard for every inch. But with Fraith down to 13 men, Abersychan worked the ball down the blindside off the back of the scrum to score their first try on the stroke of half time.
Half Time: Pontllanfraith 12-8 Abersychan
The second half was an arm wrestle for the first 20 minutes with the ball being played primarily in the middle third of the field. Tighthead prop Jay Williams showed some surprisingly good hands under the high ball to accompany his usual big carries. Outside half Andrew Colwill has been instrumental in Pont’s success this season, so when he went off injured midway through the second half you could have forgiven the home side for any panic that could have ensued. However, Pont have the luxury of a player with Lee Butchers ability and experience on the bench to come on and steady the ship.
Josh Morril and Ieuan-Rhys Beal combined nicely on the counter attack to gain Pont 60 yards and put them deep into Abersychan’s 22 where flanker Richard Meyrick-Parker leapt over the ruck to score Fraith’s third try. Pont secured the bonus point with the final play of the game, superb counter-rucking from Greg Brown near midfield turned the ball over and Rhys Collier found himself in the open field from halfway with nothing but green grass in front of him. However his legs abandoned him and he was chased down 2 meters from the tryline. But the covering tackle was deemed high and illegal, forcing the referee to award a penalty try.
Full Time: Pontllanfraith 24-8 Abersychan
Full squad effort from the boys, even those not in the match day squad making the effort with pre match drills and water duty. Big thanks to all the supporters for once again packing the sideline and roaring the boys on.
The victory sees Pontllanfraith displace Abersychan at the top of the league are we're back in action this weekend, travelling up the valley to Beaufort.
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