Following last weeks heavy defeat away to Gwernyfed, Pontllanfraith kicked off their home league campaign against RTB Ebbw Vale.
Pont started the game strongly, RTB lost their opening lineout following a great clearance kick from Riley Williams, and a succession of big carries from Luke Eatwell saw Fraith move deep into the opposition’s half. The opening scrum came soon after 5 meters out, but RTB defended well, holding Pont up over the line. RTB cleared their lines with a goal line drop out and a few phases later the ball sprung loose from a ruck and fell into a green pair of hands, who scampered 60 meters down the wing to open the scoring against the run of play.
Following the restart, a loose kick from Pont gifted RTB the ball in Pont’s half and the men from Ebbw started to apply the pressure with a couple of lineouts in Ponts 22. The green centre found himself in a Josh sandwich after a good double hit from Pont’s centre combo of Meacham and Morrill, but the RTB backs eventually crossed the line after a green scrum 5 meters out.
Pont responded well by reclaiming their own kick off and following a driving lineout maul, Jake Bean picked and go’d down the blind side and went over in the corner, Andrew Colwill expertly slotted the extras from the touchline.
Excellent lineout defence from Richard Meyrick temporarily thwarted the advancing RTB following kick off, but once again the RTB backline cut through Pont’s defence on first phase ball from a scrum and a neat offload saw the number 8 score under the posts.
A common theme to the encounter was the quality of Ieuan-Rhys Beals restarts, and once again RTB failed to deal with the kick off which was reclaimed by Pont. A break from Josh Morrill followed by another from Nathan Meyrick advanced Pont into the away teams 22 before Luke Eatwell capped off his fine first half display by bundling over the line to score Fraiths second.
Half Time: Pontllanfraith 14-21 RTB Ebbw Vale
The second half began with an unpenalised forward pass setting the RTB Winger off towards the tryline from inside his own half, but a superb last ditch tackle 5 meters from the line from Fraith full back Ieuan-Rhys Beal saved the try. RTB kept the pressure on with a series of scrums and a free kick 5 meters out. A big hit from Lewys Lippiet followed by a turnover from Andrew Colwill allowed the home side to clear their lines. A big carry and offload from replacement Lippiet put Josh Meacham into the open which moved Pont over the halfway. The Pont scrum was on top now and putting pressure on RTB on their own ball and allowing Fraith to spend an extended period of time camped in RTB territory. Full back Beal went close after an improvised (volleyed) chip and chase put him behind the defence, but the bounce of the ball beat him. Again Pont came close to leveling the scores, but with Lewis Lippiet 2 meters short of the line, the final pass went astray. Credit to RTB for their defence and they eventually cleared their lines after Pont were penalised for not releasing at the ruck.
From the resulting lineout near halfway, Jake Bean was shown the yellow card for an infringement at the lineout. RTB kicked for the corner and after a well worked lineout maul, they crossed for their fourth try.
RTB defended stoutly as Pont pushed for a losing bonus point in the final minutes before a RTB penalty kick extended their lead in the final moments.
Full Time Pontllanfraith 14-29 RTB Ebbw Vale
Much better performance this week despite the result, credit to RTB who were clinical when in possession. Next week Pont travel to Whiteheads for round 1 of the cup before returning to league action a week later away to Bettws.
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