RUGBY UNION: Torrential rain an hour before kick-off turned the Abergavenny pitch into something just short of a swimming pool, as both sides battled the weather on Saturday January 18.
This Swalec League Division 3 match was one of only two that managed to play due to the terrible weather.
Abergavenny were probably expecting the result to be a foregone conclusion having beaten Caerphilly 13-42 at Virginia Park earlier in the season.
They were faced with a shock, however as Caerphilly made the most of playing downhill in the first half. It was Caerphilly that made the early inroads, attacking the home try line right from the off.
A series of scrums and a lineout eventually earned the visitors an early lead as number eight Gareth England was held just short, but his outstretched arm managed to reach the line for a vital try on eight minutes, converted by outside half Luke Williams.
Williams extended the lead on 11 minutes – converting a penalty as the home side were found offside in another Caerphilly attack and a deserved lead.
The home side hit back on 18 minutes, winning a penalty close to the line, before executing a catch and drive – Paul Cornock crossing the back of the maul.
Caerphilly could have extended their lead further after winning the ball from the restart, making their way up field before setting a scrum out left.
From the base, England drove to centre field, setting up a ruck. Centre Vaughn Thomas broke and weaved his way through the Abergavenny defence – but the pass failed to go to hand and a try went begging.
A similar result on 32 minutes saw centre Will Worthington making a break for the line, his pass – out of a pool of water – saw full back James Kestell over the line, but his forward momentum and poor conditions combined saw him ground the ball over the dead ball line – no try. A further penalty from Williams on the stroke of half time left the home side trailing 5-13 at the interval.
Abergavenny, playing in better conditions and downhill in the second half were the subject of their own downfall. Yellow cards for key forwards on 47 and 52 minutes, followed by a red card on 70 minutes meant that the home side played the majority of the second period at a disadvantage.
Despite dominating possession and territory, Abergavenny broke the Caerphilly defence, but with the visitors placing kicks behind the defence in the final quarter, Abergavenny were forced to attempt any scores from deep within their own territory, a difficult feat while short of numbers.
Caerphilly held firm to record their fifth victory of the season – lifting them to a mid table position.
Next week the side host Croesyceiliog, the Gwent side five points below them in the league.
Caerphilly hope to continue their winning streak and avenge the 20-17 defeat earlier in the season.
• Report provided by Caerphilly RFC’s Mark Tamplin.