Senghenydd RFC remain unbeaten in SWALEC Division One East after a 26-24 home win against Blaenavon on September 20.
The game started well for Blaenavon despite dropping the ball on several occasions and giving away far too much territory from unforced errors.
Blaenavon took the lead after eight minutes through a Matthew Powell try that resulted from a Senghenydd turnover after a big tackle by Sam Cook. Darren Pearce converted to make it 7-0.
A 50-metre penalty from the Senghenydd outside-half reduced the deficit after Blaenavon collapsed a promising Senghenydd maul.
Blaenavon’s big pack started to dominate the smaller Senghenydd eight but the Senghenydd outside-half kept his team in contention with his tactical line kicking and all-round clever play.
From open play Darren Pearce turned over Senghenydd causing them to give a penalty from the resulting kick to touch by Dan Phillips Blaenavon had a lineout on the Senghenydd 25 metre line.
An unstoppable driving maul from the lineout was brought down by the Senghenydd pack and the referee ran under the posts to give a penalty try and another seven points to Blaenavon.
Senghenydd then threw everything into attack and came close to crossing but for a try saving tackle from Gareth Jones.
The pressure told and Blaenavon gave away an easy penalty for Senghenydd to kick and make the half time score Senghenydd 6, Blaenavon 14.
The second half saw a change in fortunes as it was the Blaenavon pack that were put under pressure.
Senghenydd wing Adrian Owen scored a try in the corner which they failed to convert.
A Blaenavon sin-bin resulted in another three points immediately and from a driving maul Senghenydd crossed for their second try to put them firmly in the driving seat.
They added another penalty to make the the score 26 -14, but Blaenavon wasn’t finished yet a they seemed to get their second wind.
With eight minutes to go they drove the Senghenydd pack over the line causing them to infringe and for the referee to award Blaenavon a second penalty try, which Darren Pearce failed to convert.
With the clock ticking down Blaenavon threw everything into attack and Matthew Powell scored a great individual try in the corner but the conversion went astray to leave it at 26-24 to Senghenydd.