Blackwood 28-13 Caerphilly
Saturday, September 23, Glan yr Afon Park
For the second week running, Caerphilly failed to gain any points as they went down to local rivals Blackwood at Glan yr Afon Park on Saturday, September 23.
The visitors were guilty of spilling the ball on numerous occasions and were reckless with possession as they fell to a 28-13 loss in Division 2 East.
Caerphilly took the lead on six minutes courtesy of returning outside-half Matthew Hurley. The home side were caught offside and Hurley slotted an easy penalty in front of the posts.
Minutes later, Blackwood hit back.
Against the run of play, a kick to the corner lay the foundations for a catch-and-drive lineout which rolled over the try line.
Full-back Nathan Gittings added the conversion for a 7-3 lead.
Blackwood extended their lead shortly after with another try, as both sides were reduced to 13 men after a fracas with tempers running high and the hosts fielding five ex-Cheesemen in their ranks.
Caerphilly looked to react quickest, but poor handling skills undermined their majority possession.
Will Worthington was unlucky not to score after he dropped the ball with the line beckoning, but made amends on the stroke of half-time.
The winger grabbed his side’s first try, breaking from deep to cross in the corner.
Hurley’s conversion was off-target, and at half-time, the scores were 14-8.
Caerphilly were first out of the blocks in the second half, as centre Liam Union reduced the deficit to a solitary point with his try, with the home defence stretched.
However, Hurley’s miss would prove costly, as Blackwood found a foothold in the game.
The hosts scored twice in seven minutes with some enterprising play, making the best of Caerphilly’s spurned chances.
Gittings converted both scores to put the cherry on the bonus point.
Despite Caerphilly’s persistence, they failed to trouble the scoreboard again, and the game finally finished with the visitors again spilling the ball with the try line begging.
The Cheesemen next welcome Abercarn, who sit one place above Caerphilly in Division 2 East by virtue of points difference, to the Constructaquote Stadium on Saturday, September 30.
• Match report and photography by Mark Tamplin of Caerphilly RFC.