The Sec
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Abertillery fall short in their friendly fixture at RhymneyAbertillery BG travelled to Rhymney for a Thursday evening fixture against third division opposition.
A worthwhile match against teams in higher divisions is always a good guide to the progress of a squad. This fixture fulfilled all the desired criteria with Abertillery ringing the changes giving much needed game time to players who have been on the fringe this season against a team who at times stretched and asked questions of the green and whites. Overall the visitors proved to be equal to the task and although coming second in an entertaining fixture more ticks filled boxes than crosses.
The opening twenty minutes of the match were played mostly between the two twenty-two's with both sides looking for an opening. It was the home team who eventually broke the deadlock however when a moment of indecision by the visitors defence led to Rhymney breaking down the touchline for a converted try. Abertillery to their credit stormed back into the game and with the scrum gradually gaining some supremacy a period of pressure led to hooker Joe Rossiter scampering over for an unconverted try. Unfortunately a lapse of concentration from the restart saw their celebrations short lived as Rhymney replied with a well worked try scored wide out.
HT 12-5
Things went from bad to worse at the start of the second half when some inept defence allowed Rhymney to break through the mid field and score a converted try under the posts. The home team had rung the changes during the interval and it seemed that they would now take the upper hand but they did not take into account the grit and determined attitude of their fourth division opposition. A period of sustained Rhymney pressure was relieved when Darren Miles launched a long raking kick deep into the home teams territory this kick was ably followed up by wing Andrew Mason who put his opposite number into difficulties, up came the cavalry in the shape of flanker John Price who with the assistance of his fellow forwards went over for an excellent try converted by Darren Miles.
In fairness to Rhymney once again they upped the anti and strung together some thrilling handling movements along their backline and ultimately had the last word when they scored another well worked unconverted try wide out leaving the final score as a win for Rhymney by a 24-12 margin and a degree of satisfaction from both camps.
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This was one match I was unable to attend. Thanks for the match report.