The Sec
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Match report Abertillery BG v BlainaThe proverbial game of two halves springs to mind after this encounter at the park on Saturday afternoon.
Blaina shot out of the blocks with an endeavour and purpose that shocked the home team who immediately were put under the cosh, the visitors pack ensured a constant stream of possession for their backs and but for a determined home defence one would have feared for the outcome during the early minutes of the game. However a timely interception by 'green and whites' hooker Joe Rossiter eased the pressure when he sprinted half the length of the field only to find a lack of support, a kick at least established a foothold in the Blaina half. Five minutes into the game saw the first casualty to the Abertillery cause when a knee injury to back row forward Dai Rossiter saw the return of Craig Meredith after his short sojourn at Blaina.
A couple of penalty goals on the 14 and 17 minute marks from Blaina and former Abertillery Youth outside half Shaun Thomas gave the visitors a deserved lead and with the sin binning of home team outside half Chris Stevens the writing seemed on the wall for Abertillery. The resolve of the 'green and white' fourteen was never in doubt and but for wrong options by Blaina and stout defence from the home team further scores could easily have accrued. However a purple patch then came the visitors way with two tries in two minutes firstly by Christian Mapp and then Ross Watts the second converted by Shaun Thomas saw Blaina take what seemed an unassailable 18 - 0 lead and damage limitation seemed the order of the day for the young Abertillery team.
HT 0 - 18
Blaina retired to their changing room during the interval whilst the 'green and whites' chose to stay on the park, whether this had an impact on the second half one will never know but it was two different teams that entered the fray for the second forty minutes.
Abertillery who had been under the cosh at the scrum during the first forty now turned the screw on the Blaina eight and drove them off their own ball much to the amazement of both home and away supporters and this was not just a one off occurrence the table had turned and the home eight was now in the ascendancy. The 'green and whites' started to exert pressure and it was not long before home outside half Chris Steven's put their first points on the board with a well struck penalty goal. Blaina now seemed to be feeling the pressure and their campaign was not helped when they had a prop sin binned. It was now the turn of the home team to exert pressure and after a couple of failures at the push over try it took wing Andrew Mason to score the five points when he helped the pack drive over the visitors line, unfortunately the ever increasing wind pushed the resultant conversion attempt wide of the uprights.
With the end of the game approaching the home supporters were on the edge of their seats hoping for a least a bonus point defeat and even what seemed at half time the improbable win, Chris Stevens once again made this now a possibility when he struck another penalty goal to move the home team into bonus point territory and a seven point deficit. Blaina however had other ideas and for the first time during the half forced their way into the home twenty-two and the much dreaded penalty which once again gave them a ten point cushion. Full time had now arrived on the clock however there was still injury time to go and although Chris Stevens had a further attempt at a penalty goal albeit on the outer range of his kicking capability no further scores were achieved and not for the first time this season Abertillery left the field of play with nothing to show for their endeavours.
FT Abertillery BG 11 - Blaina 21
Next week Abertillery have a chance to turn this result upside down when they entertain Blaina in the SWALEC plate competition.
Conditions: Dry but windy, wind increasing as match progressed
Man of the Match: Andrew Mason
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