Fixture

Crickhowell RFC 36 Pontllanfraith RFC 5

    In a welcome return to the field after weeks of inaction, Crickhowell took on Pontllanfraith RFC on Saturday. Crickhowell got off to a shaky start losing the first scrum badly and handling errors giving the visitors the upper hand. It was not long, however, before Crick shook off the cobwebs and began to assert their skills. After a clearance kick upfield followed by a maul, scrum-half Richard Rhydderch-Roberts sold a dummy and darted through the gap to scoe with outside-Half Tom Keane converting. Crick’s second came after a drive by second-row Lewis Logan. Keane threw a long pass out to Matt Botting who went over.after a Pontllanfraith player was yellow-carded, Crick again took play upfield with a kick to the corner where winger Niall King secured the ball and dived over. At the break, the score stood at 17-0.

    Not long after the resumption of play, full-back Harry Summers was taken off the field after injuring himself putting in a try-saving tackle and it is to be hoped that he will have a speedy recovery. The home team’s bonus point try was scored after a strong charge from Sion Windebank. The forwards secured the ball at the breakdown and Rhydderch-Roberts spun the ball out to Keane who ghosted in and then converted his own try. Despite Pontllanfraith’s best efforts, they were unable to contain Crickhowell’s back-line and wing Bleddyn Carrington scored their fifth after receiving the ball just inside his own half and, spotting a gap, raced through to score under the posts with Keane again converting. Keane was on top form and despite a brilliant piece of deception by smoothly rolling the ball around his body was unlucky to have the ball held up over the line by a quick-witted defender. But, it was Keane who scored Crick’s final try of the match with a dazzling run employing pace, acceleration and a hand-off to cross the whitewash. Pontllanfraith never let their heads drop despite trailing by 36 points and their determination paid off after their strong forwards exerted constant pressure near the Crick line, finally allowing Jacob Bean to secure a consolation try.

    Thanks are due to match sponsor Dai Nuttall and ball sponsors the Llangynidr Suckers.

Crickhowell rose back up to second place in league 3EC with two games in hand over leaders Bettws RFC.

Next week sees another home fixture on the 14th. When Crick welcome Crumlin RFC to Parc Broyd with kick-off at the usual time of 2.30.