Fixture

Bettws RFC 24 Crickhowell RFC 17

In a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, Bettws RFC ground out a win against Crickhowell. On a gloomy day on a pitch that had seen better days the Newport side stuck to their game plan of using their forward power to gain their deserved victory. They scored the first points after gaining a line-out in the Crick 22 and intense pressure from their pack saw them power over the line and convert their try. Undeterred, a brace of penalties from the boot of Tom Keane closed the gap and a well-worked move involved Adam Sanchez gaining ground and passing to wing Ieuan Miles, who used his speed to gain a try for the visitors giving them the lead. They did not hang on to it for long, however, as Bettws swiftly took play upfield to Crick’s goal-line where their forwards again gained the supremacy, on the stroke of half-time.

    After the break Bettws stretched their lead further with a similarly-worked, and converted, try. Crick seemed unable to release their speedy backs and, on occasions when they could, their efforts were thwarted by good defensive work. A further penalty from Keane gave some hope but the bonus-point try, again from close-quarter work by the Bettws pack, stretched their lead to 10 points. Throughout the game, Bettws’s open play and many forward drives were stifled by heroic tackling from both forwards and backs. Some consolation was that a late penalty from Keane reduced the deficit to to gain Crick a losing bonus point, the final score ending at Bettws 24 Crickhowell 17.

    Bettws now top the League 3 East C table with 48 points while Crick lie second with 44 closely followed by Crumlin RFC with 43. With seven matches still to come, promotion still beckons for the team.  Their next fixture is to be held at Parc Broyd on 15th February when they welcome old rivals West Mon. 

    Congratulations are in order for three Crickhowell players, Tom Keane, Lewis Logan and Mitch Collacott, who have been selected as Mid-Wales District representatives to play Ospreys District D on Feb 19th at Aberavon and Dragons District A at Pontypridd on 13th March.