Konica Minolta Cup

Preliminary Round

Aberdare 74

University of Wales Institute Newport 7 

Aberdare hosted an unknown quantity when they were drawn against UWIN in the Preliminary Round of the Konica Cup.

Aberdare opened their account with a well scored try by Gavin Rees after some fine rucking and mauling by all eight forwards, it was Rees that grounded the ball.

The home sides second try came soon after Ryan Cheshire made a powerful run up the middle of the field and supported by Charlie Roberts with an eye for a gap evaded the UWIN back line to cross under the posts and added the two extra points. Aberdare 12 – 0.

Further points were added when James Furey raced away to score in the left-hand corner, which went unconverted.  Aberdare 17 – 0.

Straight from the restart the ball found its way again to Furey who crossed for his second this time grounding the ball under the posts to make the conversion easier for Gavin Hek.  Aberdare 24 – 0.

The visitors sticking to their game plan scored a breakaway try which was converted.  Aberdare 24 – 7.

With a scrum in front of the visitors posts Aberdare hooker Ryan Cheshire stole the ball against the feed and quick to react scrum-half Geraint Jones collected the ball and darted over for Aberdare’s fifth try, which was unconverted.  Aberdare 29 – 7.

UWIN were awarded another scrum this time five meters from Aberdare’s try-line.  The ball was again stolen by Cheshire, Anthony Watts at the base of the scrum picked up the ball and raced up over the halfway line, feeding the ball eventually to Gavin Hek who crossed for his try, which he converted.  Aberdare 36 – 7.

Aberdare’s next try was scored by Prop Simon Davies again after some very strong rucking and mauling from all the forwards, which Hek converted.  Aberdare 43 – 7.

The next score came from James Furey with his third try which was again converted by Hek.  Aberdare 50 – 7 

Furey then added yet another try his fourth, which went converted by Hek.  Aberdare 57 – 7.

Aberdare’s next try was scored and converted by Gavin Hek.  Aberdare 64 – 7. 

It was James Furey who scored next adding his fifth of the day to the Aberdare tally.  Aberdare 69 – 7.

Yet another try went unconverted to close the scoring for the day at Aberdare 74 – 7.

The only thing to spoil the day’s events was the sin-binning of Gareth Rosser for fighting; Rosser will face a disciplinary hearing by his peers at a later date.