Aberdare Rugby Club

Competition - National League 4 South East

Aberdare RFC1^st XV –  50 pts.  Barry RFC1^st XV –  07 pts.

Match Report

This was the first opportunity that Aberdare have had to play the Barry outfit this season as the first game was cancelled due to bad weather in December.  As a result the visitor's arrived at the Ynys as an unknown quantity.

The Aberdare side had to make some last minute changes due to outside half Steven Roberts late failing a fitness test due to an injury picked up on Wednesday night,  as a result Gavin Hek started at the No 10 berth and his place on the bench being filed by James Furey.

Both side's  started well with attacking runs into both 22's being made with some enterprising moves.  From a scrum in the visitors half scrumhalf Ceirion Griffiths picked up at the base of the scrum and with an eye for a gap broke through the defence only to be brought down just short of the try-line, with the forwards in good support secured the ball to launch the next phase to find Luke Brennan out on the left wing to dive over for the opening score, Matthew Smith was faced with an awkward kick which he was unable to convert.  Aberdare 5 - 0 Barry.

Aberdare next score can from Outside Centre Matthew Smith who crossed the try-line following an excellent phase of play with forwards and backs linking well, the conversion was unsuccessful, Aberdare 10 - 0 Barry.

The next try for Aberdare will surely go down in the Club Hall of Fame, when Prop Tim Griffiths appeared in the attacking line with two defenders against himself and Brennan, stepped of his left foot to carve the Barry defence in two to cross the line and ground the ball under the posts for Smith to added the extra two points.

Aberdare 17 - 0 Barry.

It was then the turn of skipper Anthony Watts to get his name on the score sheet, when he scored Aberdare's fourth try to secure a bonus point which he grounded between the posts which Smith converted to add two extra points.  Aberdare 24 - 0 Barry.

Watts scored Aberdare's fifth and his second moments later which went unconverted, Aberdare 29 - 0 Barry.

Aberdare's next scored came from leftwing Chris Shellard yet again after some very enterprising play, which Matt Smith converted, Aberdare 36 - 0 Barry.

The Aberdare front row of Jonathan Williams, Tim Griffith and Gareth Rosser worked tirelessly in both attack and defence against a much heavier set of forwards.  One of the unsung workhorses of the day was Gareth Shellard at blindside flanker who's attacking runs at the heart of the Barry defence gave the visitors some major defensive problems.

It was then the turn of the younger of the Watts brothers with the talented Chris Watts slicing through the defence and crossing under the posts to give Smith the easiest of conversions.  Aberdare 43 - 0 Barry.

Anthony Shellard then claimed the next try which came as a complete surprised both sides and supporters, but the Ref was in no doubt, again converted by Smith. Aberdare 50 - 0 Barry.

With a lapse in concentration by the home defence, the visitors were rewarded for all of their hard work with a converted try to bring the game to a close.  Aberdare 50 - 7 Barry.

Aberdare's final home game will be next Saturday 19th April when they host Taffs Well at the Ynys.