St Julians Match Report

Date :- 13th December 2008

Venue:- Beaufort

Fixture:- WRU League Divs ion 6

BEAUFORT RFC 24 POINTS ST JULIANS (NEWPORT) RFC 3 POINTS

Beaufort got themselves back to the winning habit after last weeks disappointment against Blackwood. They played all the creative rugby that brought them four well orchestrated tries against the Newport outfit to earn them a bonus point and keep them in touch with the top of Divsion 6.

St Julian's came with a jumbo pack and a game plan to stampede their hosts into submission. This failed to work and the only noticeable Plan B they offered was to slow the game down. In this area they had a modicum of success otherwise the try count could have been a lot higher

Beaufort started the match with menace in their stride and a cutting edge in their play to keep their opponents defence fully occupied. A diagonal run by Mike White was collected by stand off Steve Hathaway and his exquisite kick to the corner allowed enough space and time for wing Kyle Purnell to pounce for Beaufort's f first try after 5 minutes.

The next was conjured up from off the top possession at the line out cleanly taken by Mark Heasely . Hathaway floated a pass to White and a sublime piece of skill from the centre sliced open the defence. His unchecked thirty meters sprint to the try line brought a second try under the posts. Hathaway kicked a simple conversion and Beaufort were 12 points up at the end of the first quarter

The third try was Beaufort's best effort . Full back Matthew Burrows slipped into the attack from deep and he linked splendidly with his three quarters . A fine piece of interplay followed . The beneficiary was Daniel Purchase who had impressively covered the yardage to make an extra man to stretch out for a touch down in the corner . Hathaway's wide angled kick split the uprights and Beaufort looked good for a lot more tries

A Beaufort sin binning gave St Julian's some respite and they kicked a penalty before the break but it was a small return for them in a first half which was dominated by the home side

They did have a better second half but not before Beaufort had scored a fourth try. Jason Taylor pinched a ball at a breakdown 15 metres out. From a following scrum Hathaway unleashed his backs and Burrows touchline run gave Beaufort the bonus try

St Julian's then had their best patch. Their threeuarters were occasionally dangerous but the main thrust of their assault came from their heavy pack . However , their ball carriers met a a rock solid Beaufort's defence that remained impressive until he final whistle

Beaufort can be well pleased with their young blades which was a testament to their erstwhile youth policy. At loose head Matthew Harding stood up well to his more experienced opponent. Daniel Purchase was a class act at open side flanker and Lee Roper on the wing showed he has all the attributes to make the position his own to keep. t But the match was superbly controlled by veteran standoff Hathaway to ensure his team were always in the ascendancy

There were a few candidates for Beaufort's star player but Michael White edged it . Sadly after this week's Welsh Districts Cup quarter final at Llandrudnod Wells Beaufort will miss his services for a few months when he undergoes surgery to an old shoulder injury.

BARRIE CASWELL

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