Abercynon Match Report

Date:- 24th January 2009Venue:- AbercynonFixture:- Friendly ABERCYNON (SECONDS) RFC 12 POINTS BEAUFORT RFC 16 POINTS It was a lively friendly encounter that got Beaufort back on the winning track but the match proved to be bereft of any creative rugby. Beaufort had a marked superiority in the scrummage against a heavier home pack and more than held their own in the line outs . However, the visitors lacked the snap to make this advantage tell falling foul of the referee with a raft of infringements and acts of indiscipline. The Abercynon standoff siege gun infield kicks kept Beaufort pinned back for long periods and he eventually kicked four long range penalties which kept the final result in doubt to the very end Two penalties in the first quarter had Beaufort chasing the score . There were some electric bursts from the base of the scrum by Matthew Burrows which should have ended in a better result . Beaufort had to wait until Geraint Phillips back for his first game after his jaunt to Australia got the first points. He robbed his opposite number of the ball and had the wit and pace to run the last thirty metres to the try line . Dylan Smith's conversion nudged Beaufort in front 7 points to 6 Before half time another long rang penalty restored Abercynon lead to the interval. But after the break Beaufort got it back again with penalty of their own . That didn't last very long because the prodigious kicking of the home standoff cancelled this out and Beaufort were again chasing the ;lead . But the last quarter Beaufort wore down the opponents and costly acts of indiscipline allowed Beaufort's captain Dylan Smith to slot over two further penalties before the end Beaufort can be well pleased with the performance of their youngsters. Daniel Purchase at flanker had a very impressive match as did loose head prop Matthew Harding . Substitute back rower Paul Francis made a difference when he came on in a better second half for the visitors but Beaufort star man on the day was Geraint Phillips for a superb all round performance in attack and defence Next week Beaufort go back to league duty with a home match against Caerleon RFC who are just below them in Division 6 BARRIE CASWELLPRESS OFFICER