Beaufort Vs Aberbargoed

Date :- 23rd January 2010 Venue Aberbargoed Fixture:- WRU Division 6 ( East) ABERBARGOED 7 POINTS BEAUORT RFC 18 POINTS Before the kick off players ,officials and supporters from both sides stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect for Beaufort's former player John O' Leary who had died suddenly at his Newcastle home over Xmas holiday. John who was 46 and had played prop for the Club during the nineties before moving up north Beaufort got off to the best possible start scoring a try minutes after the kick off. They got themselves into good field position and from a scrummage Paul Francis took the ball within metres of the line to set up a move for lock Ben Harding who burst through the defence for the touch down. . Sadly, nothing resembling this momentum surfaced again until late in the first half. Beaufort tried to force the game and end it in a flourish but too many infringements and series of penalties sustained by both sides made play less than inspiring. Much of the problem seem to lay at the breakdown which was a mess throughout and something of a lottery Beaufort did get themselves back together and in some sort of shape to score a second try which was the best of the contest With the advantage of an Aberbargoed player in the sin bin Hooker Stuart Lee started the movement which allowed centre Michael White to make a trade mark run down the right flank. His wing man Kyle Pernell took a perfect pass to race in over the line. . Dylan Smith added the conversion for a half time lead of 12 points without reply. Smith kicked a penalty after the break before a Beaufort player had a yellow card With superiority in numbers Aberbargoed then had their best period but lacked the incisiveness to breach a solid Beaufort defence. When a score did come it was at the opposite end of the field from Smith's boot which stretched the Beaufort lead to 18 points. However, Aberbargoed made strident efforts in a last gasp attempt to get on the score sheet . In injury time they stole a try when Beaufort fumbled the ball at the base of a five metre scrum which was improved by the conversion. Beaufort star man on the day was flanker Daniel Purchase. Next week Beaufort play hosts to Blaenavon Forgeside for another league encounter. BARRIE CASWELL PRESS OFFICER.