2008 MATCH REPORTS
Sept 27th - North East Wales Cup game played away at Colwyn Bay.
Colwyn Bay 2nds 5 - Abergele 2nds 29
Abergele 2nds claimed their first victory of the season in the first fixture of the newly created North East Wales Cup competition at Dinerth Road on Saturday. Buoyed if not by their result the previous Saturday but by the performance, Dylan Evans's team hoped to prove to the Bay that their near rivals from along the coast could step up to the plate against one of the strongest teams in the League last season.
Gele once again blended youth with experience with Llion Mortimer, Ian Chesterton and Jamie Blythin keeping the average down for the men in green and it was Blythin the man coming of age having turned twenty one the previous day, who proved to be a constant menace for the Bay ending up with the man of the match award.
The Visitors found it hard going at the start, the hot conditions didn't help and Gele found it difficult to put a strangle hold on decent possession. In fact it was the Bay that created the first two chances of the game, however two penalty kick attempts missed by the narrowest of margins. Once they settled however and put in place some phase play, Gele dominated in every facet. The solid scrum gave the Swordsmen's scrum half to launch a number of attacks for his backs but the back line were unable to find that killer break to pierce the Bay rearguard.
The Gele back row trio of Jamie and Gareth Blythin and Llion Mortimer started to make some telling runs and it was the three combined that created Gele's opening score. Mortimer made the initial break and set up a ruck inside the Bay twenty two, Blythin junior was close on hand and set up the next phase which was pounced upon by Blythin senior who set up the next. With Bay defenders caught up at the ruck, Tony Brown fed Chris Marsh who burst over for the try.
Its an old cliche, but the score certainly settled Gele who then never looked back. The second score of the opening period came just before half time and again blended the graft of the forwards with the grace of the backs. Two or three rucks freed the space for fly half Gareth Evans to feed his backs and some neat linking between Danny Lawrence and Sion Pritchard allowed Lawrence to gather the ball on a loop around and claim the second try. Evans added.
Gele began the second half in the way they completed the first with Lawrence storming down the left wing to claim his brace. By now Gele were purring and the introduction of Paul Myers compelled to the Bay's misery as his half break presented the ball to Sion Pritchard who again linked with Lawrence but this time it was Pritchard that claimed the score having the nouse to touch the ball down over his head after the tackle had been made. It was a score he thoroughly deserved for his performance, his best in a Gele shirt. Evans again put over the conversion.
Gele committed the cardinal sin of not playing to the whistle and allowed the Bay the dignity of a consolation score after the referee had originally signalled that Gele were due an advantage. Even if the game was not in doubt, the Bay's score dented Gele pride and the visitors responded immediately. Jamie Blythin stripped the Bay of possession at a ruck and managed to free the ball to Tony Brown who burst a tackle to conclude the scoring.
Gele should have scored a sixth with Chris Marsh nearly matching Danny Lawrence's brace alas the referee deemed that he had produced a double movement. A great win for the seconds which has set them up well for the second leg at pentre mawr in October and also threw down the gauntlet to the first team that there are a good number of second team players knocking on the door of the first team.
Gele seconds entertain Fflint seconds at Pentre Mawr on Saturday while the first team travel to Wrexham.
12th April Abergele Seconds 0 – Colwyn Bay Seconds 36
Aberegele aimed to maintain their recent good form with a home game against local rivals Colwyn Bay at Pentre Mawr Park on Saturday. Following two excellent home victories, Gele were hopeful that their confidence would enable them to add to their recent good form, but were sent crashing down to earth by a strong Bay squad who have aspirations of a top two finish.
Gele competed well in the set plays and the strength of Alan Wraight at centre caused the Bay some problems but Bay were always that step ahead and claimed a comfortable victory.
These games are giving a perfect opportunity for players to return from injury and Saturday saw the return of several players following lengthy periods of injury.
Despite the defeat, it was pleasing to see Tex Green lasting the eighty minutes as well as Daz Peters putting in a full shift in the front row.
The back three also looked impressive with Leon Field and Sion Pritchard patrolling the wings and the lightening fast Perry Clark running the ball out of defence and he was very unlucky not to register a score following a sixty metre run where the Bay defence could not lay a finger on him and it was left to some dubious defensive tactics by the Bay to stop him short of the line.
All in all it was a disappointing afternoon for Gele, but one that did contain some positives and the seconds now look forward to a game next Saturday against against the first team.
1st March Abergele 1st 30 - Colwyn Bay 2nds 0
Abergele always new this would be a tough fixture but it turned out to be a great victory for the Swordsmen beating the Bay 30 – 0. From the off the Gele Pack Smashed their opposite 8 and stamped authority on the game leaving. The rucking came directly from the training field as 1 to 15 rucked hard in waves of three and four.
With a mixture of forwards and back play Gele pinned the strong Colwyn Bay side in their own 22 forcing them to concede a penalty within the first 10 minutes.
Birthday Boy Gaz Evans was called up to slot 3 points over and Gele were rewarded for their hard work. 3 – 0.
The Bay then kicked off into the safe hands of Paul Myers and another Gele wave started up filed once again putting the Bay on the back foot. With Scrum Half Tom Morpeth having quick and clean ball to Bobby Jones who controlled of the game setting up big runners, such as Mark Davies and Chris Marsh, either side of him.
Colwyn Bay again conceded a penalty in their own half which Captain Si Hughes asked for a touch kick knowing he would win clean lineout ball for the drive. With the straight arm of James Needham Hughes had a clean catch and the drive from ten yards out started, Myers hit the moul hard and Needham joined ripping the ball from Hughes, the drive continued with great control from Morperth and it wasn’t long before the Gele pack drove over the line for Needahm to cross for his first try of the day. Gaz Evans Converted 10 -0.
Colwyn Bay then came at Gele with pace a and determination. They were obviously noit going to the game lying down. With some nice ball handling from their centre partnership they were able to release the pace out wide to challenge Geles defence. The onlookers at Pentre Mawr Park at this stage were given a display of great last line defence tackling by wingers Gethin Jones, Danny Lawrence and the well suited fullback Richard Medlicott. The fast Colwyn Bay backs were held out a number of times by some great pressure and hard tackling that coach Sion Edwards would have been proud of.
Gele soaked up the pressure until half time winning 10 – 0. The home side now had the advantage of the wind and punished Colwyn Bay every time they gave possession back by some great kicking through Bobby Jones and Gaz Evans. The Gele pack again started to rumble with some great support work by Gaz Bolton and Matthew Lynam saw Si Hughes crossing the gain line and sucking in three defenders only inches from the line, with some more fast rucking Morperth threw a long pass out to Bobby Jones who crossed under the post which Evans converted. 17 - 0
The game continued for the next 30 minutes in the same vein with some great continuity and great running lines. With players being aware of what was in front of the tem Abergele were able to cross the gain line and look for support. Gele again found themselves with an attacking lineout five yards out, with clean ball Gele again started the drive towards the line and Needham crossed for his second try. Evans failed to convert making it 22 – 0.
Colwyn Bay then started the return attack again at Abergele throwing everything they had. Gele again Soaked up pressure and forced turnover ball which Mark Dilworth made the most of with great support from Richard Medlicot. Another quick ruck saw Jo Laving cross the gain line and set up Mark Davies with a storming run taking three defenders over the line to make it 27 – 0. With only five minutes to go Colwyn Bay again conceded a penalty under the post which Evans slotted over to make a 30 – 0 to the home side. Captain Si Hughes said it was a great performance and every player showed heart and commitment to win and play hard. Coach Wayne Evans said he always new Gele could play the way they did they just needed the belief. Abergele now have a break for Six Nations for two weeks.
26th Jan Flint 1st XV 16 – Abergele 2nd XV 16
Gele seconds began their North East Wales District League campaign sharing the spoils with their hosts on the banks of the River Dee on Saturday.
In an often fractious but completely compelling encounter, despite dominating, Gele will be disappointed not to have claimed a deserved victory but equally satisfied to have started the second half of the season undefeated.
Gele welcomed back AJ Robshaw and Rheon Roberts after considerable absences from rugby, but both played as if they had never been away as the Visitors tore into their hosts from the first whistle.
Gele took an early lead thanks to the boot of Gareth Evans, securing three points from a penalty.
This score settled Gele who dominated every faction during the first twenty minutes. Flint, previous recent winners of the North East Districts League, looked nervous and their lack of composure gave Gele the opportunity of maintaining a stranglehold on the game and it came as no surprise when Gele forced the first score.
Flint had already shown ill discipline, giving away a number of penalties and on this occassion they were made to pay as from a set move, prop Mattie Lynam set up second phase for Leon Field to come in off his wing for a well deserved try.
As seems to be the way, Gele then pressed the self destruct button. Despite showing strong resilience in defence, some weak tackling allowed Flint to cross for an unconverted try.
Despite being the dominant team, Gele could blow the hosts away and whilst they were pleased with the performance, they needed to turn the screw to prevent Flint form getting anything from the game.
Flint began the second half at the same pace that Gele did the first and it was some time before Gele could excert any kind of pressure and rediscover their first half form.
When they did, they always looked capable of scoring, but on more than one occassion the last pass or a lack of discipline at the ruck caused Gele to hand the initiative back to Flint or at least allow them to clear their lines.
Leon Field did bag his brace of tries with a fine individual effort and Gareth Evans extended Gele’s lead with his second penalty but as much as they knew they had to keep Flint out, the Swordsmen’s mental strength was pushed to breaking point as they allowed the Castle Men to to match Gele’s score by scoring a try and a penalty to tie the scores.
Gele did have a couple of chances to claim the victory their efforts deserved but couldn’t quite finish off that crucial move to extend the scoring and so the match ended all square, both teams at least happy to remain undefeated.
Gele now have a two week break for the Six Nations before welcoming Dynbych to Pentre Mawr. |
