Abergele enjoy local bragging rights after claiming back to back wins over Colwyn Bay at Brookfield Drive, with a 5-19 victory on Thursday evening.
Following report kindly supplied by Abergele RFC
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It is the men in GREEN that will enjoy the bragging rights til these two sides meet again in a couple of weeks, after claiming back to back away wins over Colwyn Bay with an encouraging 5-19 victory on Thursday evening under the lights.
This fixture was played in four 20 minute quarters in typical pre-season fashion to give each side the opportunity to field more players than they would do normally and to experiment with players in other positions in a game realistic scenario.
Abergele whittled the 36 man squad they used in the 17-48 victory over Flint two days earlier, down to 22, seeing several players playing key roles in positions they perhaps are not accustomed to.
The game started quickly and it was the hosts who looked the brighter. They were the sharper and more physical at ruck time, and looked to ship the ball out wide with speed.
After 10 minutes, Gele began to go through the motions. Communication was much improved with their forwards and backs combining well, punching holes in the home defence.
Solid forward play started to create gaps for Gele's backline to exploit, and it was here that Abergele showed their intent with the first signs on creating a score.
After a spell of forward phases, the ball was shipped out wide where Chris Smith found himself in space. He chipped the cover defence and charged over to ground the ball unopposed; only for the ball to be deemed out of bounds by the linesmen. Smith was again unlucky moments later when his outstretched arm was deemed short; by the referee on this occasion.
Some minutes later, Abergele had really taken control of this quarter, applying massive pressure on the home scrum, continuing to press for the line. Changes upfront from both sides combined with some confusion around the new commands from the referee allowed the Bay to gain control at scrum time.
A huge second shove from the Bay pack saw them secure turn-over ball at the scrum, the ball cleared well into the Gele 22m. An illegal/deliberate knock on from a Bay centre lead to a gele scrum deep inside Gele territory.
The ball passed straight through the tunnel without coming into contact with either front row, and unfortunately it was Colwyn Bay's scrum half Ian Marshall who reacted before the referee or any covering defence for him to dart over for a controversial try against the run of play. The conversion was missed.
The second twenty was a scrappy affair, both sides making several changes. Combined with a series of knock-ons and soft turn-overs any real flow to the game had disappeared. With neither side able to get a hold of the game, and the constant change in interpretation of commands at scrum time it was only a matter of time before tempers started to flare as frustration began to get the better of both packs.
The third twenty saw Gele spark into life. The pack again looked settled at scrum time and were starting to get the better of their sizeable opposition, creating a much easier platform to provide Ashley Wynne, playing at fly half for the first time, with much cleaner ball.
Abergele's first try came from a scrum just inside Bay territory. The Gele 8 put in a huge effort to shove the Bay pack off the ball and secure a rapid turnover. The ball was whisked from the base of the scrum to Wynne who did superbly well to pick out and release Chris Smith, who in turn found Tomos Coathup in space for him to race over in the corner for a fantastic team try. Dan Lawrence who was instrumental in the build up converting well from out wide.
Gele re-started well and never looked under pressure from this point on. Colwyn Bay maintained their physical presence and continued to batter their way upfield, regularly winning good turn-over ball but never enetered the Gele 22m nor looked like threatening the gele line.
A lot of hard work from the Gele pack pinched yard after yard, before bullocking runs from Gareth Bolton, Alan Wraight and Anthony Tilley really tore holes in the home defence. Joe lavin and Si Hughes linked well to secure rucks and looked good with their pick and drives.
Breakdowns in communication meant that Abergele had to wait for their second score, but it was a memorable one for the scorer. Tomos Coathup recieved the ball out wide and cut back inside, it looked like he had made a school boy error but he recovered well and did excellently to side-step and dance through the defence managing to ground the ball with a strong outstretched arm. Lawrence missed with his attempt to convert.
After some strong words from the side-lines during the final break, it was evident exactly what Gele had to do to get the result. Leading 5-12 with less than twenty minutes on the clock, Gele had to kick for the corners and sure everything up in the loose.
Gele's pack worked tirelessly, Dru Roberts, Martin Berrie, Chris Meyers and Craig Wraight performed very well, offering themsleves as "Decoy" runners (Berrie) and securing all improtant turn over ball.
Gele were veering from the game plan a little and playing some risky rugby but confidence was growing and they were moving further and further down the pitch. Ash Wynne again picked out Smith who hit a superb line and crossed unnopposed, only for it to be judged a forward pass much to the visiting crowd's disappointment.
Gele's discipline was much improved for the final quarter and it was the Bay that were conceding the penalties, with two minutes to go Gele had a kickable penalty inside the 22m but the Captain ordered to kick for touch.
The lineout went horribly wrong but with massive pressure from the back three on the kicker, he carried over his own try line and squandered the ball in his attempt to clear. Narmer El-Lamie was first on hand to drop on an easy opportunistic try. Lawrence again converting to give the visitors a 5-19 lead.
The last few minutes saw Abergele boss the game and move the ball well, but a failed attempt to clear their lines gave Colwyn Bay the chance to come back and have the final say. Some huge hits from Anthony Tilley supported by two fine tackles from Aaron Bryan managed to hold off anything coming through the centre of the field.
Bay winged the ball out wide and looked as if they may finally race into the 22m, but as the crowd grew louder with excitement the organised defence of the Green Army looked good as the winger was double hit and bundled into touch by Mark Dilworth and Craig Wraight.
The full-time whistle was blown to the delight of the Gele Boys, it seemed Colwyn Bay couldn't wait to get off the pitch. The two teams will meet again in two weeks time in SWALEC Division Two North for what will certainly be another hard-fought encounter.
Speaking after the game, Club coaches Mike Batey and Crimbo Badham commented on several things that they were impressed with, making special mention to the first try scored out wide; and the effort and work rate of Alun Pritchard and Craig Wraight who played at hooker in what must have been a difficult and uncomfortable evening for them.
We are far from the polished article. There are lots of areas to work on, but we have a good solid base to kick on for the season - to improve, we need to get to training!!
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