| Home :: Match Reports :: Blackwood v Merthyr (1st October 2011) | Tuesday 7th of February 2012 |
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| Match: | Blackwood v Merthyr |
| Date: | 1st October 2011 |
| Venue: | Glan-Yr-Afon Park, Blackwood |
| Final Score: | 22 - 10 |
| Supporters Man of the Match: | Anthony John |
| Write Up: |
Blackwood 22 - Merthyr 10
With the temperature up in the 20s it was always going to be difficult to maintain a high pace game, however this was not the case as both sides endeavoured to give the ball plenty of air. In the first 5 min. Blackwood collected a spilt ball by the visitors in mid field, Gareth Price carried well before shipping the ball to Kristian Perry who was held up just short of the line, at the ensuing scrum David Ford picked from the base and went over for a good score converted by GP. Almost straight from the kick off Merthyr was awarded a penalty for a Blackwood infringement that was converted by their No.10 and captain Neil Burnett. 7-3. Both sides continued to play open rugby but with that came the normal error count that made the first quarter a stop start affair. The second quarter started with a penalty to Blackwood, converted by GP. On the 25 minute mark a very good box kick by No.9 Greg Knapp and a great chase by GP who collected then offloaded to DF, again Wood were held up just short of the line, the home side continued to press but a spilt ball gave the visitors the opportunity to clear their lines. In the 32nd minute Merthyr’s No. 7 was yellow carded for deliberately slapping the ball down in the centre of the park. Blackwood was awarded a penalty and a good touch finder by Adam Jones put the home side back in the opposition corner. A five metre lineout was taken well by DF who popped it down to Leigh Taylor, he carried well before passing on to Huw Jones who went over in the corner. 38 minutes in, Blackwood had a lineout on the halfway, a ball off the top to GK, a quick pass to Jones and a well rehearsed loop around move with Price put Anthony John in at the corner from 50m out, converted by Price. Merthyr came to life again and pressed the home side on their own line, in the last move of the half, the visitors had a lineout five metres out which was stolen by Blackwood, AJ cleared down field to end the half 22-3. The second half started with the home side in the faces of Merthyr and pressing hard on the visitor’s line. After a period of sustained pressure, the visitors did well to turn the ball over and have the nerve to run from their own line and it paid dividends as they went the length of the field to score a fine try. Ford picked up a yellow card on 55minutes, which was harsh, which led to Blackwood having to defend for a large period of time under great pressure. Taylor had to work hard at the base of the scrum and he did well to pick and carry at the opposition, allowing GK to give good ball to AJ and Josh Robinson to put in long clearance kicks. In the final quarter both sides had opportunities to change the score line but again errors let them down. The forwards fought hard throughout the game with great skill particularly Huw Jones. The backs looked sharp but for silly mistakes they could have scored more tries. David Jones |
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