Trebanos Youth 18 Abercrave Youth 8
Saturday 16th February 2008
Trebanos and Abercrave have always enjoyed a keen rivalry at this level and the home team was very aware of the challenge to their unbeaten league record, posed by the visitors from the upper part of the valley.
Both sides started well, playing good open rugby and indeed, both sides had chances to open the scoring, but it was the reliable boot of Nic Damjanovic that registered the first score, when the visitors were penalised for slowing the ball. Soon after the restart, the referee again penalised Abercrave for a similar offence and up stepped Damjanovic to put over his second penalty.
Although not producing their best rugby, Trebanos were comfortably in control of the game, with the backs putting together some good phases of play, but unable to finish off several promising moves. The forwards turned over Abercrave ball and it was moved swiftly out to winger Steffan Davies to cross over wide out for a good try, which went unconverted. Trebanos going in at half time eleven points to nil in front.
The second half followed the pattern of the first, with the home side again unable to capitalise on being in control of the game for the most part. It was ironic that the next score came from an Abercrave attack that saw the ball dropped and alert winger Matthew Edwards took full advantage to hack the ball on and score under the posts for Nic Damjanovic to add the conversion to stretch the Trebanos lead to eighteen points.
Abercrave responded by taking the game to their hosts and were awarded a penalty, which Hooker Owen Phillips converted into points to cut the deficit. The visitors’ backs then showed that they were not just there to make up the numbers and scored an excellent try which went unconverted to make the final score Trebanos 18 Abercrave 8.
Youth team captain Scott Barrett made his return after a prolonged injury during the second half and it was good to see him back on the rugby field. Welcome back Scott. Trebanos are just two points behind division leaders Gorseinon, but have two games in hand.