Pontardawe 2nds 20 Trebanos 2nds 20
Saturday 20th October 2007.
Pontardawe started strongly and secured possession. The ball was spun out to the backs and the inside centre cut back through the Trebanos pack to score a neat try which was unconverted.
Trebanos organized themselves quickly from the restart and gained possession. Pontardawe were penalised immediately for killing the ball and Trebanos were awarded a penalty just to the right of the posts on the 22. Up stepped youth player Nic Damjanovic, making his first appearance for one of the senior teams and playing at outside half. Showing no signs of nerves he calmly slotted over the kick to get Trebanos off the mark. Trebanos continued to control the game and the forwards provided quick ball for he backs. The ball came out to outside half Nic Damjanovic and he stepped inside the cover tackle and split the centres to score unopposed under the posts. He then converted his try to make the score Pontardawe 5 Trebanos 10. Pontardawe had the next score with a forward push over try, with the big number 8 touching down, which was unconverted. Score at half time Pontardawe 10 Trebanos 10.
The second half saw Pontardawe scoring two good tries mid way through the 2nd half, another from the number 8 who had a great running angle to score under the posts. The other was from the backs who showed good handling skills, neither try was converted, making the score Pontardawe 20 Trebanos 10.
Pontardawe looked as if they might run away with the match with these two quick tries, but again Trebanos picked themselves up and started to play some good rugby. Trebanos forwards had a good spell of possession but were unable to gain territory. When the ball came out to the outside half he tried a long range drop goal which just skimmed the left hand post. This appeared to lift the team and from the 22 dropout Trebanos forwards gained possession and gained ground. Again Pontardawe were penalized for killing the ball (or they were just too knackered to move!!!) and Trebanos were awarded another penalty that outside half Damjanovic slotted over with a well struck kick. Making the deficit just 7 points.
For the next passage of play it was all Trebanos pressure when second row Huw Davies made a lovely break and chipped over the full back only to collect his own kick and score under the posts – an excellent individual try under the posts. The try was converted by Nic Damjanovic, making it all even at 20 points each. Both sides tried hard to win the game but in the end a draw was a fair result.
Even though this was a local derby the game was played in fine spirit. The more experienced players were excellent in the way they looked after and encouraged the younger players. The manner in which this game was played is a great step up for the youth boys to experience senior rugby.