Abercrave Youth 3 Trebanos Youth 37
Saturday 13th September 2007
This was Trebanos’ second league game of the season and coaches Rhodri Jones and Phil Beynon had an almost full squad to choose from, with only two players out through injury. Trebanos and Abercrave have enjoyed a “healthy rivalry” for many years and the youth teams of these two clubs are no exceptions with matches being “fiercely contested”.
The game started at a fast pace and for the first twenty minutes or so, the teams were evenly matched, with both sides managing to steal opposition ball at rucks and mauls. Trebanos were on the attack when they were awarded a penalty to the right of the posts and some thirty-five metres out, which Nic Damjanovic slotted over with ease. From the kick-off, Trebanos continued to exert pressure with their forwards taking control, the front five forwards were in such control, that the back row unit of Lee Sinclair, Luke Davies and Rhodri Williams, were again able to produce an outstanding collective performance. Following more forward pressure, a well worked move saw second row Rhys Carney cross in the corner for an unconverted try. This score spurred Abercrave on and it was their turn to pressurise the opposition, resulting in their outside-half dropping a neat goal. Back came the Trebanos pack and earned a lineout on the home twenty-two, the ball was delivered to the ever alert Nathan Jones who scored a trademark try under the home posts for Nic Damjanovic to convert. Trebanos went into half-time 15 points to 3 up after a satisfying display.
The second half followed the pattern of the first, with ‘banos dominating all phases of play, the work of Rhodri Jones and forwards coach Phil Beynon is becoming more apparent each week, as their charges went about controlling set-pieces and turning over opposition ball almost at will. Abercrave tried hard, but again Trebanos’ superior fitness and technique came through as the match entered its final twenty minutes four tries were scored. Outside half Ross Jones finished up on the end of a flowing three-quarter movement which saw the ball go through many pairs of hands, before Ross crossed wide out for an unconverted try. Second row Chris Balffe then scored another brace of tries, before prop Damien Blake scored a try which was a reward for yet more forward pressure by the visiting pack, the try being converted by Nic Damjanovic. The game ended with Trebanos running out winners by 37 points to 3, and hopefully they will be able to continue with the form that has given them an excellent start to their season. More of the same boys!
Trebanos Team:
K Jones; D Docherty, N Damjanovic, S Barrett (Capt), L Osowicz; R Jones, N Jones; R Jones, R Thomas, D Blake; R Carney, C Balffe; L Davies, R Williams, L Sinclair; J Hopkins, D Bale, D Grenfell, C Sinclair-Swift.