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Aberavon v Llandovery MatchPack : Report
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Aberavon got their home season off to a winning start by overcoming a spirited but ultimately outgunned Llandovery side. A sixteen point haul from the Wizards' record-breaking outside half Jamie Davies took all time points total past the 3000 mark, but Davies also showed that he is far more than just a
goalkicker, with his tactical kicking and distribution complementing the constant threat he posed when running with the ball in |
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This was no one-man-show, however. Aberavon coaches Simon King and Nicky Lloyd appear to have recruited well during the close-season to further enhance the blend of youth and experience that served the club well last season. Former Swansea and Dunvant back row man Rory Gallagher has slotted in well, and he and Chris Davies were an abrasive all-action pair of flankers either side of the veteran Richard Morris, who appears to have hit a patch of vintage form – Llandovery's defence around the fringes struggled throughout to contain the big man's powerful charges. As ever Ian Moore led from the front, ably assisted at lock by Andrew Fisher, while a hard-scrummaging front row unit in Lloyd Howell, Marc Breeze and Paul Breeze lost none of its impact when replacements Neil White, Brett Thomas and James Jones were introduced at various stages of the second half. Behind all this forward power new scrum-half David Pritchard again showed up well, providing a swift service to partner Davies, but always with one eye on the look-out for gaps. Ashley Beck and Luke Hathaway combined well at centre, and in concert with the familiar faces of Richard Carter and Paul Bamsey on the wings, full back Ricky Thomas was a menacing presence on the counterattack.
And yet Llandovery were a tough nut to crack. A stubborn defence restricted the Wizards to just three tries, and they also asked questions of the home defence, with a lively back division capable of creating opportunities that brought out the best from the home tacklers. It was Davies, almost inevitably, who opened the scoring with a penalty into the wind, but the Wizards then fell behind as his opposite number put over two kicks of his own. It seemed to act as a spur to the Wizards, and it was a booming Davies touchfinder that set up a position close to the Drovers' line. As the visitors' pack struggled to get the ball clear, pressure from the home eight turned over possession, and a series of rucks close to the line predictably ended with Morris crashing over for an incredible 135th try in Aberavon colours.
A further Davies penalty extended the lead to 11-6 at the interval, and yet another directly from the restart, followed by a quickfire exchange of goals with James, kept the Wizards' noses ahead, although the visitors continued to mount a courageous defensive campaign despite the home side's dominance. The game breaker came when Davies and right wing combined at bewildering speed for the latter to scythe through untouched and then display a breathtaking change of pace and angle to take him clear for a remarkable try that Davies converted.
The final quarter turned into a comparatively scrappy affair with the home side dominating territory thanks to Davies and the mighty left boot of Bamsey, but with the visitors refusing to buckle until, in the closing stages, the Aberavon pack had the last word, earning a penalty try from a five-metre scrum. Davies' conversion was to be the final scoring act of the afternoon, despite the Wizards scenting a bonus point and laying siege to the visitors' line. Ultimately, dogged Llandovery defence and perhaps a little impatience in the home ranks saw the opportunity pass as time ran out. Nevertheless, credit should be given where it's due. A year ago the Wizards made an uncertain start to the season that set a pattern that was to last for half a season. This time around they have got off to a fine start with two victories from two outings, and the indications are that there is even better to come.
Paul Williams
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