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Maesteg v Aberavon MatchPack : Report
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On a dreadful day of driving rain and freezing cold, the 80 minutes play contained uncontested scrums as Aberavon were unable to include a hooker in their squad.
While Maesteg were encouraged with their small squad's performance, Aberavon coach Nicky Lloyd could hardly be, while main coach Simon King was on holiday.
For the third match this month, the Wizards had no player capable of breaking a good defence, hard as they tried and even though scrum half Gavin Hooper kept spreading the ball wide.
Fly half James Garland tried his best, but the ball was continually dropped by the backs, though the conditions were dire and it was a wonder the match was played to a finish.
There was little cutting edge and too often runs were attempted from deep and impossible positions while the defence was often suspect against some inexperienced opponents.
Big Richard Morris was playing his 399th match for Aberavon and should celebrate his newest milestone next Saturday in meeting his former coach Chris O'Callaghan and his Waterloo squad.
There is nobody more glowing in the praise towards Morris than O'Cally and Morris will be up for it to show once how good he can be and just what regions missed by shamefully turning their back on the best No 8 to play in Premier rugby over the last 19 years of such play.
The Wizards had scrum half Chris Morgans and utility back Jon Phillips sitting in the stand having just returned from New Zealand rugby and Ricky Thomas is due back soon, while Jamie Davies returned home yesterday after holiday and will need hard training to ensure his broken arm has recovered.
They will all be needed as the alarm bells are ringing for the Wizards, who are not firing on many cylinders at present and they already have a large injury list.
Skipper Ian Moore picked up a cut head early in this match which saw the return to action of former skipper Chris Gittins and the debut of former Newport back Luke Hathaway.
Aberavon opened the first half with a Garland penalty, but opposite number Gareth Goodridge from Glyncorrwg soon fired two in reply. Garland levelled, before Goodridge and then Garland again, finished the half at 9-9.
It took until the 65th minute for Aberavon to go ahead, when Garland suddenly switched direction by kicking to the right corner, where the reliable Richard Carter gathered and scored for Garland to convert.
Maesteg would not lie down and deservedly equalised in the pouring rain as replacement fly half Nathan Dare kicked on and right wing Chris Jones gained the touchdown.
Replacement scrum half Lloyd O'Connor took the conversion and kicked an absolute beauty to share the points.
Tonmawr take on Waterloo on Thursday and Aberavon entertain the English club on Saturday before making the short trip to Aberavon Quins on Tuesday, August 26.
MAESTEG....16
Try - C. Jones. Con - L.O'Connor. Pens - G. Goodridge (3).
Team - D. Bleddyn (repl I. Morris); C. Jones, N. Dixon, L. Thomas, O. Richards; G. Goodridge (repl N. Dare), L. Ronan (repl L. O'Connor); G. Edwards (capt), D. Ronan, N. Billingham, O. Walters, L. Davies, L. Trott, P. Wheeler, R. Turner.
ABERAVON..16
Try - R. Carter. Con - J. Garland. Pens - J. Garland (3).
Team - C. Lewis; R. Carter, L. Hathaway, P. Bamsey, S. Davies; J. Garland, G. Hooper; P. Breeze, N. White, L. Howell, C. Gittins, I. Moore (capt), D. Thomas, R. Morris, C. Davies.
Replacements used - Arwel Davies, Ryan Thomas, Richard Thomas, R. Gierat, S. Robinson, J. Jenkins, Rowan Davies.
REFEREE - Wayne Davies (Llanelli).
STAR CHOICE - Gavin Hooper.
Howard Evans
| Report from the |
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Starting XV: Chris Lewis; Richard Carter, Paul Bamsey, Luke
Hathaway, Steve Davies; James Garland, Gavin Hooper; Lloyd Howell, Neil
White, Paul Breeze, Ian Moore (capt), Chris Gittins, Darryl Thomas,
Richard Morris, Chris Davies.
Referee: Wayne Davies
1st Half
06 min: PG - James Garland (3 - 0)
08 min: PG - Gareth Goodridge (3 - 3)
14 min: PG - Gareth Goodridge (3 - 6)
30 min: PG - James Garland (6 - 6)
37 min: PG - Gareth Goodridge (6 - 9)
40 min: PG - James Garland (9 - 9)
2nd Half
66 min: T - Richard Carter & C - James Garland (16 - 9)
72 min: T - Chris Jones & C - Lloyd O'Connor (16 - 16)
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