Fixture

Bryn Meredith Shield Final & WRU Division 5 East Game

CRUMLIN 46 Hollybush 5

Whilst the eyes of Europe were fixed firmly on Liverpool and the Eurovision Song Contest it was another historic day for The Mighty Crum at Blackwood RFC’s Glanyrafon Park.  Last week they secured promotion into WRU Division 4 East for the 2023 / 2024 season.  This week it was a double header game where the winners would take the Bryn Meredith Plate and in Crumlin’s case they needed a bonus point win in their hunt for the league title.

Crumlin were widely changed from the side that defeated Bettws on the Kay Field last week to be in a position to challenge for the League title.  Veteran props Gavin Spencer and Daniel Lewis moved to the finishers jerseys and starting were birthday boy Nathan Evans and youth player Efan “Pasty” Passmore making his first start in the black and amber.

Lloyd Davies returned from injury in place of Jordan Hughes who was apparently foaming at having to miss the game.  The back row was all change as Kiaran Lewis moved from 6 to 8, Kyle Walton moved to finisher while Conor Lloyd and Euan Lewis came in on the flanks as Tyler Madden-Smith was unavailable.  Last week’s Man of The Match Steele Jones started at scrum half and in the only other back line change Ryan Lewis moved to finisher as Scott Barnes took over in the 13 jersey.  Cerrig Wilson was returning after a long layoff whilst Cole Jones and Dafydd Clissett completed the squad.

A gloriously sunny afternoon in Blackwood was always going to be a tiring event for both teams as the youngsters of Crumlin like to run but this was one of the hottest days of the year so far and that fully loaded bench was going to be very useful today.

It only took 5 minutes for Crumlin to open their account.   A penalty 5 metres out came after some great approach play.  Scrum half Steele Jones was alert to the possibility and his quick tap allowed him to put his half back partner Captain Ethan Chess crashing over.

CRUMLIN 5 Hollybush 0

The second try for Crumlin came 10 minutes later.  Territorial possession was all Crumlins. Steele Jones delivered to Chess.  Chess had set the move and the backline delivered a textbook finish.  Taylor Smith was in off the blind side wing and the deception caused by centres Morgan Smith and Scott Barnes gave Taylor a huge space to bolt into.  He fended off one attempt at a tackle and looked to be a certainty to get over on his own.  At the last he was caught but managed to get the ball away to fullback Joel Witcombe who dived in like a young Tom Daley.

CRUMLIN 10 Hollybush 0

Off the kick off Chess stuck up a bomb from his own 22 and not only found grass just shy of half way but a wicked bounce brought the ball back into the hands of chasing wing Corey Strickland who drew a couple of defenders and passed to flying Scott Barnes.  The centre burned another defender and scored under the posts.  Barnes deftly added the conversion.

CRUMLIN 17 Hollybush 0

There was a blow to the Crumlin attack as Witcombe tried to trump a Hollybush defender and was left with an injured ankle.  A harder tackle or cough could have produced a much worse outcome.  Ryan Lewis came on which was significant for the next try.  Hollybush put in a big clearance out of their 22.  Taylor Smith fielded the ball and passed to Ryan Lewis who drew one and passed to his brother Euan.  Euan facing the wrong way turned to see the space in front of him went forward and gave it to Barnes who raced between two defenders to cross for his second and slotting the conversion gave him the milestone of 100 points for the season.  This try was also the league bonus point that was needed.

Halftime:

CRUMLIN 24 Hollybush 0

The Hollybush front row had had a torrid time dealt out by the young Crumlin men of Nathan Evans Jacob “Spanky” Hill and Efan “Pasty” Passmore.  The average age of these three being just 21.  They were dominant so their opposite numbers would be forgiven for thinking the replacement of the props by Gavin “Spence” Spencer and Daniel “Dan” Lewis would have given them some rest bite.  However the vast experience of these “finishers” now meant all scrums now became a way for Crumlin to restart from breakdowns.  Later when Spanky left the field and Pasty returned in the unusual role of hooker every scrum became a demolition exercise.

Gethyn “Pony” Hockey, a hot favourite for player of the season by the club’s toilet cleaners apparently, was partnered this week by Lloyd Davies in the row.    These pair lent their weight and considerable years to the dominance of the set pieces.  Late on Cerrig Wilson made a long-awaited return in place of Davies.  Wilson leapt like a spawning salmon in the lineouts and showed his ball carrying skills as he made a superb break.  With just the fullback to be beat and Cole Jones tearing up in support Cerrig swerved stunningly to send his hips in one direction and his shoulders in the other direction effectively knocking himself off his own feet.  Cole Jones was on at 9 for Steele Jones who in turn replaced Ryan Lewis at full back when he was injured.  Kyle Watson was also now on the field replacing youth open side Conor Lloyd who was making his first start in senior rugby.  Dafydd Clissett had also joined the fray on the wing in place of Corey Strickland who was enjoying himself far too much with a series of side steps and needed to be removed.

From five metres out Crumlin had five or six consecutive scrums where Hollybush were penalised as Kiaran Lewis at 8 controlled the ball superbly with his feet.  The pack tried in vain to drive over but the penalties prevented this and inevitably this cost Hollybush two yellow cards and eventually a penalty try.

CRUMLIN 31 Hollybush 0

Hollybush then retained possession for a good 10 or 15 minutes as they took a lot of quick tap penalties.  This paid off in the end when they crossed out wide.

CRUMLIN 31 Hollybush 5

Crumlin quickly returned the favour though and even extended their lead as Cole Jones took a quick tap and put Kyle Watson in.  Barnes converted once more.

CRUMLIN 38 Hollybush 5

The next time Crumlin got in the 22 again, the ball was all hands to the right and Steele Jones was the benefactor as he scored with an outrageous dummy.

CRUMLIN 43 Hollybush 5

The final whistle was about to blow but right in the centre of the 22 Hollybush offended and allowed Barnes to put the penalty over for a seasons personal best tally of 19 points in a game (2 trys, 3 conversions and a penalty).  The referee blew the final whistle and the Bryn Meredith Shield was added to the WRU Division 5 cup for an unblemished season of cup rugby.  Not only this but as the game was a double header it was a bonus point win that tied Crumlin with Bettws at the top of the league with just the last game of the season being the game in hand they had left.

CRUMLIN 46 Hollybush 5

The remaining game of the season will be your last chance to see the team playing their outstanding brand of rugby which has seen them average 43 points and 7 tries a game.   This will be next Saturday 20th May – against Brynithel at our very own Kay Field.  The team needs your support as they still need 1 point to snatch the league title off Bettws.  Win, draw or a losing bonus point is what is still needed.  SO LETS GET BEHIND THE BOYS!

#UPPACRUM

SQUAD

1. Nathan Evans

2. Jacob Hill

3. Efan Passmore

4. Lloyd Davies

5. Gethyn Hockey

6. Euan Lewis

7. Conor Lloyd

8. Kiaran Lewis

9. Steele Jones

10. Ethan Chess (Captain)

11. Taylor Smith

12. Morgan Smith

13. Scott Barnes

14. Corey Strickland

15. Joel Witcombe

16. Gavin Spencer

17. Daniel Lewis

18. Cerrig Wilson

19. Kyle Walton

20. Cole Jones

21. Ryan Lewis

22. Dafydd Clissett