Fixture

The thoughts of the Crumlin Rugby Family are with Rob, Louise, Iwan and Seren this weekend.

Both teams immaculately observed a minutes’ silence before the game to show their respect, on Armistice Day, for those that lost their lives during the wars. LEST WE FORGET.

After the Treble Winners got back to winning ways last week against neighbours Hafodyrynys they travelled the short distance to Libanus Field in Blackwood to pit themselves against Blackwood Stars. With so very many missing through injury and unavailability this was going to be a big ask to get any sort of result for the Mighty Crum.

Cameron Powell made his first appearance of the season as did Blake Smith. Cameron had such an impact that despite having to leave the field with an injury before half time he was still chosen as the Man of the Match. He made a number of bone crunching tackles and took his opportunity superbly to carry 3 players over with him as he scored one of the visitors trys.

Unfortunately, as Cameron was at tighthead, when his injury came and with no cover Crumlin had to reduce to 14 men for the majority of the match.

Hooker Kian Chess had a very good day. His darts at the lineout were an outstanding double top. His carrying of the ball was huge but better than that were the couple of tips that he made carrying along a number of the Stars. He got his reward for this early hard work when it was he who crashed over for the first score. After some good Crumlin defence from the kick off forced the stars to knock on an attempted clearance, the scrum laid a good platform for the backs to get the attack going. After a few phases of good attack, Kian picked up from 5 metres out and drove over, which Scott Barnes duly converted.

Blackwood Stars 0 CRUMLIN 7

The home support to their credit were incredibly vocal and each Stars play was meant with fantastic volume. The remaining member of the Crumlin front row was Gavin Spencer who mopped up, cleaned up and generally did outstanding real dogged work for the team that too frequently can go unnoticed. This was also the case when the Treble Winners had that fine win over Hafodyrynys last week. Not to be outdone by his younger brother, Captain Ethan Chess was next on the scoresheet. After a few phases of attack in the Stars half, Chess spotted some space in behind and put a kick down the middle. A great chase by himself and the rest of the backline caused the fullback to spill the ball under pressure, into the waiting arms of Chess who stepped the last defender and scored.

Blackwood Stars 0 CRUMLIN 12

Steele Lewis at 9 for Crumlin was unlucky on a number of occasions with some excellent breaks as he delivered a constant stream of possession and did not have to get dragged in to protect the ball too often. Although at one point and quite bizarrely he was dragged in to a ruck as he went to pick up the ball and pulled straight over the top. Unsure of how this can happen Crumlin then saw the ball picked up and quickly had to work back 50 metres before the attack could be halted. The Stars came back with a well worked converted try of their own and then knocked over a penalty as well to make it a 2 point game:

Blackwood Stars 10 CRUMLIN 12

With two openside flankers in the backrow Crumlin could not be turned over at the breakdown. Zak Griffiths has been in fine form of late but had his best game in the Black and Amber. Zak was outstanding protecting the ball and knocking down any Stars attacks. The Poacher, Euan Lewis, supplied numerous quality lineout balls and as always looked to turn over the opposition at every opportunity. Vice captain Kyle Walton carried with threating pace and the back row were singing today. At this point the score suggested it may be a bit of squeaky bum time again for Crumlin but the players were not going to let that happen and despite having to play the rest of the game with 14 they took control. The next try came from that bruising run of Cameron Powell as he made his first touchdown for Crumlin. Scott Barnes added the all important extras to give a half time lead.

Half Time:

Blackwood Stars 10 CRUMLIN 19

Crumlin played with pace from the start of the second half. Crumlin’s wings were in excellent form in their carrying as they showed their pace. Taylor Smith was enjoying himself bumping off the opposition. Corey Strickland was continually eluding defenders until the high tackles that were so strictly and rightly penalised in the first half seemed to no longer be observed. The result of one such tackle saw Strickland have to leave the field but no penalty was awarded. Cole Jones was having his usual powerful game at inside centre and betrayed his natural position of scrum half to the opposition as he had the nowse to take a quick tap and crash over from 5 metres out.

Blackwood Stars 15 CRUMLIN 24

Jordan Hughes and Rhys Hipkiss with a combined age of just under one hundred in the second row played like lads just out of youth rugby. They were around the field continuously as Hughes carried with great determination and Hipkiss made some cracking hits in defence. Joel Witcombe was on for Strickland at full back with Barnes moving to the wing and Ryan Lewis up from 15 to 13. Lewis was very unlucky at one point to put down an inception with Lebanus at his mercy. Indeed Witcombe made a couple of fine breaks, back to something of very best and was next on the scoresheet as he touched down out wide.

Blackwood Stars 15 CRUMLIN 29

Crumlin’s reshuffled back line showed their skills and once again Witcombe was on fire as he crossed for his second to push the score out to an unassailable 19 points.

Blackwood Stars 15 CRUMLIN 34

The 14 of Crumlin were out on their feet at times but as with their previous match this season, that they had to drop to 14, they once more were determined to come out on top. Blake Smith was on for Hipkiss in the row and did manage one barn storming run before Blackwood managed to have the last say and with 10 to go got their 3rd try. Another bizarre point in the game saw The Stars throw to the front man at the lineout which they had done successfully a couple of times. Obviously the recipient was only 3 metres from the thrower so Crumlin awaited the decision. Unfortunately the decision was to allow play to continue resulting in a try in the corner for the thrower as he received the ball back off the catcher. Crumlin seamed to be waiting for VAR to intervene as not even they could get this wrong. However the decision and try stood.

FINAL SCORE: Blackwood Stars 20 CRUMLIN 34

Stars have to be congratulated on a tense encounter where they continually pushed Crumlin. Their welcome in the clubhouse after was 1st class too. It has to be said though that Crumlins Man of the Match Callum Powell took on The Stars Man of The Match and proved to be too fast for him if you know what I mean? Good luck to The Stars for the rest of the season and look forward to welcoming everyone to the Kay Field.

Next game is back at the Kay Field next Saturday 18/11/23 against the team at the end of the Western Valley Whiteheads RFC. A huge supporter turnout to cheer the lads on would be very much appreciated.

#UPPACRUM!

TEAM:

1. G.Spencer

2. K.Chess

3. C.Powell

4. J.Hughes

5. R.Hipkiss

6. Z.Griffiths

7. E.Lewis

8. K.Walton (Vice)

9. S.Jones

10. E.Chess (Capt)

11. C.Strickland

12. C.Jones

13. S.Barnes

14. T.Smith

15. R.Lewis

16. B.Smith

17. J.Witcombe