Fixture

The Treble Winners met their nearest league opponents on Saturday in the local derby match. It was a pleasure to welcome to the Kay Field a team with so many former Crumlin players and indeed a few ex-Crumlin youth boys who made their senior rugby debuts last season as an integral part of last seasons’ Treble Winning team.

After the disaster at Bedwelty a couple of weeks ago where a 19-3 lead was overturned and indeed the match lost with the last kick of the game. It was eagerly anticipated that Crumlin would return to winning ways this week.

The rain had teamed down for most of the week as Storm Ceiron had done it’s worst to wipe out all matches in the division this weekend but with The Key Field looking surprisingly pristine this was the only game that survived. Coincidently the Crumlin faithful were all wishing another of our Treble Winners - Kiaran Lewis - was going to have a stormer as he turned out in the second row for Cross Keys in the Championship.

As always Crumlin endeavoured to play all the rugby and with a dominant scrum their first opportunity came from a scrum 10 metres out. Vice Captain Kyle Walton scored it in his 120th appearance for the Black and Ambers. He picked up rolled right and as Hafodyrynys anticipated his pass to the backs, Kyle saw the try line open up and joyfully dived under the posts. Scott Barnes added the extras.

CRUMLIN 7 Hafodyrynys 0

The first half continued with Crumlin dominating the opposition at scrum and lineout through Spencer, Hill and Hoskins and in the row Hughes and Thomas. However they were unable to work their way out of their own half. So Hafodyrynys had the territory but Crumlins spiteful defensive efforts never looked like being breached, The half finished in strange fashion as Crumlin destroyed yet another scrum but did not receive another penalty as they had done at a number of earlier scrums.

Half Time CRUMLIN 7 Hafodyrynys 0

Crumlin played with pace from the start of the second half. Taylor Smith on the right wing had made some big carries. His opposite number on the left set up the next try as Ethan Chess pulled the ball back behind centres Cole Jones and Barnes to Corey Strickland. Corey saw no-one at home behind and put in the clever long range kick that Barnes burnt onto. Barnes converted his try as well to go through 50 points for the season.

CRUMLIN 14 Hafodyrynys 0

Joel Witcombe was on for Ryan Lewis at full back and showed flashes of his usual carrying ability. Zak Grifiiths was on in the second row for James Thomas and Dan Lewis took over in the front row. Crumlin were in control at this point and Steele Jones made a break and in mid field. As the scrum half looked to feed the backline he saw the defence part and raced through to score.

CRUMLIN 19 Hafodyrynys 0

Morgan Yemm took the field for the excellent Jacob Hill. The lineout continued to be a constant source of quality ball. With 20 to go Barnes got the bonus point try for THE MIGHTY CRUM. He received the ball on half way, put in another long range kick and once again left the defence floundering in his wake to touchdown.

CRUMLIN 24 Hafodyrynys

The rest of the game returned to Hafodyrynys trying time and time again to cross from 5 metres out but being smashed back by the likes of Kian Chess, Jordan Hughes and man of the match Tyler Madden-Smith. There was an extra edge to the defensive efforts today not wishing to allow the opponents any form of celebration.

FINAL SCORE: CRUMLIN 24 Hafodyrynys 0

A fine win for Crumlin over their nearest neighbours and great to renew friendships with so many former teammates in a match played in great spirit. To Crumlin’s huge defensive credit they were the first team to nil their neighbours so far this season.

Crumlin would like to thank, and were indebted, to our good friends at Oakdale RFC for allowing permits for Scott Hoskins, Morgan Yemm and James Thomas who all slotted in seamlessly to the Crumlin team and showed a great deal of effort and commitment. Hoskins in particular had an excellent runout and Thomas was at the fore in all the forward efforts of the first half.

Next game is away at Blackwood Stars. Hopefully we will have a lot of travelling supporters at this match against another of our near neighbours. As always the players would appreciate the roar of the Crumlin Massive urging them onward.

#UPPACRUM!

TEAM:

1. G.Spencer

2. J.Hill

3. S.Hoskins

4. J.Hughes

5. J.Thomas

6. T.Madden-Smith

7. K.Chess

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. D.Lewis

17. J.Witcombe

18. Z.Griffiths

19. M.Yemm