Fixture

WRU Division 5 East

Bettws 22 CRUMLIN 17

After last Saturday’s heroics at The Principality Stadium it was back to league action for Crumlin at Bettws.  Huge availability issues meant that five of the cup winning pack started and in the back line only Captain Ethan Chess was in the same position as last week.  Wing Corey Strickland came into scrum half and outside centre Ryan Lewis switched to 12.  Outstanding prop Dan Lewis moved from starter to finisher while flanker Euan Lewis had come on to finish the game last week but started at 8 today.  Morgan Wilson was making his first start of the season.  Cameron Powell was making his second start and full back Ioan Lloyd and blind side Gavin Hipkiss were having only their second game.

These changes also meant that only veteran prop Gavin Spencer, Captain Chess and centre Lewis have played every game of the season so far.

From a line out on the left Chess brought Ioan Lloyd into the line outside the centres and the gap opened up on the 10 metre line.  With Lewis on the inside and Wilson on the outside Lloyd dummied to take out the full back and dived in.

CRUMLIN 5 Bettws 0

25 minutes in and Bettws had not got out of their half but Crumlin could not get improve on their first try.  Suddenly Bettws had some possession which they held onto and gradually made their way up field until they scored a converted try.

CRUMLIN 5 Bettws 7

Bettws then got into Crumlin’s half for the second time and came away with a score for the second time as they converted a penalty.

CRUMLIN 5 Bettws 10

Crumlin used two reserves as Prop Dan Lewis came on for Powell and George Price replaced Gavin Hipkiss on the blind side.

Halftime and then Bettws stepped up a gear and retained control for long periods resulting in a try and conversion.

CRUMLIN 5 Bettws 17

Hooker Jacob Morgan-Hill was carrying at speed down the left hand side and put in a big kick into the Bettws 22.  Centre Scott Barnes chased and chased when it would have been all too easy to stop.  Barnes applied the pressure to the defender who passed to the fullback.  Morgan-Hill had also continued to chase and hit the full back causing him to spill the ball forward.  Play on was called and after a jackal by captain Chess, Corey Strickland was alive to the opportunity.  Strickland scooped up the ball, side stepped one and went over under the posts for his 12^th try and the teams 100^th of the season.  Ryan Lewis converted.

CRUMLIN 12 Bettws 17

At this point it was felt that, with time running out, Crumlin could still pull off an extremely unlikely victory.  However, the kick off wasn’t dealt with and eventually from a penalty near the line, Bettws forced their way over for an unconverted try.

CRUMLIN 12 Bettws 22

Crumlin got back into the Bettws half and a ruck saw Chess bring down a high wayward pass.  Under pressure he got the ball to Lewis.  Lewis stepped his opposite number and in being tackled off loaded round the back to flyer Barnes.  Barnes shipped on to Chess, who was brought down just short and Lewis’ brother Euan was there to pick up and smash his way over.  This was the last play of the game but may prove to be very important in the final league standings.  It gave Crumlin the bonus point for being within 7 points.

CRUMLIN 17 Bettws 22

Crumlin slipped to 3^rd in the league but still in a promotion spot with this loss.  5 points behind Crickhowell in top spot and Crumlin have 3 games in hand.  Bettws leapfrog Crumlin into second by 2 points and on the same number of games as Crumlin.  These two teams now meet again at the Kay Field in three weeks time for a game that could very well decide the league title.

Next up though is a double header game away at Pontllanfraith in two weeks on 29^th April.  To ensure Crumlin stay in the title race this is a must win, but it is also the semi-final of the Bryn Meredith Bowl and Hollybush await in that final at the end of May.  Your travelling support would be greatly appreciated to get the boys to another final at the end of the season and to make that second Bettws game a victory for the Mighty Crum.

#UPPACRUM

SQUAD

1. Gavin Spencer

2. Jacob Morgan-Hill                  

3. Cameron Powell

4. Jordan Hughes

5. Gethyn Hockey

6. Gavin Hipkiss

7. Tyler Madden-Smith

8. Euan Lewis

9. Corey Strickland

10. Ethan Chess (Captain)

11. Morgan Wilson

12. Ryan Lewis

13. Scott Barnes                                                                          

14. Dan Davies                                                              

15. Ioan Lloyd

16. Daniel Lewis

17. George Price

18. Blake Madden-Smith