Crumlin returned to league action this week at Parc Y Boyd in Powys against Crickhowell RFC. Last season Crick finished third in our league, but the games against us were 2 classics. The home team took the honours by single score on both occasions, but both could easily have been wins for the away team. At Crick back in January we were in the middle of hurricane season and the rain before, during, and after the game was only to be described as torrential. There was an extremely nasty injury to a Crick player which saw the unusual situation of both teams leaving the field, but play did resume and Crick took the honours.
Wing Corey Strickland made his 140th appearance, whilst youngest player Ryan Lewis played his 25th game the week before his 21st birthday. The 17th of those Piglets, Tom Deinko, made his debut for the Black and Ambers. Deinko had only played 3 second XV fixtures in the last 5 seasons but you wouldn’t have known that as he put in a superb last man tackle at one point. Deinko carried well in the back line as he made a seamless transition into the handling moves.
As per the norm for this season Crumlin picked up injury after injury as Dan Lewis, Morgan Smith, Cole Jones, Dylan Foxwell and Tyler Madden Smith all had to be replaced at one point or another. Credit though to the boys who came on, who to a man performed excellently. Back Daf Clissett found himself on the flank and at one point even took a superb line out catch as well as putting in a series of quality tackles. Nathan Evans in the front row gave a renewed emphasis to the front rows dominance as his freshness propelled the scrums forward. Cole Jones was returning after a couple of matches and the scrum half was on in the centre. Desperately though he picked up a knock himself far too quickly and had to be replaced with a backline reshuffle. Taylor Smith is having a great season and had some excellent runs on the wing.
After 15 minutes Crumlin went off the top of a lineout through Euan Lewis down to Steele Jones who span it out to the backs. Ethan Chess fed Morgan Smith who turned it back inside to set off Kian Chess, who made good ground. After a second forward carry by Kyle Walton, Ethan Chess went to Dylan Foxwell, in off the opposite wing, who timed his pass beautifully to put Scott Barnes in for his first of the afternoon
Crickhowell 0 CRUMLIN 5
After absorbing a lot of pressure in their 22 Crumlin cleared for a lineout and from the rolling maul Jacob Hill went speeding up field. Franky was bombing! He found Kyle Walton and a ruck was formed on half way. Steele Jones recycled the ball and Ethan Chess set the backs going again. Out to Morgan Smith and Scott Barnes with Ryan Lewis in the line from full back. Ryan dummied and as the defender came into correct his error Ryan went over the top to wing Taylor Smith. Smith has been on top form of late and proved this as he left two defenders clutching at air before passing inside to Barnes who went under the posts. Barnes added the extras.
Crickhowell 0 CRUMLIN 12
Crick were not down out and scored a converted try before the half was finished.
Half time Crickhowell 7 CRUMLIN 12
Jordan Hughes had an immense game in the row as he carried superbly and dominated the lineouts along with flanker Euan Lewis who was his partner today. So many injuries on the Crumlin second rows this season have meant Lewis was Jordan’s partner for the second week in a running. The pinpoint throws of hooker Jacob Hill were a joy to behold and something Gerwyn Price would have been proud of. Talking of the darts being spot on, Dan Lewis at prop made it 180 games for the club and as always dominated his opposite number along with his partner in crime Gavin Spencer who makes his 230th appearance in the next fixture.
Crumlin let the ball bounce off the kick off and the result of this was a try out wide for Crick bringing the scores level.
Crickhowell 12 CRUMLIN 12
Crumlin made great in roads and line breaks as the Chess brothers – Kian on the flank and Captain Ethan at outside half – combined several times. Dylan Foxwell also made an outstanding break down the middle as Ryan Lewis turned the ball back inside to him but unfortunately the long pass out wide went to ground.
There was a great break down the right again by the Crumlin backs and after a couple of minutes of line pressure and a couple of penalties eventually Kyle Walton took the short tap pass to crash over.
Crickhowell 12 CRUMLIN 17
Crick came back once more and scored a converted try which put them in the lead with 10 to go.
Crickhowell 19 CRUMLIN 17
Crumlin once more hammered away at the lineout and the constant pressure eventually paid off as Crumlin had a 3 man overlap. Chess put the ball to Barnes who dummied the pass and skipped over to touch down. Barnes has played 2 seasons and 2 months or just 39 games. His hat trick try this afternoon took him through 250 points for The Mighty Crum.
Crickhowell 19 CRUMLIN 22
There is no game next week for the Mighty Crum as we all look to cheer Wales on against Georgia in their final world Cup group game. Then it is the big game at the top of the table as we welcome Newport Saracens to the Kayfield on Saturday October 14th. The Sarries are in fine form leading us by a point having easily won all of their first 5 games this season. With Crumlin’s plethora of injuries it will be a big ask to get a result in this game. There was a fantastic turnout of the home crowd for the cup match against Panteg and a similar level of support would be massively appreciated by the boys.
Congratulations to Scott Barnes, Dan Lewis and Captain Ethan Chess who have been selected to play for Monmouthshire County on Tuesday 3rd October at Blackwood RFC against East District.
#UPPACRUM!
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