REPORTS

Connor helps Tillery
pass the Caerphilly test

If ever there was a game to match the weather this was it; largely dull with a just a few bright spells, one of which was Connor Miles’ exquisite long pass to send Nicky Thomas over for Tillery’s first half try. Other than that, the game lacked real excitement with the referee, in the eyes of home support at least, perceived as being somewhat overzealous in his approach.

Not that Tillery will worry too much as they just about merited the narrow win, whilst the visitors deserved the bonus point they gained with their last-gasp converted try.

Certainly the game was not free flowing. Both sides tried hard throughout but with congested midfields and the whistle dominating at times, only now and then did the contest, watched by several notable former Tillery players as club guests, flicker into life.

The opening minutes flattered to deceive as the home side put together some nice passages of play with the slope in their favour. But after Liam Crandon put them in front with a fourth minute penalty, they lost their momentum when play was halted by a break following an injury to hooker, Nicky Thomas. Instead, it was the visitors who levelled matters with their second penalty attempt after forcing a penalty at a scrum.

Aled Penn tried to inject some urgency into the hosts’ play with some breaks and he linked well with Lewis Prosser to set up good field position. The Tillery pack continued the assault on the Castletown men’s line and a wonderfully weighted long pass from Connor Miles was taken at pace by Thomas who steamed through for a try converted by Liam Crandon.

H-T: 10 -3

Early in the second half Tillery stretched their lead to double figures as an excellent deep clearance kick by Mike Williams pressurised the visitors defence into conceding a penalty.

The home side was enjoying the majority of play without really creating any clear chances and it was Caerphilly who narrowed the gap with a second penalty after their lively left wing made a rare break.

Tillery were then reduced to 14 men as Liam Crandon was shown yellow for what appeared an innocuous offence at worst. In his absence, Williams was afforded the chance to restore the ten-point margin and he did so, stabbing the ball between the posts.

As Crandon returned to the field from the sin bin, replacement hooker Mike Blackwell took his place as again Tillery incurred the displeasure of the official for what seemed a rather minor infringement.

With that, the visitors continued their late charge. Matthew Jones, who had replaced flanker Dan Crandon, was prominent as the home side battled to keep their line intact. But at last the visitors forced their way over from close range for a deserved bonus score, the successful conversion bringing an end to the proceedings.

Tillery website M-O-M: Craig Edwards

How Tillery lined up…

November 1 2014

Abertillery (10) 16 Caerphilly (3) 13

Division 2 East
FIXTURES

November 1 2014

Results

Pill Harriers_home Talywain_away Brynmawr_home Tredegar_away Croesyceiliog_away Caerphilly_home