REPORTS

Rapier-like Tillery

cut down the Tigers

It’s two wins from two for Tillery as they triumphed over a tenacious Talywain outfit at Emlyn Park. In a keenly contested clash of contrasting styles, the Tigers clawed their way back into contention, mauling their way to two tries after the break. But Tillery held the decisive weapon in their rapier-like backs as they cut down the home revival, aided and abetted by the howitzer-like boot of Liam Crandon.

The hosts’ pack was prominent very early on with second-row Arnett threatening with a strong run. The Green & Whites soon mounted an offensive as veteran centre Darren Miles slashed his way through the home ranks only for the final pass to go astray.

Moments later, his son, Connor, again busy at scrum-half, was quick witted to take a quick tap and go catching the home defence napping for a try. Crandon missed the conversion and was wide with two penalty attempts either side of the score, but his excellent kicking from hand kept the visitors on the attack despite Talywain snatching three points back with a well-struck penalty from outside half Haines.

And it was a superb deep Crandon kick that led to Tillery’s second try. The home side’s clearance was superbly fielded by Mike Williams at full back and he fed Aled Penn on half way who put on the afterburners to race though and past defenders for a converted score. Just before the interval a rare Talywain attack produced a second successful penalty although they were dealt a blow when one of their forwards was yellow-carded for over-vigorous rucking.

H-T: 6 -12

Despite being a man light, the hosts started the second half well and Tillery were unable to make anything of their early numerical advantage. Instead, the visitors’ play was punctuated by a series of silly infringements that allowed the Tigers to gain momentum and from a penalty their pack produced a powerful rolling maul at the ensuing line-out to take the narrowest of leads with a converted score.

Tillery needed to strike back quickly as the game threatened to slip away from what had seemed a fairly comfortable grasp in the opening forty. They did so as replacement Blaine Meek was high tackled on the 10-metre line for Crandon to bisect the posts with a sweetly struck kick and he repeated the feat minutes later when the home side killed the ball at a ruck.

Tillery were now back in the groove and superb piece of powerful mazy running out of his 22 by Lewis Bates at centre set up a great move, ball going through several sets of hands before a Penn thrust created the necessary space for the impressive Mike Williams to go over for a great try excellently converted by Crandon.

Still the hosts weren’t done and they got themselves back within a score as another maul paid dividends with a converted try.With little time remaining Tillery again threatened another try which would have brought a bonus point. But when awarded penalty in front of the posts, they wisely elected to take the points on offer to secure the win rather jeopardise the victory their efforts deserved.

  

Tillery MoM - Liam Crandon

How Tillery lined up…

Division 2 East
FIXTURES

September 13 2014

September 13 2014

Talywain (6) 20 Abertillery (12) 28

Results

Pill Harriers_home Talywain_away Brynmawr_home Tredegar_away Croesyceiliog_away Caerphilly_home