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Llanhilleth 29 Rhymney 6

​No shortage of spirit and a ton of Treviso-style tckling couldn't save toothless Rhymney from a second half drubbing at sunny Llanhilleth. With a few players out of position and Steve Lang apparently off to Nantyglo after two games, a bright Brewers start with two penalties by fly half for the day Ieuan Breen was as good as it got in attack. There was bags of effort by both sides, but the hosts were winning more ball, especially at scrum time, and grew in confidence if not, for a time, in ball handling skills. They got a converted try after forward pressure before half time, but it felt that with some possession, Rhymney could well hit back. Scott Davidson, at centre, certainly didn't look out of place with his defensive work and at the base of the scrum Gareth Lewis batlled and burrowed away bravely with increasingly difficult ball: as did Connor Gregory with some skilful pick ups on the retreat. As the second half wore on though, despite good lineout ball through Callum Merrick, such ball as the Brewers did win was often kicked away to the hosts' increasingly dangerous carriers. There was heroic tackling (and some wasteful Llan approach play) but not enough go forward and something had to give: after a home penalty there were three more tries, two converted, all but one through forward pressure eventually telling. With another pair of front row bumps, the scrums went passive late on and Joe Kahl, Rhys Bevan and Keaton Pardoe saw sub action for returning skipper Sam Williams' outfit. He and Jack Donegan went closest in Rhymney's best five minutes of the second period, but typically that ended with a turnover, a lineout five yards from the Brewers' line and more last ditch work to do. Hard work and hoefully quick healing, then, before the next divisional derby when Aberbargoed come to the Park this Saturday, 30th September! Pics of the game are at https://1drv.ms/f/s!Atk_WskrKMfqhvo2i77E0E-K-AtyUg