Fixture

Alltwen consolidated their mid-table position in style with a thrilling 38-36 win away to Crynant, in this re-arranged mid week fixture, Weds 1^st May

On a balmy evening with perfect ground conditions and both sides setting out their attacking stall, it was Alltwen who made the decisive start with two thrilling early tries.

The first was concluded by hooker Aaron Burford with a mad dash to the right-hand corner flag, straight out of a Billy Whizz cartoon. The second saw the field open up for full back Gareth Ireland, who took full advantage to leave the home defence trailing in his wake.

Any thoughts that this game was going to be a cakewalk for the visitors however were quickly dispelled as Crynant gradually hauled themselves back into the contest. So despite Alltwen securing a first half bonus point with excellent individual efforts from Jason Richards and the ever impressive Alex Carne, Crynant incredibly responded with four tries of their own, courtesy of some generous Alltwen defending. 

It was fly-half Batty who then kicked Alltwen into gear in the second half, counterattacking with some superb blindside interplay with hooker Burford, who this time raced away into the left hand corner for one of the tries of the Alltwen season. Just as the visitors were seeking to consolidate their lead however, injury struck. Having already lost flanker Nicky Chart with damage to the only hand of use to him at nights, and down to 14 men through a yellow card, the side then lost key player and skipper Jordan Hopkin with a severe hamstring injury.

With the home side taking advantage of the situation and bringing the scores level to 29 all, salvation for Alltwen arrived in unlikely form. With Alltwen’s already depleted bench now bare, interested spectator Paul ‘Jamo’ James was called to emergency arms. After entertaining the crowd with a quick-change striptease act aided by his fallen comrades, James joined the fray in his familiar scrum half role and played a decisive role in what followed.

Back up to 15 men Alltwen were able to win sufficient territory to be awarded three penalties in three successive forays. On each occasion the side took the correct decision to go for goal and on each occasion ace-kicker Batty successfully converted. This gave his side a decisive nine point lead and although the home side managed a converted try at the death, it was not enough to deny Alltwen a well deserved and thrilling victory.

Much to the relief of the village, the squad will now disappear this weekend for a glamorous end of season tour to the East Midlands. For those then allowed home on bail, the season concludes with a nothing-to-lose visit to a probably promoted Bryncethin, Saturday 11^th May 14:30.