Caerphilly travelled to Blackwood last weekend to take on a much
rejuvenated Wood side which were staring down the barrel of a gun
facing relegation at the end of last season.
Blackwood have started the season well, a close loss against Pontypool
and then a resounding win over Llanharan the following week.
Indeed it was Blackwood that came out of the blocks early, attacking
the visitors on every occasion, their first chance coming with two
minutes on the clock.
Outside Half Gregg Jones hit the mark on 6 minutes as a lineout loss
on the half way line by the visitors led to hands in the ruck giving
away a penalty on the 22 in front of the posts.
It took another 10 minutes for Blackwood to extend their lead. A break
from their own half proved fruitful as the ball was moved firstly
to the left then to the right drawing the defenders. As the Caerphilly
defence lay flat a deft chip ahead saw winger Owen Williams ground
the ball over the line, Jones converting, propelling Wood to a 10
point lead.
Caerphilly suddenly came to life, attacking from deep, Winger Chris
Thomas made a break down the right, as the ball moved to the backs,
Lee Mullane and Gareth Miles made hard yards into the Blackwood 22.
Under pressure Blackwood were penalised for offside at the ruck, unfortunately
a lose tongue to referee Ken Bowen saw the penalty reversed.
The Cheesemen gained their first points on 28 minutes. Pressure on
the Blackwood scrum deep into their own territory forced an error
from the blindside flanker, as he obstructed the tackler. Up stepped
Rhys Edwards to slot the penalty, and start the Caerphilly revival.
Credit had to be given to the Caerphilly pack, constantly placing
the home side under pressure. Indeed the first Caerphilly try was
eventually down to powerful driving. Another run down the right wing
by Thomas led to turnover ball, Blackwood gaining little ground. Good
lineout ball on the 22 by Chris Payne allowed the peel away, sucking
in the defence. The ball found its way to centre field, where captain
John Griffiths collected and drove through the Blackwood defence to
score just to the left of the posts. Dean Watkins stepped up and slotted
the conversion leaving the half time score at 10 a piece.
Caerphilly came out fighting in the second half. A period of sustained
pressure yielded rewards as Blackwood were forced to defend a series
of scrums on the five metre line. Referee Bowen eventually produced
a yellow card to flanker Adam Coupe as a series of misdemeanours at
the scrum denied the visitors the try they craved for. In fact, even
down to 14 men, Blackwood had to be commended, as they kept the visitors
at bay, drive after drive.
5 minutes of sustained pressure, with Blackwood down to 14 men finally
yielded reward as the home side eventually ran out of defenders on
the right, Chris Thomas crossing in the corner from another attacking
scrum.
Blackwood had their chances, a lucky bounce on the half way line,
from another chip ahead almost leading to a try, Caerphilly just bringing
the man down on the 22.
Further pressure by the visitors yielded another penalty on 66 minutes,
the boot of Dean Watkins putting the visitors 9 points ahead.
Try as they may, Blackwood could not break down the Caerphilly defence,
and with time against them were afforded the chance of gaining a bonus
point deep into injury time, the kick passing agonisingly to the left
of the posts.
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