Rugby: Tillery thriller

May 1 2008 by Our Correspondent, Gwent Gazette

Division Four East

Abertillery BG 17 Abercarn 12

WHAT a nerve-shattering affair this was!

For well over 70 minutes of this game, Tillery almost totally dominated but failed to finish a plethora of try-scoring chances.

And they nearly paid the price for their profligacy as Abercarn, who had shown some lovely touches behind throughout, snatched two tries in quick succession to draw level.

With injury-time approaching, suddenly Tillery's promotion prospects hung desperately in the balance and a tangible tension descended on a now almost-hushed Park.

But just as Abercarn now looked perhaps the more likely winners, Tillery's earlier try-scorers Miles and Penn combined in a great counterattack and Jonathan Price was on hand to dive over for a score that brought the home crowd to its feet and saved the day.

Even then it wasn't quite done as the visitors gallantly tried for another score to dash Tillery's hopes but Luke Pegler's kick to touch signalled the end of what was a nerve-wracking finale.

Tillery showed great ambition from the off stringing together highly entertaining passages of play but they were let down by a succession of errors in execution and failed to capitalise on several try-scoring situations.

For their part, Abercarn belied their lowly position and contributed with some nice moves behind even if they rarely threatened to score.

With just over half an hour gone, Luke Pegler broke from the base of a scrum on his own 22 and combined with the hard-working Mason, Collier and Price before the ball was swung left for Miles to find a gap and motor over for a converted try.

Aled Penn was then twice denied tries, first by a marginal forward pass and then by good last-ditch defence.

Tillery camped deep in the visitors half for much of the first period of the second half and earned their reward early on as Penn rounded off a move instigated by Ian Williams on the crash ball.

Bowden and Miles made good ground before the ever-industrious Craig Meredith fed his wing in the corner.

It now seemed just a matter of whether Tillery would gain a bonus try and aside from some deep counter attacks by Abercarn, the hosts continued to dominate.

Lee Meredith was held up over the line and several other chances went begging.

With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Abercarn broke down the left flank, their replacement flanker diving in at the corner.

He appeared to have hit the corner flag in grounding the ball but the try, which went unconverted, was awarded.

Moments later, Tillery's promotion prospects took a further alarming dip as the now-confident visitors strung together a great passage of play for impressive outside-half Rhys Carpenter to dive over for a superb score he converted himself.

Remarkably it was now 12-12 with Abercarn looking to totally turn the game on its head as injury-time loomed.

But Tillery summoned up their courage and sent the ball along the line on half way for Miles and Penn to work some magic.

Penn was held up just short but Price was right on hand in support to go over for undoubtedly Tillery's most important try this season.