Match Reports 2009/10
Tredegar (10) Blackwood (19)
April 13th 2010
Tredegar threw away a golden opportunity to firmly cement a mid table league position after going down at home to Blackwood . Tredegar can only blame themselves for not getting the win as the double yellow carding of Nicky Gould and Jack Dawson gave the visitors the edge to sneak a victory in a hard fought encounter with nothing much separating the two teams except for discipline. With two wins on the bounce Tredegar started the game confidently with Wes Cunliffe getting the first try of the evening with Pearce's conversion seeing the home team lead by seven points.
Tredegar's lead was short lived as from the resulting kick off Blackwood number eight David Brake scored the softest of tries and when Richard Powell converted the scores were even steven. Jordan Williams put in another excellant performance and with the Tredegar pack competing a win looked on the cards, and Pearce's penalty before the break extended the home team's aspirations to extend their lead by three points.
If Tredegar thought they could emulate their recent second half performance at Rumney, their indiscipline cost them dear. With an injury to influential scrum half, Rhys Hallet, following a high tackle that went unpunished, his replacement Steve Brown showed maturity beyond his years displaying skills and speed that will serve him well into the future but Tredegar came unstuck after conceeding several penalties when both Nicky Gould and Jack Dawson were unceremoniously dispatched to the bin. Blackwood's Richard Powell took the opportunity to bang over his second penalty of the night to bring the scores to ten all.
However, Tredegar showed their mettle when Matthew Jolly and Craig Lloyd were outstanding in defence and with Lloyd pulled off a try saving tackle, he thwarted the visitors efforts, denying them a try. Luke James put in another sound performance as the last line of defence whilst Daffyd James threatenened everytime the ball was moved to him. Although Blackwood could not breach Tredegar's line the sheer numbers took it's toll and that man Powell slotted another three penalties whilst Tredegar had depleted numbers, to deny them victory and also put a losing bonus point out of reach.
Tredegar could have and should have won this game and with such a crop of promising youngsters the team deserve better than just first division survival and with improved discipline will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Tredegar's remaining fixtures are two home fixtures against Rumney on Sat 16th, Newbridge on Sat 24th with the season's final fixture away to Ystrad Rhondda on Saturday May 1st
.