Fixture

Caerleon RFC | 2nd Team 31 - 17 Risca RFC | 2nd Team

Match Report
06 March 2016 / Team News

Finally

Well, I haven't done one of these for a while, mainly because I haven't had the opportunity to watch The Mighty Helmets much recently. Today was the perfect time, with spirits high after a gritty performance in defeat at St. Josephs last week and the Healy rallying cry being heeded at training this week. 

 Indeed, finally, which has been anticipated for 18 months one of the strongest Helmets xvs took the field v the old nemesis Risca 2nds. It seemed odd our club servant and ex skipper Coxey taking the field for the opposition , but that wasn't going to deter the good guys.

The game began in a hurry with Georgie showing up early with catches and carries, and with the young ref hesitant early on it was Risca with the first chance of points with a long range pen just falling short.

Alex was pacing the line in the way yours truly used to with that utter committment and belief in his team and announced he had a feeling about today.

Indeed he seemed to be in tune with the team as  the home side then took a real grip on the game. Big carries from Mitch and Connor made ground, and with Doddsy and Saul dancing through the tackles via some lovely distribution from Richie H nd Chris T Risca wrre being ripped open. A huge close range scrum saw Mitch touch down for the opener then just after some wonderful approach play and handling saw Connor over on the left for 10-0. 

 Risca came back at the Helmets, but a fantastic counter from Doddsy eventually came back left and Richie H went over for a 3rd which he convertec himself against odds for 17-0.

 The Helmets wre dominant and running the game. Continuous carrying from Mitch , Connor and Adam and lovely distribution seeing Burty on a run down the flank.

 However, Risca , although not what they once were, haven't won 6 titles in a row to lie down and hit back. They creayed overlaps at will but botched the chances, but after a quickly takrn pen a 6 on 3 down the right must have seen them score. BUT- the 10 threw a huge miss pass and this was picked off y the Helmets winger(name please) and he raced away for the BP try and 24-0.

   Risca players were shaking their heads in disbelief as they trudged back, but again they created overlaps at will and finally waltzed in for n HT score of  24-5.

   Thiswas up there with one of the best halves ever put in by a Caerleon 2nd team, but that neede to be continued into the 2nd pewriod.#

Indeed, not long afte KO, Doddsy scxuttled away down the right, moved the ball beautifully and Saul left the Risca defence grapsing at air and the green and blacks went away for a 5th and 31-5.

 Changes to personel and tiring bodies saw the home side begin to defend too narrowly AND stand off the defence temporarily which allowed Risca back into the game , and 2 quick tries saw the score to 31-17 with 25 minutes left and as the home side tired we were concerned for the finish.

 However, as the quality of the rugby diminished, so did the danger of defeat. The committed defence was all that was needed after the heady heights of the glorious attacking play of the first 40, and the usual suspects were in the fore. Big Rich knocked them over at will and Chris and Saul just got in peoples faces.

 As the game dwindled to a dull end, it took nothing away from a fabulous team effort which saw the Helmets finally roll over Risca. Whoo hoo.

Huge performances all over so hard for me to single out people.

 I thought Connor had a great 1st half and Doddsy and Adam showed up too. However for me MOM was Mitch, not just cos his Dad's my mate but because he was everywhere today. Carrying, tackling , winning line-out and even calling a mark and skillfully kicking to touch. 

 Good to see the strength of the squad today, and there are players here who soon need to be involved in 1st team action . Foresight is needed as to where the playing sqaud may be in 3 or 4 years time , not just on the short term goal. Ihaven't done this for a while and rarely has it felt so good. HELMETS!!!!

 

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