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Saturday, 12-45pm and the preparations begin for Caerleon RFC's first home game in division one east. Today the visitors are Blaenavon RFC who lost on their patch last week to Penallta. So both teams looking for first win with Caerleon looking for first points. At least the weather was better (couldn't have been worse tbh) in fact, the sun shone on God's Little Acre and a goodly crowd turned up to watch and support. 
So, the team began like this. M'Lud, Pete Loder and Granty. Couch (who begets a new nickname today, read on) Bailey, Breaky,Dai Rossiter and Gregg Watkins. Rhys Long at nine, Morgan, Pork Chop, Chris Mace, wings jon Burgess and Curtis Ayling (coach Smith told me to watch out for this lad) Tom at fifteen. Although he was late on parade Conor was on the bench with Pat, Fanny Feet, Ellis Jones and Jordan. No Herbie today as he was impersonating Kung Fu Panda. 

As last week, Caerleon got off to a bright start pressuring Blaenavon and when they broke out the defence was up to the task to. Dai Rossiter put in a cracking tackle just outside the opposition 22 that resulted in a penalty attempt from Morgan after around ten minutes. Unfortunately it was pushed right. They earned another two kickable penalties some ten minutes later but chose to dab and dash instead. As last week NO points were gained. I thought they may have learned their lesson as on the half hour Blaenavon had a purple patch. Caerleon transgressed at several rucks near their five metre line, Pork Chop got a yellow and Caerleon were behind 0-3. Dispute being a man down Caerleon continued to have the upper hand. Bailey was helped off the field with an ankle injuryto be replaced by Johnny come lately Conner. A powerful scrum coughed up a penalty, plus ten for chops, and finaly another crack at goal. Morgan on target this time as he posts the first points of the season. J B broke the Blaenavon defence with a strong run, one pass and one of to men were in. Not to be, the scoring pass was intercepted and Jon to a massive hit for his troubles. Half time soon after that 3-3.

The sun was now baking us as the second half got underway. 
From the kick off Caerleon applied pressure, M'Lud was up there to cause a knock on, but on the advantage a high tackle went in from Blaenavon, Morgan slotted the easy penalty 6-3 after one minute. Following that Morgan took a late hit (not his first by the way) for a double penalty. He went for the three just outside the 22 ten m in. Good kick Old Boy! 9-3. Then on twelve minutes he slotted another from the Blaenavon ten m line, just dropping over the cross bar 12-3. Blaenavon pulled one back soon after for a 12-6 scoreline with half hour remaining. The game went a bit flat for a while, although we did see the potential of young Curtis who's running style and step was of the George North type, rangy and strong (logger said 'so long as its not like George Doors'). Changes in the front row with Psyco Pat and FF on and young Ellis replacing JB, who I think was still feeling that first half knock. But the game did pick up and Caerleon were starting to click. Big hit from Macey woke the crowd up and when Ellis came into the line to be tackled two metres shy, their tails were defiantly up. Tom came to the party and made a lovely line break, he pinned the old lugholes back and got behind the defence, under armed the ball to Ellis who did likewise into the five metres and passed inside to naughty boy Porky to crash over for five points and Caerleons first try of the season. Morgan iced the cake with a cracking conversion. 19-6. Caerleon were now defiantly clicking, a superb attack by Curtis and Porky (featuring a pass to himself) showed promise and Ellis went close again making a real impact since his inclusion. The final twenty-five minutes belonged to The Green and Blacks, the forwards were trying to get in on the act in the closing stages, Couchy went for the line under the posts. Les Gallagher got very excited and screamed 'GO ON CWTCHY'!! Cwtchy? I wet myself. Anyhow, he earned an easy three for Morgan and the whistle went for a satisfactory win 22-6. Hurrumph!!

Well, four points and Caerleon are sixth in the league. The clubhouse had a good day, after match food served in pavilion went well (thanks Al and Chris) programme selling went well (thanks to the supporters and Ian 'Biggles' B) beer and cider went down well (no thanks from my hiatus hernia) but at the end of the day the plaudits must go to the players and back room boys. WELL BLOODY DONE! 

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