Previous results

Rumney : 15.C.Wills 14.S.McIntyre 13.D.Willey 12.N.Stork(Capt.) 11.I.McIntyre 10.M.Silva 9.G.Cleaver 1.G.Cox 2.P.Harris 3.N.Hennessy  4.M.Peard  5.P.Langley 6.G.Lucas 7.W.O'Connor 8.A.Grabham
Replacements : 16.D.Smith 17.C.O'Donoghue 18.N.Coles 19.A.Boyd 20.M.Cawley 21.B.Mathew 22.G.Harrington

Aberavon : 15.R.Price 14.S.Greenaway 13.S.Leyton 12.M.Back 11.D.Griffiths 10.J.Davies 9.M.Davies 1.R.Price 2.M.Carry 3.A.Packworthy 4.M.Meredith 5.S.Rees 6.A.Thomas 7.G.Newman 8.H.Merrett
Replacements : 16.J.Hyatt 17.J.Evans 18.G.Dicks 19.D.Owen 20.R.Morris 21.D.Hawkins 22.N.Lewis

Referee : David Swain

Touch judges : Dai Williams Gerald Davies

Scorers for Rumney : Michael Peard try, Christian Wills try, Matthew Silva penalty and conversion and drop goal

In the eighty second minute of this game Rumney outside half Matthew Silva launched a huge drop goal to put his side into an 18 - 16 lead and it looked as if division leaders Aberavon were about to be beaten for the first time in eleven games. With Mr Swain's final whistle expected at any moment The Wizards desperately drove upfield and at a ruck on the home side's twenty two metre line, Rumney strayed offside and Hawkes Bay centre Scott Leighton put over the winning penalty. Rumney had shaded their visitors in most aspects of play and were particularly unlucky to lose in this fashion. Their first try came from a tapped penalty, quickly taken by speedy prop Neil Hennessy who was stopped inches short of the line but who managed to feed the ball back for scrum half Gareth Cleaver to supply rampaging lock Mike Peard with the scoring pass. Fly half Matthew Silva kicked the conversion and added a penalty. Shortly after half time, with Rumney constantly pressing forward, Aberavon scrum half Daniel Hawkins turned the game with an interception and fifty metre sprint and kick which led to Jamie Davies crossing in the corner. Leighton converted from the touchline. Rumney hit back with a fine try by full back Christian Wills, which followed an elusive break by skipper Nick Stork and saw outstanding prop Gerald Cox feeding right wing Stuart McIntyre who released the ball when tackled, allowing Wills to dribble it over the line and score. Silva's accurate drop goal put Rumney into an 18 - 16 lead but by conceding that vital penalty in the dying seconds they lost out during the last dramatic minute of the game.

Shaun Lee, Coach Rumney RFC 1st XV : "As the score line suggests it was a very close encounter. We expected a very tough game as Aberavon are top of the table and have been playing consistently well, but they do not like coming to Rumney! We took the game to them and applied a great deal of pressure and I felt we were the better side on the day. The squad can feel very proud of themselves and were very unlucky not to have secured a win. Man of the Match for Rumney was flanker Gavin Lucas. We must now focus on our cup game against Llandovery on Saturday."