Fixture

Abercarn marched into the quarter-finals of the Swalec Bowl with a convincing win over Birchgrove at Parc Bedw. The visitors ran in five tries with fly-half Jamie Baker, who deservedly got the man of the match award, kicked four conversions and two penalties. Birchgrove started brightly but the visitors forwards began to dominate scrums and line-outs. After absorbing a period of pressure Abercarn got on the scoreboard when winger Nicky Lloyd ran an excellent line to break through the home side’s defenses and hooker Aaron Davies crashed over the line. A penalty took them further ahead before good inter passing enabled Birchwood’s Nathan Jones to score a fine try. With half-time approaching from an attacking scrum the visitors forwards powered over the line, number eight Lewis James touched down and the conversion took the score to 17 points to 5.

Abercarn continued in similar fashion after the restart and stretched their lead further when Davies scored his second try of the game. To their credit Birchwood did fight back but were unable to break down Abercarns’ defensive wall. Captain Nathan Curtis was next to score before winger Nicky Lloyd crossed the whitewash in the corner with the last move of the game to take the final score to 39 points to 5. This Saturday Abercarn travel to Oakdale, and as the only two unbeaten sides in the league it is sure to be an enthralling encounter.