CWMBRAN RFC 21 v 23 CROESYCEILIOG RFC
First game of the 2026/2026 Season was a home fixture against of foes from the other side of town. The pitch had held up well after the rain over the last couple of days and other than a shower before kick-off it was generally warm and sunny.
Croesyceiliog playing up the field got off to the better start, scoring with a penalty from in front of the posts after just three minutes, although Cwmbran where quick to respond with any penalty of their own, Nye Evans scoring from 25 metres out on the left side, 3 – 3
Thirteen Minutes in and after a couple of phases from the halfway, Croesyceiliog breakthrough in the centre of the field and score putting the ball down next to the uprights, try converted 3 – 10
Fifteen Minutes and another penalty from Nye Evans, similar position to his first, 6 – 10.
Twenty-five minutes in and Cwmbran go down to fourteen players with Harry Jarvis given a yellow card for taking a player out off the ball.
Croesyceiliog where quick to take advantage of the extra player, scoring almost immediately from a lineout, fifteen metres out, setting up a catch and drive, breaking off from the back of the maul to go over for a converted try. 6 – 17
Thirty-five minutes and Croesyceiliog lose the first of two men to yellow cards, Cwmbran are quick to respond with the forwards setting up a number of phases before getting the ball to the centre of the field about twenty metres out, passing the ball to Nye Evans who runs along the line skipping around a couple of tackles, before throwing a dummy and straightening up to dive over for a try, converted by Nye. 13 – 17.
Croesyceiliog losing their second player to a yellow card just before half time.
Half Time 13 – 17.
Four minutes into the second half and Croesyceiliog miss a penalty and the chance to go further ahead.
Croesyceiliog have a penalty after eight minutes and kicking to the bottom left corner fail to find touch, caught by Harry Jarvis, he sets off on one of his renowned runs, side stepping a number of tackles taking the ball 30 metres up field, passing to Ben Taylor on his right who then passes out to Morgan Hall on the wing, Morgan Hall from inside his own half sprints up the right hand touch line to score in top right corner, Although the conversion was missed, Cwmbran take the lead for first time in the match 18 – 17
After missing a penalty after fifteen minutes, Croesyceiliog get another opportunity on the thirty-minute mark, scoring to go ahead 18 – 20.
Cwmbran then missed a penalty on thirty-four minutes, before having another awarded three minutes later, twenty metres out and straight in front of the posts, scored by Nye Evans to put Cwmbran back in front 21 – 20.
With Cwmbran under pressure but only needing to play the game out, Croesyceiliog get awarded a penalty twenty metres out just left of centre, scored with the last kick of the game Croesyceiliog win 21 – 23
Final Score 21 – 23
Tries
Aneurin Evans
Morgan Hall
Conversions
Aneurin Evans
Penalties
Aneurin Evans (3)
Croesyceiliog started the better of the two teams, but it didn’t take Cwmbran to long to get into the game, with a high penalty count for both teams, either could have won at the end.
Nothing is won or lost after the first game of the season as we look to improve on this performance next week away to Pill Harriers RFC.
Thank you to all the supporters who came to watch, we look forward to seeing you all next week.
MATCH DAY PHOTOGRAPHS
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