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Rugby Union: Plenty of heart but Gele slip to defeat

Sep 17 2008 by Dave Jones, Rhyl Visitor

ABERGELE 2ND XV 19 CORWEN 31

GELE’S second string began their North East Wales Districts League campaign with a spirited but losing performance against a strengthened Corwen side.

The match gave an opportunity to offer much-needed senior game time to Ryan Grindod and Llion Mortimer, who certainly stepped up to the challenge.

The hosts opened the scoring, winger Gwyn Pritchard beating his opponent with a neat sidestep to break the deadlock after some clever kicking from fly-half Andy Myers gave Gele good field position.

As strong as Gele were going forward they were equally fallible in defence as Corwen responded with two tries in quick succession.

The Swordsmen never dropped their heads, however, and once again looked to put their opponents under pressure.

The back row of Mortimer, Craig Wraight and Tim Harrop were hitting rucks vigorously to ensure scrum-half Tony Brown had decent ball.

The centre partnership of Sion Pritchard and Leon Field thwarted a number of Corwen attacks with some strong tackling and prop Justyn Davies made powerful bursts with ball in hand.

After a period of controlled rugby, Gele reduced the arrears with a well-taken try from second row Gareth Beach, full-back Simon Keating adding the conversion.

During the second period, Gele left themselves with too much to do as two quickly conceded tries opened up Corwen’s lead.

The hosts finished well, though, when hooker Warren Hill crossed in the dying minutes for his first try for Abergele on his league debut, Keating again providing the extras.

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