Fixture

Last Minute Try Denies Buns

St Albans 23 Caerau RFC 29

St Albans RFC lost a lively, entertaining opening fixture, in dramatic fashion, conceding a last minute try against a strong Caerau RFC side

Both sides were missing players but Caerau were better equipped for the Derby opener having 5 subs on their bench.  Following vandalism to the First Team pitch the game was switched to a second pitch.  St Albans thank Caerau & the referee for their cooperation.

The St Albans pack produced a very good first half performance with Tony Ryan, Jamie Boyle & Luke Doherty to the fore.  Against a tricky wind, they created good field positions, launched some promising attacks and a 6-3 lead, courtesy of two Mike Thomas’ penalties was scant reward.  Caerau threatened out wide and took an 8-6 lead just on half time with a corner try.
 

The Second half was a roller coaster of events with both sides having dominant periods.  After a period of pressure, Walter Gilbert dotted down for the home team with Thomas converting.  A further Thomas penalty stretched the Buns out to an 8 point lead.  However, Caerau hit back with a converted try to bring the score to 16-15.  The yoyo nature of the game continued, when Caerau, expertly prompted at 10, scored another converted try to take a 22-16 lead only for Gilbert to score a second, converted by Thomas to put the Home side 23-22 ahead with minutes to go.

In a tense finale – a last minute penalty possibility for the Buns was ignored with both kickers having taken knocks.  St Albans kicked to the corner – lost the line out – but pressured Caerau into a goal line knock on.  Game over?  However, the referee had called a penalty for offside and in dramatic fashion Caerau took the ball the length of the pitch for a match winning score.

Entertaining derby – that left the Buns ruing what might have been.