Promotion place is up for grabs (From Free Press Series)

Promotion place is up for grabs

Llanishen 10 Abergavenny 13

ABERGAVENNY captain Will James says there is a promotion spot up for grabs for his side this season, if they can continue playing like they did on Saturday.

That's the carrot he has dangled in front of his teammates after the Bailey Park outfit picked up their seventh win in twelve games played in this campaign, to leave them sixth in the table.

"I think the top two in the division go up and we are one of the contenders if we keep playing like this," said James.

"I don't think we can realistically get first, but, you never know. Everyone is beating everyone else and no-one is guaranteed a win.

"We've got ten games left and the confidence is high. The games we have lost have only been by the odd point, so we could have remained unbeaten this term. There's a definite chance of promotion."

Fly half James Didcote got the bulk of the points against second-place Llanishen, with two penalties and a conversion.

And James said he was delighted in the way his men ground out a gutsy win under a mountain of pressure.

"We were struggling in the second row with Oli Field (neck), Lee Oakey (work) and Chris McGowan (suspension) all out.

"Graham Jones and Colin Symonds did a good job, though. Fair play on Colin, it was only his second game since moving up from the Seconds and he did well. All he really needs to do is work on his fitness.

"It was a dogged result. We camped ourselves in their half in the last ten minutes and had a try disallowed, but this was all about our mental toughness, which was right up there," said the back row forward.

James said he has been delighted with the club's new found form under coach Mark Lloyd, but was quick to add the foundations were already in place before he arrived late last year.

"I don't think we were that far away from where we are now before Mark came in. What he has done is stamped out the rowing between the players and made sure our training has paid off.

"The pieces to the side were already there, but he has fine-tuned everything."

Abergavenny face Aber-carn this Saturday and James insists three points and nothing else will do.

"We will be looking for maximum points. We're at home and on a roll. Confidence is high, and a win is what we want."

Abergavenny kick-off their crucial match against third from bottom Abercarn at 2.30pm.