Cwmbran 12 Oakdale 24 (From Free Press Series)

Cwmbran 12 Oakdale 24

2:46pm Monday 4th March 2013 in Sport

Cwmbran 12 Oakdale 24

THE youthful Cwmbran team came away from third placed Oakdale with a four try to two defeat in this league game on Saturday. Late withdrawals did not help coaches Gareth Kirkup and Chris Bailey's cause as they were forced to play some personnel out of position.

On occasions Oakdale exposed the disruption by making telling breaks behind resulting in two early tries scored by their fullback and wing, one of which was converted.

Cwmbran flanker, Mike Lang, playing in the centre on the day, capitalised on good approach work by the Crows pack and threequarters Dave Thomas, Mike Davies and Gareth Roberts to score near the posts. Inside half Luke Brown converted the try for Cwmbran to trail 7 - 12 at the interval.

As the game progressed so did the scuffles, yellow cards and stoppage debates to halt any fluency by either side. Oakdale always looked the more dangerous behind, however, and duly ran in two further tries by their centre and wing respectively, one of which was converted, to gain a bonus point.

Cwmbran battled hard to get something out of the game but despite hard graft put in by forwards Micky Blake, Jamie Edwards, Mark Lynch, Matt Needs, Micky Witts, Liam Davies and the Elliott brothers all they had to show second half was a late try by Luke Brown.

Cwmbran athletic had an excellent home win over Gwernyfed winning 19 - 15.