WRU League 3 East B

Chepstow 79 Blackwood Stars 0

CHEPSTOW RFC Firsts scored an average of one point a minute as they stopped the Stars sparkling at a murky, windswept Upton Memorial Ground on Saturday, writes Bob Cypher.

It was a typical top versus bottom clash with the confident home side putting their opposition to the sword from the first whistle.

After gaining a bonus point within the first 20 minutes, Chepstow may have felt inclined to go easy on a team who showed spirit and a certain amount of togetherness, but which had little hope of stemming the black and white tide which kept coming at them.

Two of the first four tries set the scene - the home pack steamrollering their opponents over their own line from 22 metres out.

Nick Williams opened the scoring, going under the posts to give Jonathan (JJ) Thomas the easiest of conversions which he duly accepted.

More tries followed from Josh Adams, Andrew Morris, Wayne Morgan and Ben Horder, with JJ Thomas converting two of them. The home pack was well on top and debutant hooker Andrei Sterpu was next on the scoresheet, picking up the ball from a ruck and crashing through would-be tacklers to run unopposed and score under the posts, JJ again adding the conversion.

Just before half-time a sweeping move from the home backs saw Sam Thomas cross the whitewash and then convert his own try to make it 45-0.

The second half started slowly with Blackwood enjoying some rare possession inside their opponents’ half, although they were always held up well short of the home line.

Having resisted these rare excursions, the home defence re-established their dominance and in another rolling maul, Andrew Morris scored his second try.

Ben Horder crossed for his second shortly after, before Lee Kelley joined the scoresheet with two tries in a row, one converted by Sam Thomas.

While admiring Chepstow’s overall performance, team manager Dean Thomas paid tribute to the opposition.

“In fairness to Blackwood, their heads never dropped and they kept fighting right to the end,” Thomas said later.

The Stars were backed by good travelling support, but on the field, their efforts nearly always foundered on a misplaced pass, a dropped ball or a strong defensive tackle.

Chepstow ended the game as they started, with Ben Horder scoring his third and fourth tries of the day, one converted by Ashley Mustoe, to end a miserable afternoon for Blackwood..

Chepstow's Youth team travelled to Kenfig Hill and won 10-0.

This Saturday Chepstow 1sts travel to second-placed Nantyglo for what should be a very tough encounter.