MID DISTRICT BOWL

TONYREFAIL .............. 20 CAERPHILLY ............... 12

A MID-WEEK game under lights is a novelty for Ton fans but a good crowd turned out to watch this Mid District Bowl game against Caerphilly and they were rewarded with a big performance by the home team against a much bigger side who were well organised.

In the first half Ton struggled at the set scrums and after loosing starting hooker Gavin Enticott after 10 minutes their lineout was suffering as well so possession was scant but they were disciplined and determined in defence, making Caerphilly work hard for every metre of ground.

The visitors were first on the scoreboard after 18 minutes with a converted try but Ton came back at them a few minutes later when Craig Kehoane touched down out wide.

The game continued with Caerphilly having the lion’s share of possession but Ton managed to keep them out and on 40 minutes it looked like they would turn around with only a two-point deficit but the visitors struck again in time added on for a try and the half ended 5-12.

In the second half Ton had the slope in their favour but they were going to need more than that to win.

Changes were made to their scrum and they were more competitive there but they were still doing most of the tackling.

Owen Lewis cut the deficit with a long-range penalty but Caerphilly kept the pressure on until the hour mark when full back Sam Christopher scored a game-changing try as Ton changed defence into attack with some ferocious counter-rucking and tackling.

They did not have the ball but they drove the visitors back to halfway before turning the ball over for the full back to run half the length of the field to score.

Ton now had their noses in front and as they gained in confidence so Caerphilly shrank.

They took play deep into Caerphilly territory and after a number of five-metre scrums Garreg Lewis charged down a clearance kick for flanker Nathan Williams to drop on the ball for a try.

Owen Lewis converted and Ton now had an eight-point lead which they kept for the remaining four minutes.