DIVISION 1 EAST

DOWLAIS ..................... 26 RISCA ........................... 42

THIS was a much weakened Dowlais side for their last game of the season, due to injuries and unavailability against a very strong Risca team.

Matters did not improve when flanker Nick Thomas pulled a harmstring during the warm-up.

Risca were quickly into their stride and a 16-point lead with three penalties and a converted try, but Dowlais got stuck in and were rewarded with three penalties from Steve James and a length-ofthe-field try startred by Tom Griffin and finished by Cameron Trowbridge, Steve James added the conversion to make the half-time score 16-16.

It was a welcome return to see Joe Griffin turn out for the first time in quite a while.

The second-half injury toll had its effect on Dowlais and Risca were able to pull away with four tries, three of them converted.

But Dowlais kept going to the end and were rewarded with a first try for former youth player Joel Braddock converted by second row Andrew Barnett.

Dowlais can be fairly pleased with their performance this season in a very tough division with notable wins over Pontypool United, Nelson and Penallta, but they were not consistant enough, and the squad not big enough to cover the endless run of injuries.

The club now looks forward to its end-of-season trip to America, and next season.