With wins over the Blues Amateur (30-15) and the Ospreys Amateur (33-7) respectively, the two sides have set up a winner-takes-all clash between the top two sides next month in the final tournament clash of the season.
As in round One, the Dragons Amateur started well with a dominant opening twenty minutes. After two early tries from David Brake (Pontypool) from a driving line-out and a text book finish from Gary Wilks (Fleur de Lys), the Dragons Amateur began to make silly errors and let ill-discipline ruin their good work.
The Blues Amateur kicked three penalties through Rhydyfelin’s Lee Scarfe before Dragons Amateur scrum half Calwyn Morgan (Pill Harriers) added a third try. They were left rueing their missed kicks at half-time, going in 15-16 after the Blues Amateur were awarded a penalty try from a 5m scrum. Scarfe added the conversion.
The Gwent side came out fighting after the break and continued to dominate in the pack. No.8 David Brake was outstanding and gave the Dragons Amateur a good platform from which to attack. However, silly mistakes and poor decision making prevented them from capitalising on their clear possession and territory advantage. It was not until mid way through the half that they demonstrated their true potential.
After some neat interplay between the back row and scrum half, flanker Andrew Packer (Newport Saracens) gave winger Gary Wilks half a yard of space and the man from Fleur de Lys did not disappoint, rounding his man to finish. Owen Biddescombe (Newport Saracens) added the conversion.
The Dragons Amateur then scored a penalty from Biddescombe before a sustained amount of pressure from the Blues Amateur, but the home side were not to be shaken and, to make the game safe, captain Lee Edwards (Pontypool) added a fifth and final try two minutes before time.
After the game, backs coach Steve Pritchard commented: “In patches we showed what a good team we can be. Our defence was awesome once again and we are still yet to concede a try in open play. The Blues team battled to the end and really made us work hard for the victory.”
Meanwhile, Hendy’s Lee Evans scored 15 points on his Clubs XV Regional debut for the Scarlets Amateur in their win over local rivals the Ospreys Amateur. The game started brightly with both sides trying to play with tempo and pace but after twenty minutes, the game became a war of attrition with both sides giving away a glut of penalties and what ensued was a game of aerial tennis.
Ospreys Amateur opened the scoring when following a clever chip and chase, centre Gavin Connor scored and Andrew Penhale added the conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 lead. Following a period of pressure, Scarlets Amateur captain and outside half Emyr Williams (Whitland) reduced the deficit to 7-3 with a penalty goal.
After half time the home side came out with a different approach with forwards and backs combined well to produce an excellent second half display which brought tries for full back Carwyn Jones (Crymych), scrum half Matthew Davies (Kidwelly), wing Lee Evans (Hendy) and centre Matthew John (Whitland) with the elusive Lee Evans adding two conversions and two penalties and Emyr Williams one conversion and one penalty. With ten changes from the team which defeated the Blues Amateur the strength in depth is apparent and competition for places is assured.
There is now a break in the Clubs XV Regional Championship. The Blues Amateur host the Ospreys Amateur on Thursday 22nd November 2007 at the Arms Park with the Dragons Amateur facing the Scarlets Amateur in a bid to retain the title, with the venue to be confirmed.
