Girling 17 - 10 St Josephs

24th February 2007

A wet and heavy pitch made things difficult for both sides on Saturday as Girling entertained St Josephs at the sports fields, but credit must be given to all the players for putting in an entertaining performance.

A much improved St Josephs side made it very difficult for Girling and good possesion was hard to come by. A penalty from outside half Andy Bates broke the deadlock midway through the half before winger James Morgan scored a superb try after a clever mis-move by the Girling backs fooled the visiting defence.

With a ten point first half lead the home team started the second half with the elements at their backs but it took a interception try by Lewis Jones, his third in as many matches, to add to the score. Bates again added the conversion and at this stage Girling looked home and dry but St Josephs had other ideas and a penalty and converted try soon reduced the arrears. In the later stages the away side tried everything to level the scores but the Girling defence held firm for a hard fought victory.

Girling 45 - 7 St Josephs

13th January 2007

A wet ball and a strong gusting wind helped neither side at the sports fields on Saturday, but it was Girling that adapted to the conditions the quickest. Within minutes of the kick off the Girling pack rumbled up the field with one of their trademark rolling mauls with hooker Stuart mapps touching down as they crossed the line. This was quickly followed by a try for number eight Rob Green, but a mistake in the Girlings backs shortly afterwards gave the visitors a breakaway try which was converted to put St Josephs right back in the game. This score however only served to kick start the Girling effort and tries from Don Jones, Jason O'Connell and a second for Rob Green put them well clear at the break.

The second half saw more of the same and the dominance of their forwards gave the home team a glut of possession. Jason O'Connell crashed over the line for his second try early in the half, then Andy Bates, Kevin Cantelo and his brother Ian all got on the scoresheet before the end of the game. Neither of the touch judges nor the score keeper were troubled by the Girling goalkickers however as all nine tries went unconverted.

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Girling 22 - Caerphilly 2nds 17

18th November 2006

The enforced break due to the Wales Autumn internationals seemed to have been beneficial to Girling on Saturday as they defeated a youthful and well drilled Caerphilly second team by 22 points to 17 at the sports fields.

The home team started well with the forwards gaining some quality possesion and it wasn't long before second row Owain Tudball scored a try to open up the scoring. This seemed to act as a wake up call for the visitors and their back line made a mockery of the wet conditions to score three unanswered tries before the break to lead 17 points to 5.

With Girling 12 points down at the break some harsh words were given by the coaching staff and the home team started the second half in a new frame of mind. A succession of rucks and mauls close to the visitors line resulted in Duane Gardner emerging with the ball from the bottom of a pile of players to score the first points of the second half. The Girling forwards then began to gain control and another sustained period of pressure resulted in outside half Don Jones reducing the lead with another unconverted try.

With the result balancing on a knife edge it was left to second row Jason O'Connell to become the hero of the hour when he crashed over in the corner for the winning score, David Davies added the touchline conversion to complete the scoring.

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Girling 7 - 17 Rogerstone

14th October 2006

Following their spirited performance the week before, Girling put in a lack lustre performance on Saturday against a well drilled and determined Rogerstone side. The wet conditions made handling difficult but to their credit both teams attempted to play running rugby and entertain a large crowd.

Girling were first to score when Adrian Smith fielded a high kick and counter attacked down the left flank before linking with outside half Christian Willliams who outsprinted the defence to score an excellent try which he convereted himself. This was as good as it got however and it was the only bright spot in a dour performance.

Two converted tries either side of half time put the visitors in the driving seat and although the Girling defence in the second half was adequate, basic handling errors meant that they never looked like scoring. A penalty midway through the second half sealed the victory for Rogerstone by 17 points to 7

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Caerleon 10 - 29 Girling

7th October 2006

Girling travelled to Caerleon on Saturday for what turned out to be an entertaining and hotly contested fixture. A lethargic start by the visiting team enabled Caerleon to get the first score on the board with a well taken try down the flank but this was the wake up call that Girling needed. Playing against the slope they soon began to gain territorial advantage and captain Adrian Smith scored the equalising try midway through the first half.

Good work from the forwards then saw hooker Stuart Mapps crash over for the second try before smith scored his second try and the teams third. Two Don Jones conversions completed the first half scoring to give Girling a comparitavely comfortable lead at the break.

In the second half however Caerleon were rejuvenated and it was backs to the wall for the Girling players. Reduced to thirteen by the issuing of two yellow cards by the referee, the resolute defence was eventually breached as Caerleon reduced the deficit with a second try.

Against the run of play however Girling scored a fourth try through stand in prop Duane Gardner and a scrappy last ten minutes saw the game sealed when Don Jones broke clear to score the last try of the game to give Girling the victory by 29 points to 10

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Girling 53 - 0 Malpas

16th September 2006

Girling bounced straight back from their defeat at the hands of Hartridge last week with a nine try demolition of Malpas on Saturday. The visiting team who are new to the Newport and Disrict league this season met Girling on one of their better days and after winger Lewis Jones sprinted fifty yards for the first try early in the first half the result was never in danger.

The fine weather had brought a large crowd to the sports fields and they were treated to a very entertaining game. Midway through the half a sustained forward drive saw second row Duane Gardner crashing over for a try before Owain Tudball and Don Jones both added to the score sheet. Christian Williams making his debut at outside half kicked three conversions to give Girling a comfortable half time lead.

As the game progressed further tries were scored by Kevin Yates, two for Captain Adrian Smith and two for Williams, one of which he started with a quick tapped penalty deep in his own half before a passing movement involving several players resulted in him receiving the ball again to score wide out on the left. To their credit Malpas never gave up but although there is still room for improvement this performance will have given encouragement to the Girling coaching staff for the season ahead.

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Girling 36 - 7 Cwmbran

2nd September 2006

Girling started the new campaign with a comfortable home victory against Cwmbran Athletic on saturday. Although the wet conditions made handling difficult both sides tried to keep the game fluid whilst attempting to play attractive open rugby.

The home side scored three unopposed first half tries and fittingly it was new captain Adrian Smith who scored the first midway through the half. Number eight Kevin Cantelo scored the second after a well worked move from a scrum close to the Cwmbran line before Smith scored his second and the teams third shortly before the break, scrum half Andy Bates converting all three tries.

The second half continued in much the same vein and the home side playing with the wind at their backs scored another three tries through centre Kevin Yates, outside half Don Jones and scrum half Andy Bates. Cwmbran scored a consolation try towards the end of the game which they converted but by then the game was well out of their reach.

A Girling milestone was reached in the closing minutes when Alan Branch-O'Neil took the field as a substitute to chalk up appearances in thirty consecutive seasons

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