Girling 19 - 19 Cathays

24th January 2009

In one of only a few games to beat the weather on saturday, Girling entertained Cathays in an entertaining encounter. Decimated by injury and unavailabilty for the second week in a row Girling fielded a weekened side who gave their all for 80 minutes. It was the home side who gained the early advantage when midway through the first half a period of sustained pressure resulted in centre Geraint Smith crashing under the posts with Andy Bates converting. The score at half time was level however as the Cathays winger outpaced the covering defence to score a converted try just before the break.

There was nothing between the two sides in the second half. Outside half Adrian Smith put Girling back into the lead again with a well taken try only for Cathays to quickly equalise. Owain Tudball then scored Girlings third try leaving a number of defenders in his wake as he scored under the posts, Bates converted but the home side were denied victory when the visitors scored their third try in the dying minutes. When the referee's whistle finally sounded it drew an end to a match in which a draw was a fair result

Girling 14 - 7 Machen

4th October 2008

In their first home game of the season Girling fought out a hard fought victory against Machen 2nds on saturday in a match dominated by the weather. Heavy rain throughout made handling difficult but even so both sides tried to run the ball wide whenever possible. In the early exchanges the visitors were the stronger team but gradually Girling got back into their stride with the experimental back row of Adrian Smith, Stuart Fitzgerald and Mark Williams to the fore. The opening score came from Captain and outside half Don Jones who glided in under the posts after a double dummy with his centres sent the cover defence in all directions, Andy Bates converted. bates was then instrumental in Girlings second try when he gave Andy Salter a scoring pass for the wingers first try for the club with Bates again converting to give the home side a comfortable lead.

The second half was a dour affair with the weather playing a big part, Machen continued playing the way they had started putting constant pressure on the home line, but thankfully for the home side they could only muster one converted try and the game finished with Girling victorious fourteen points to seven

Cathays 12 - 20 Girling

20th September 2008

Girling claimed their second win of the season at the weekend when they travelled to Cardiff to record a twenty points to twelve victory over Cathays. On a glorious afternoon, ideal for running rugby, both teams contributed to an entertaining match. Girling gave debuts to a number of new players with Andrew Merrett, Anthony Kennedy, Leighton Reece and Stuart Fitzgerald all getting their first games but it was the established players however who got the scoreboard moving with scrum half Andy Bates and outside half Don Jones scoring all the points.

First blood went to the home side with a well taken try but the visitors quickly responded with tries from Bates and Jones. Bates added a conversion and penalty to give girling a ten point interval lead. In the second half both sides ran the ball at every opportunity but the defences held strong until Cathays closed the gap with a converted try. After several substitutions it was Jones' second try that sealed victory after a clever mis-move in midfield gave him a clear run to the posts.

St Josephs 0 - 29 Girling

13th September 2008

Girling played their first game of the new campaign by travelling to St Josephs for a Newport and District league match on Saturday. With three players making their club debuts it was going to be a tough encounter but Lee Hopkins on the wing, Mark Perry in the second row and prop Robbie Kennedy all aquited themselves well. The early exchanges were evenly matched with Girling playing a controlled narrow game but as soon as they expanded their game to the wings tries soon resulted from number eight Owain Tudball and wing Lewis Jones, the latter after some clever play by scrum half Andy Bates. Now playing well within themselves the visitors were controlling the game and turned around at half time with a comfortable twelve point lead.

In the second half it was fleet footed new boy Lee Hopkins who led the charge with a hat-trick of scintilating tries from the right wing. His first two tries resulted from neat interpassing with his fellow backs but the third was an individual effort , his pace sending him on arcing run which outstripped the covering defence to complete the scoring.