Fixture

With it being WRU bowl weekend the coaching staff took the enviable opportunity of making wholesale changes to the starting line-up of the previous league weekend. There were seven changes to the pack together with a couple behind the scrum for the visit to division 3A side Blackwood Stars. The gap in league status looked evident in the opening minutes when the hosts crashed over for the first score of the game and it looked like being a difficult afternoon for Panteg. The much bigger home pack were dominating the set pieces and therefore the possession and it was backs to the wall defence. Despite playing up a steep gradient the visitors managed to reach the interval without conceding further and playing the second half with a favourable slope an unlikely win seemed achievable. Stand in captain Gwatkin soon reduced the arrears in the second period with a well struck penalty but this only proved the catalyst for the Stars to up their game considerably. The home sides forwards were big, abrasive and well drilled and this proved fruitful with two first-rate scores from unstoppable driving mauls, one of which was converted. Panteg could have been forgiven if they had capitulated under this immense pressure but they turned the game on its head in the space of a few minutes. Firstly full back Johny Munro ran fully 80 metres showing incredible pace and balance to score untouched beneath the posts. This was followed by another quality try from points machine Gwatkin with a show and go score again under the sticks. Gwatkin easily goaled both scores to level the game and the hosts were visibly rattled. Nonetheless the Stars soon regained their composure and reverted to their formidable tight game which strangled New Panteg in the final minutes. This resulted in a further two tries and a place in the next round but New Panteg will take away many positives from the fixture. Number eight Curtis Griffiths playing his first game was a revelation with his powerful running and silky handling skills and was unanimously voted man of the match. New Panteg would like to thank Blackwood Stars for their excellent hospitality and wish them every success in the coming rounds and with their league campaign.