Spaniels Vs Aberavon Green stars Photo's by Green Stars Photographer.

Aberavon Green Stars vs Spaniels – Match Report

As Saturdays go, this one was as wild as the wind.

It’s fair to say that a two-hour bus trip for a 20-mile drive wasn’t the ideal preparation! That said, morale stayed high on the bus — despite Jac Hunter’s best efforts to drag it down with his truly awful pre-match music choices.

We eventually rolled up to Aberavon just before 3:30, and the boys got changed in record time. With the late arrival, both teams agreed to play 30-minute halves.

Starting the game with the wind in our faces, the Spaniels found it tough to get out of our own half — thanks largely to some fine tactical kicking from the Green Stars’ fly-half.

When we did carry with intent, we regularly broke the gain line with ease. Louis DeCaux and Kelvin Mills in particular made strong, direct runs that caused plenty of problems.

The first try of the game went to the Stars. A turnover close to our own line (the less said about that the better) allowed them to move it wide. After an iffy-at-best final pass, their winger dotted down. In fairness, it was no more than they deserved at that stage.

Unfortunately for the Spaniels, we were soon forced into a reshuffle. Ross Pritchard, making his first appearance of the season — and despite the photos suggesting otherwise, looking fit and eager — suffered a knock that ruled him out for the remainder of the match.

The Stars soon doubled their lead. A booming 50-22 pinned us deep, and after a solid lineout and patient phase play, they crashed over for their second try.

Half-time: 12–0

The interval talk focused on playing in the right areas, using the wind to our advantage, and continuing what had been an excellent offloading game so far.

With Dai Scrum’s wise words still ringing in their ears, the Spaniels hit back quickly. A now-customary Reece Newman 50-yard dash put us on the board — and he added the extras himself. Game on!

The second Spaniels try followed soon after. Some patient build-up play saw Louis DeCaux (now at 12) link beautifully with the tireless Jac Hunter, who powered over close to the line. Another successful conversion put us ahead:

12–14.

Sadly, that was as good as it got for the Spaniels. The reshuffled backline struggled to contain the Stars’ wide play, and they regularly made good ground out wide.

Two yellow cards didn’t help our cause either, as the Stars took back the lead and then stretched it further with some slick link-up play.

They say you can’t complain about the referee… so I won’t. But those hardy souls in attendance will no doubt regale tales of some very interesting decision-making.

That said, it would be unfair to suggest the Stars didn’t deserve the win.

As always, the welcome in the clubhouse was top-class — and the boys assure me the sausages were banging.

We look forward to hosting the Stars in the new year. Here’s hoping the occasion is a little less traumatic!

P.S. If anyone finds Wardy’s quiff, please get in touch.

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Thanks to Lee Arthur for the match review.

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