Fixture

Blackwood continue record second pre-season win on the bounce at home 

Blackwood came out 24-07 victors over visitors Cardiff Metropolitan University in a pre-season friendly at Glan Yr-Afon Park.

The hosts saw a four try run in at home from Callum Gleadall, Jack Morris, Joel Patterson and Jacob Kenniford.

A try from Cardiff met in the second half was all the visitors could challenge in what was another strong pre-season performance from Blackwood. 

Morris crossed the whitewash for Blackwood’s opening try from some great running rugby from the home side. 

 A scrum inside their own half left Blackwood with plenty to do to make up ground but a well worked move saw fly half Gleadall burst through the Met defence and down the field before finding inside support from Josh Law. 

Law stepped against the grain and looked for the corner where he found his centre partner Jack Morris who held off the last defender to cross for the first score of the match.

Gleadall would then set up Blackwood’s second try with a touch of luck on the young fly halves side. 

A wide pass over four of his midfield pack bounced perfectly up into Kenniford’s arms who with the slightest of jinks unlocked a clear path under the sticks.

Kenniford calmly placed the ball through the uprights to increase the hosts’ lead to 12 points. 

Blackwood ran in their third try of the match in the first half this time through playmaker Gleadall. 

Another scrum platform for Blackwood to attack from saw Jay Millington delay his pass perfectly to give Gleadall space on the left wing who with a clever step raced over the try line and over for Blackwood’s third first half try. 

The first half action continued with Cardiff Met powering over from a tap penalty on the Blackwood 5-metre line. 

A combination of strength and power saw the visitors reduce the deficit to ten points going into the half-time break. 

Blackwood closed out the game deep into the second half with some gritty forward play. 

After numerous hard carries saw the wood camped on the verges of the Met tryline. 

A powerful pick and go from prop Joel Patterson saw the hosts cross for the fourth and final time of the game with Gleadall adding the extras to seal a 24-07 win at home. 

Blackwood’s next fixture sees them start their Division 2 east campaign away to newly promoted Abercarn RFC. 

Written By Max Drinkwater-James