A JOURNEY to Tredegar Park, Newport awaited the Druids for their league game against Pill Harriers.

The squad was made up of experienced players and a large number of 18 year olds who were available because the youth game was cancelled. The team makeup was therefore untried and uncertain.

A strong wind blew down the pitch but the overhead conditions were bright and dry. Druids lost the toss and were asked to play into the wind.

Pill were bigger man for man than the visitors and they made it pay in the scrum which put the Druids on the back foot.

The home team had the first opportunity to score but the penalty kick was hooked wide of the left hand post.

Despite the advantage of the elements, the Druids were forced to defend and the strong running of the home side forwards were causing problems. Gradually the Druids came more into the game and it was their backs who held the advantage.

A scrum in the Pill 22 metre area saw Druids outside half Josh Lawrence slice through to touch down behind the posts. Full back Kris Gordon converted to edge the visitors ahead 7-0 against the run of play.

Pill drew the scores level with a try from a line out deep in the Druids half. A clean catch resulted in driving play which resulted in a try wide out near the corner flag. A fine conversion kick brought the score to seven points each.

It was Lawrence again whose play squeezed the Druids ahead. The visitors won a scrum again in the Pill 22. Lawrence saw the oncoming home defence charging up and he deftly put in a delicate chip over the rushing Pill backs.

Druids centre Dan Williams gathered the ball and touched down for a try to put the Druids in front 12-7 as the whistle went for half time.

The restart saw Pill mount attack after attack on the Druids try line but determined defence kept them at bay. .

As expected the Druids ran the ball out of defence and, from one such attack initiated by number eight Tom Hawkins, the Druids extended their lead.

The ball was moved along the line before good short passing and support play saw centre Chris Reed crash over for the Druids third try, converted by Kris

Gordon.

The Druids extended their lead still further with a try similar to the previous effort. The play starting from inside their half and was supported by forwards and backs deep in the Pill 22.

Prop Matt Ricketts found himself close to the line and he fed hooker Jo Christopher who just got the ball down before being rolled over. The game finished with a hard fought victory of 24-7 which keeps the Druids pushing for the top spot in the league.

In a game with a number of star turns, mention should be made of flanker Dan Ansty who tackled and tackled. Busy scrum half Nathan Cocker and Lawrence made things tick while second row Cameron Brown showed up well, as did Tom Hawkins. A sting in the tale from the Druids was the bonus point from a fourth try.