Fixture

Heavy Metal? Not really my kind of music. That’s one for the missus. But if there had to be a genre of music to define the Crazy Eights performance on Sunday then it would be the one for the lovers of Junkie Juice and it would have certainly been cranked up to 11 as they were runaway winners against a spirited Treharris side with a score line of 12-04.

With Albie Wynn’s multi-million pound transfer to Treowen Stars completed the Crazies were missing Olly ‘All Dayer’ Bish and Kingsley Parry Lewis who was laid low with a illness that saw him down the Gwent for a few hours in the week. Therefore, it was 8-a-side for the Apples and Bananas and a crisp morning which saw the parents grizzle as much about the cold as their young charges.

As always, the Apples were first up and they looked in the mood for tries and they certainly didn’t disappoint as they came roaring out of the blocks. It was Josh Johnson who got a quick fire brace, the first with a lovely break through the visitor’s defence and the second showing some great support play to take the ball and cross the whitewash.

Zayn Haymann, making his full home debut, showed that he had listened in training and ran forward when the ball was in his hands and passed when he was tagged. Brody was his usual rambunctious self and pinched the ball on a number of occasions getting in some hard yards and providing Olly Morris his first opportunity of the morning to score a try.

Elliot Hall showed he is progressing into a fine player with some impressive running and tagging and Kurtis Maggs broke a few defensive lines. This took Oakdale into a commanding position and when the ball was slung to Hannah Benger out wide and in her own half she saw a straight line to the try zone and stuck on the afterburners. No matter how hard the boys from Treharris tried they were no match for her speed and Hannah got herself on the scoresheet with a fine solo try.

It was then the Olly Morris show for the next few minutes as he weaved his way this way and that to get his second and then showed some excellent support play to be there to take a great pass from Max Baldwin to get his hat-trick.

Treharris then got themselves on the scoresheet when the Apples switched off for a momentary lapse but the Apples finished off the period in fine style with a great team effort for Josh Johnson to get his and the team’s second hat-trick of the morning to end the period at 7-1.

With Shay not feeling up to making an appearance on the morning it was left to Birthday Boy Baldwin to fill in for the Bananas and within the first 60 seconds he had a mad dash to the try line to set the B’s on the right path to victory.

Sporting his new hairstyle on the morning did not affect Griff Tovey and he showed that curls do not contribute to added wind resistance as he sailed through the Treharris defence for his first try of the day. Treharris then scored one of their own before the straight running and straight talking Aimee Lock got the ball in her hands. Coach Rhys shouted ‘run straight’ and that’s what Aimee does best. She had no respect for the defensive line and crashed through, ran on and got her try which everyone applauded.

Treharris got another try and were prevented from another score with some great defensive tagging by Alfie Short and Harri Williams. This allowed the Bananas to get the ball in their hands and get themselves straight back up the field but some generous refereeing gave the ball back to the visitors who eventually got that try.

The re-start was handed to Kian Davies and he wasn’t having no messing about. He just put the ball under his arm, got the line in his sights and ran straight passed all the Treharris players to get himself on the list of scorers..

Josh Bowen had his tagging googles on and was excellent in defence showing everyone that although he is desparate to tackle he can still take a tag or twenty. Poppy Crewe ran hard and when called upon to keep the game flowing off loaded the ball excellently. This allowed Griff, who was brilliant in his support play to take the ball from Crewe and get himself a second try of the day.

Some awful refereeing saw Treharris take a quick tap when everyone was looking elsewhere and they managed to stroll over the line, throw the ball to the floor and were awarded the try much to the Bananas disgust. Not to make any more mistakes to rile the Crazies the Ref blew for full time, everyone shook hands and walked through the tunnels.

We are going to face teams which have not been together as long as we have and maybe therefore are not as developed in ball skills and running as we are. Whilst we must always show respect to all teams it is important to do the basics well in games like these and the coaches couldn’t fault the team for their application on the morning. Some great defensive tagging, some impressive passing and, as always, some great tries saw everyone go home happy, if a little under-nourished from only two ten minute periods of rugby.

The Player of the Match was a difficult one with lots of players putting their hands up with some great performances but in the end, the award went to Aimee Lock. Aimee is a joy to have in the side. Never afraid to take the ball forward, always runs in straight lines and never takes a backward step (she has some pretty impressive hair styles as well). Well done Ms Lock from everyone at the Crazy Eights.