Swalec Division Three East

Chepstow 16-9 Caldicot

IF a certain drinks company made local derbies they would probably look like this – total commitment, end-to-end action and a will-they-won’t-they finale.

Going into the last quarter of an hour the home side were trailing 9-13 having been under pressure for long periods.

But in that crucial final phase of the game it was all Chepstow as they fought to revenge last year’s opening defeat to their local rivals.

There were a couple of occasions where they thought they had the try only for the unconvinced referee to call a five-metre scrum in the face of steely defence.

Caldicot cleared their lines with touch-finders only for the scenario to repeat itself.

But with the last move of the game, Caldicot conceded a penalty which Chepstow drove over for Shane Rees to make it 14-13.

With the conversion adding the final points the referee called time on an enthralling encounter.

In a match where the penalty count exceeded it was inevitable that the opening points should come from the boot with Caldicot scoring first and Chepstow edging ahead with two Scott Arkley penalties.

The advantage turned to the visitors when they scored the opening try – Chepstow’s insistence that the ball was not properly ground being brushed aside.

Lloyd Mellens – who got eight of his side’s points – kicked the conversion put Caldicot’s nose ahead.

Chepstow coach Steve Wil­liams said: “It was an intense local derby and we came good against a strong team.

“We were under the cosh for a while but we stuck at it and converted the pressure at the end.”