The Sports Ground was the welcome venue for the Boxing Day clash against traditional rivals Usk. Will Davies filled in at outside half for the Druids who were without back row forwards Stu Boylan and Joel Price who were suffering leg injuries. The Usk pack showed some early good form and had the home pack back pedalling. Behind the scrum the Usk backs proved to be ineffective against their Druids counterparts. Sound Druids tackling coupled with good defensive play stifled the Usk attacks. The Druids took the lead when from good scrimmage possession close to the visitors try line, number eight Dion Hurinui, drove hard and low over the Usk try line for an unconverted try. Usk hit back when one of their back row forwards crashed over the Druids try line to be awarded a dubious try, which was not converted. This try was as a result of a defensive lapse by the Druids and as the conversion kick was taken, skipper Andy Scourfield gave his side a stern lecture. From the restart the Druids stormed up field to within five metres of the Usk line where a maul developed. This resulted in second row Andy Scourfield being driven over for a try which was converted by Will Davies to give the Druids a 12-5 interval lead. The second half saw Usk determined to pull back the deficit and they upped their efforts trying to get the next score. The Druids were equally determined to increase their lead and put the game safe. A sweeping threequarter move ended with Druids wing Sam Harding crossing in the corner for another unconverted try. Usk hit back again when their centre Will Price broke through the Druids midfield for another unconverted try but this score put Usk back in the match. The Druids responded when they broke up to the visitors try line. An Usk 5 metre scrum was won ‘against the head’ by Hooker Mark Ralph - a concerted drive by the Druids pack allowed scrum half Andy Tansill to touch down for an unconverted try. Sweet success! Minutes before the final whistle the Druids put the final points on the board to end the game. A speculative kick by Will Davies caused hesitation in the Usk ranks. The visitors full back was caught in possession and Druids centre Mattie Morgan appeared from a group of players to dive over the Usk line. As expected from this game the kick failed but the match was won finally by 27-10 by the Druids. Not a pretty match but full of endeavour which is what can be expected on a Boxing Day game in front of a sizable crowd. Usk stopped the Druids winning good controlled ball causing the home side to contest for the whole 80 minutes. A hard fought game in which conversion kicking was a skill which was noticeably absent. The Druids front five grafted to the end and the back row supported them well. The show rolls on.
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