Edinburgh v Caerphilly

Friday 7th September 2001

Caerphilly travelled North for their visit to Edinburgh by train, apparently the first Welsh/Scottish team to do so, courtesy of their main sponsors Valley Lines.
The Caerphilly side still looking for their first win, hoping to improve from their last encounter with the Scots at Virginia Park, losing 15-5 in a game there for the taking, found themselves under early pressure from a penalty from ex Scotland Stand off Duncan Hodge, after a surging run from centre Kevin Utterson. Utterson then launched and finished a move which led to the first try. Shortly, after much pressure, Scotland back row forward Martin Leslie scored, the score line now 15-0 to the home side.
Caerphilly rallied and after some good play, Scrum half, Allen Chilten, a summer signing from Newcastle Falcons, wriggled through, with Outside Half Stuart Lawrence converting.
Duncan Hodge replied almost immediately when prop Mathew Bolton was sin-binned for killing the ball on the ground. Despite being a man down Caerphilly struck back with a try by 20 year old wing Ken Morris, making his league debut, after a superb run by Tongan full back Sione Tuipulotu. A 35 yard penalty from Lawrence, who scored 280 points for Pontypool last season, just 3 minutes after the restart saw Caerphilly well and truly back in the game.
Hodge, then slotted a penalty of his own over, after an alleged high tackle from centre Geraint Evans on full back Chris Patterson. Evans being yellow carded. Again down to 14 men, after some good rugby, Lawrence scored a try in the corner, but unable to convert it, brought the score to just 1 point.
Lawrence later missed a penalty, but a double drop goal success by Hodge in the last five minutes, sealed it for the home side. Director of Rugby, Gordon Pritchard was pleased with his side's performance, but questioned some of the decisions from the officials.

Match report by Garran Davies