News

This has been a strange and tumultuous season for Forgeside as one week they could beating one of the top sides in the league and the next losing to a side they haver already beaten etc etc. Last week they had 24 players to select from but for this game against Markham away they travelled with a depleted squad, in fact they had to borrow 2 players, and even worse, within the first half they were down to 13 players as Flanker Cain Preece sustained a torn hamstring and player/coach Darran Walters a back injury. Both sides had their own goals to achieve, Markham in a promotion battle with Deri and Forgeside battling to stay in the league, so for the hosts it was a must win game, and the visitors hoping to salvage something from the game. Without going into too much detail it was a bad day at the office for Forge as Markham ran in try after try to inflict a record beating for Forge, 128-0. And in all honesty, you can't blame any of the Forgeside players who turned out as they gave their all right to the final whistle. And it wasn't as if any of the Markham players were any better individually, it was just that they used the ball effectively as a unit and were well drilled. With 15 minutes left to go even the Markham players were asking for the game to end, but the referee was adamant that he wanted to play the full 80 minutes as points difference was essential. So, to cap it off, congratulations to Markham for a fine display of running rugby and credit to Forgeside for their 'never-say-die attitude'. It doesn't get any easier either as Forgeside are due to play Crickhowell in the semi finals of the Ivor Jones Cup on Tuesday at home, and then Deri in the league on Saturday, at home.