Fixture

It was a short trip across the Bailey bridge for the Sports Under Tens this week as they faced their closest of neighbours the At with the two clubs fielding sides at Under 7’s to Under 12’s which must be good for the future of the game in Bridgend. The games are always hotly contested and although the Sports were depleted through injuries and other commitments they turned in a combative performance that did themselves great credit. It was unfortunate that they paid the price for infringements and losing the ball when in possession. They started the game well by winning the toss and set off on the attack immediately. Good defence from the Athletic soon secured them the ball from a penalty; they worked it wide to Tristan James in space who exploited the space to run in the first try. Two similar tries followed in the first half for the Athletic.

The Sports strung together a few attacks with Callum Lewis, Tom Chick. Joel Rogers and Cian John prominent, but they lost the ball at key moments as the home team’s defensive pressure showed. In the second half the Athletic ratcheted up a further three tries out wide to extend their lead before Bridgend Sports dug in and showed great character to fight back with Callum Lewis , Joel Rogers, Cian and Iestyn John showing determined running . From a flowing movement the Sports worked the ball across field then switched direction through Dylan Morgan who set off on a diagonal run for the corner and power over for a try. Bridgend Athletic hit back again with another try from the lightening quick Tristan James.

Despite the setback, Bridgend Sports were now up for the game and attacked through the middle next as Ben King carried a number of the home team’s players across the line, he looked to have scored but failed to win the referees support for the touchdown. From the scrum, the Sports worked the ball across the line but were tackled on the line. Callum Lewis showed great awareness to pounce on the ball to take the second half score to 4-2.

Joel Rogers almost scored the next as he set off on a blistering run town the touch line; he looked to have secured the try only to learn it had been disallowed, as he was adjudged to have the faintest of touches on the touch line. With the minutes ticking away the Sports tried hard but could not make any further inroads into the score and the Athletic ran out winners by 7 tries to 2.