Fixture

Bridgend Sports Club RFC | 1st Team 7 - 10 Birchgrove RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
25 January 2016 / Team News

Bridgend Sports 7 Birchgrove 10

At last there was some fine weather for these two ‘top of the table’ sides to contest this round of the Swalec Bowl. The ground was heavy and took its toll on fitness as the game progressed. From the outset the Sports looked the sharper and moved the ball well with Darren Lewis at scrum half the general. Although the Birchgrove pack looked the heavier, the Sports had no problem with them in the tight.
After 10 minutes, fast ball from a breakdown to Ken Morris from Lewis allowed the Sports to create the first try as fullback Ryan Russell sped into the line and was just held by the Birchgrove winger but slipped the ball to Jamie Williams on the Sports wing for him to touch down with ease. Darren Lewis made no mistake and the Sports took the lead. 7-0.
 
The Sports were containing Birchgrove in all the tight plays but the visitors looked dangerous on the counter break and from loose play. When the Sports were awarded a penalty, Lewis at scrum half took a quick tap and it needed a strong defence to stop the Sports scoring.
Three points as it turned out later would have been a wiser option. With minutes left of the half some over robust play by Birchgrove was spotted by Sports number 8,Gareth Bartlet but not by the ref, and Bartlet received a yellow card for his retaliation. The penalty attempt by Liam Garland failed and the half ended 7-0.
 
The second half was well contested by Birchgrove as they took full advantage of a massive penalty count in their favour which allowed them long passages of play in the Sports half and 22 area. From a handling error in the ruck and the ensuing penalty to Birchgrove, Liam Garland reduced the lead to 7-3. Sports skipper Lloyd Wilson was leading the pack well and produced some fine turnovers from the visitors and the Sports defence held well as the conditions got heavier. Wilson, much as he tried, had great difficulty in understanding the ref’s interpretation at the breakdown as the penalty count got higher and they lost another player with a yellow card.
Then the Sports had the chance to score on the right wing when fine handling by the centres Narbeth and Morris allowed Ryan Russell through the defence and with two Sports players on one Birchgrove defender, a try looked a ‘cert’. How they managed to mess it up is still a mystery. It could have put the game beyond the visitors.
 
The remaining ten minutes were very exciting and typical ‘cup’ rugby. Birchgrove had a fine chance but fumbled on the line and the Sports defended well untill from set scrum, what looked a move that was well covered saw a well time crash ball to the centre Wayne McFenton. It was poorly read by the Sports and he scored under the posts. Garland added the points and with time almost up the score was 7-10. And that’s how it ended. These sides have to meet twice more this season in the league and who wins those may decide who wins the league.
 
This was a hard cup game that the Sports with kick themselves for not sewing when they had the chances. Next week they continue the league programme with an away fixture to Banwen. Normal KO at 2.30pm.
Players Fixture player info not published.
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