Fixture

Both of these sides have been performing well in the league, the Sports having lost just one game and Banwen two. Their defences have been good all season and today was no different.

For the first 30 minutes the Sports hammered forward but the visitors defence was totally ‘up to it’. Josh Davies for the Sports had two chances with difficult penalty shots but could not find the target. There was good early penetrating runs from Gary Punter and Dan James but the defence held and Banwen were only occasionally in the Sports half. With just minutes to go to half time, Banwen got their best field position with a five metre scrum followed by an equally as close line out, and their heavier forwards looked to drive for a try against the run of play. This time it was the Sports who showed the resolve to stop the attack as scrum half Scott Callicott cleared the line with a long kick and the half ended 0-0.

After a scoreless first half the first points came quickly in the second half as Banwen illegally stopped a Sports driving maul and full back Josh Davies converted the penalty. Holes started to appear in the Banwen defence as first Callicott and then Lee Roderick made fine individual breaks. Roderick’s break was from him covering back from a long range kick from the visitors and instead on playing safe, he made 20 metres beat 5 defenders before being tackled. From the drive on, Banwen began a series of errors which after repeated warnings, the referee had to yellow card two players in short order. This allowed the Sports to extend their lead through full back Davies as the home side took advantage of the yellow cards. From one such penalty the Sports opted for field position with a lineout just ten metres from the Banwen line. Initially the Sports looked to drive the ball but when scrum half Callicott got quick possession, he fed Lee Roderick on the blind side and the winger scored in the corner. With now less than 10 minutes left and conditions and ball really heavy, the kick from the touchline by Josh Davies was superb and the Sports looked comfortable at 13-0.

With just minutes on the clock there was time for a bit of individual magic from Banwen, when scrum half Rhodri Morris chipped over the advancing Sports threes and a neat bit of soccer style dribbling saw him score under the posts for a try that Mike Smith easily converted taking the final score to 13-7. Most spectators would agree that it was only right that Banwen salvaged a losing bonus point on the day for their exceptional effort especially when they, through lack of discipline, were players short for some periods.

Next week the Sports have another tough game away to Crynant who are just one below them in the league.
 

(Match Report written by Garnet Edwards)