Fixture

Having secured promotion last week with the win over Tonmawr, the Sports needed a bonus point win over Crynant to overtake Porthcawl as league champions and they did it in style.

In perfect conditions they started off with pace and fluid running in the threes that was a credit to the team and their coaches.

Good early distribution by fly half Mark Davies and centers Ken Morris and Dan James immediately caused Crynant trouble. When full back Josh Davies gathered the ball deep in the Sports half he linked well with Lee Roderick and he in turn with winger Keith David who scored an unconverted try in the corner after just 5 minutes. The Sports forwards worked hard for a turnover deep in their half that allowed Dan James to make an impressive 25 meter run, he stumbled but Lee Roderick was at hand to re-gather the ball and finish off the move with a neat try that Davies converted. Crynant’s tight forwards were looking good as they secured a penalty from the Sports that their fly half converted reducing the lead to 3-12.

The Sports then are awarded a penalty that Josh Davies easily converted as they looked to keep a couple of scores ahead of the home side. Quickly from the kick off Crynant’s tight forwards again looked impressive as they took a perfect lineout ‘catch and drive’ from 10 meters out and their number 8 scored a well worked try making the score 8-15. When Sports fry half Davies made a good half break it was Josh Davies who was quick into the line to score half way out but could not convert his try as the wind was proving a bit tricky. A monster clearance kick from Josh Davies put the Sports in a great position at a 5 meter line out and it took a great bit of defending from the home side to keep the Sports at bay. When the Sports attempted another clearance kick to gain field advantage the ball was well gathered by Crynant and their lively back row combined well to run outside the Sports defence to score a unconverted try in the corner and this got them back in touch with the score at 13-20.

From the restart the Sports closed down the Crynant attack with Cory Thomas once more tackling like a man possessed or a mini Dan Lydiate. With their line in disarray Crynant fell apart as Lee Roderick powerfully ran through them to score his second try.
Crynant showed great resolve with a rather untidy but effect piece of power-play when they drove over for a converted try reducing the lead once more to 20-25 as we approached the halfway point of the second half. This spured the Sports to up the tempo of the game as the home side now looked confident and strong, especially in the tight.

The Sports made some deft substitutions with Lloyd Wilson and Matthew Donnelly making immediate impact on the game. From the kick off Crynant made a hash of securing the ball, and from the following scrum, Gary Punter who was having a great game, fed scrum half Callicott the ball was switched to the blind side and Josh Davies once more entered the line, looking as if he may score but the safer option was to feed Keith David for him to score his second try and extend the Sports score once more to 20 - 30. When Crynant give away a penalty on their 10 meter line the Sports showed total respect to the home side and elected to kick for goal again, to distance the score line, and Josh Davies made a great strike as we went into the last ten minutes of the game.

The Sports scrum now was in total control and when Punter picked up at number 8 his quick feed to Callicott had full back Josh Davies in support and he scored his second try which he could not convert. The final Sports try came as the back three of Keith David, Josh Davies a Lee Roderick all linked together and it was Roderick who ran in strongly for his third try and the game ended at 20-43.

Although a great win for the Sports it was  spirited performance from the home side a most entertaining match. Joint ‘men of the match’ were triple try scorer Roderick and the tackling machine called Cory Thomas. The Sports travel to Baglan next week knowing that the league title is won but they will want to end on a high against the only other side in the league that has beaten Porthcawl.

A special bus for supporters is organised and will leave the Brewery field at 12.30, returning to the Club for a celebration Hog roast and Presentation Evening at 6,30pm. All supporters are welcomed