Fixture

Baglan RFC | 1st Team 21 - 51 Bridgend Sports Club RFC | 1st Team

Match Report
01 May 2017 / Team News

Champs finish with a flourish

From the outset the Sports were passing fluidly in the threequater line and following quick ball from the very first scrum center Dan James waltzed his way through the Baglan backs and ran a full 40 yards to score under the posts for full back Josh Davies to convert and make the score 0-7 after just 5 minutes. Possibly the best try of the season from this talented young center. In an effort to thwart the Sports who were in fine flow the Baglan forwards gave away a penalty and Davies extended the score to 0-10.

Two more attacks were well defended by the big Baglan pack but when scrum half Scott Callicott took a quick penalty it was Jayce Evans, on the wing who had some work to do before wriggling over in the corner. It was Evans’ first touch of the ball having come on as a replacement after 5 minutes for the injured Chris Walker. The score stayed at 0-15 when Davies’ kick hit the post in difficult wind conditions.

The game then somewhat became a bit stale as Baglan had found the formula to restrict the Sports attack, and both sides rather lost their shape. This all changed when with very little room down the blindside, Josh Davies joined the line at pace and made a very good break, he had Lee Roderick on his shoulder, in support, but did not need him. As the half ended, Lewis Obard made a fine break picking up a loose ball, running 30 yards or so and not panicking, just waiting for the support which came from Josh Davies and Jayce Evans, these two inter-passed with Jayce rounding the cover defence to score under the posts for his second and a fine bonus point try for the Sports with the ahead 0-27.

Baglan started the second half with great running and by no means had their ‘heads dropped’ as they mounted a fine attack though the centre of the field. A forward chipped ahead and there was good support from prop Jack Powell who drove over for a very efficient try near the posts which center Dan Blethyn easily converted. Not only were Baglan running well in open play but some heavyweight substituions make good progress in the tights, where till now had been dominated by the Sports. When a loose ball went to ground it was speed-merchant Cory Thomas who was quickest to it and showed his pace in running through the defence and scoring under the posts. Davies’ conversion took the score to 7-34.

As Baglan were now getting better possession and better field position, from a 5 meter scrum they showed some class with a short crash ball to winger Thomas Manchipp who was unstoppable and Dan Blethyn added the conversion points. The Sports soaked up more of this pressure as Baglan continued to press, but when Sports fly half Mark Davies decided, to the delight of the travelling supporters, to use the wind advantage, he put in a monster of a kick which ended in a 5 meter lineout that the Sports won, then put on a concerted drive for hooker Ryan Wallis to score out wide. No conversion in the swirling wind for Davies.

When Baglan kicked off they made a hash of it and it went to hand for Dan James who ran ten meters chipped ahead, gathered the ball, looked as if he may score another cracking try but saw Skipper Lloyd Wilson on his shoulder and gave a try scoring pass to him. Davies converted and the score went to 14-46. The Baglan forwards never stopped trying and a combination of them doing well close to the line, and the Sports taking their feet off the ‘Gas’ allowed Jack Powell to drive over for a second try that Dan Blethyn converted making the score rather more respectable for the home side at 21-46. However on the final whistle it was the Sports that had the final say with a very good team try. The threequarters all passed well and found the smallest of overlaps for Lee Roderick to score in the corner as the game ended 21-51.

A game that was played in the best of spirits by both sides and a fitting farewell to the outstanding coaching team of the Sports of Keith Burke and Lyndon Griffiths knowing their side has won the league with over 600 points and having scored 83 tries in the season. The travelling 80 supporters really enjoyed the game and the rugby that these two coaches have encouraged all season.

(Report written by Garnet Edwards)

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