Fixture

The wintry weather conditions failed to place a dampener on the young spirits from both the Sports and New Tredegar.  Both clubs share common values based upon keeping a sense of enjoyment, team spirit and continuous learning. This was reflected on the pitch as both teams dug deep to tough it out, in the poor weather conditions that deteriorated rapidly as the morning unfolded.   The early hours sunshine turned to heavy wintry showers and resilience became the watch word for the morning but not before all thirty-four players had paid their respects to the generations who had gone before and who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget.  

New Tredegar kicked off with the rain at their backs. Undeterred the Sports gathered and opted to run ball back with some great handling in the poor conditions. New Tredegar tackled, but a good ruck from the home team set forward Mackenzie Dent off on a run and he cleverly timed a pass to outside half Cian John for him to sprint in and score an excellent first try.  The Sports attempted the same from the next kick off. They made good ground deep into the opposition’s twenty-two before they lost the ball. Under pressure New Tredegar put in an attempted clearance kick which found its way into Sports’ full back Callum Jones hands. He saw gaps in the defence. He used pace and deft feet to glide his way in for the second try.         

If the art of the counter attack created the second try, it was more a case of the orthodox that created the third as a perfectly timed pass from centre Callum Lewis put forward Mackenzie Dent into space, he made good ground before also providing a perfectly timed pass for Cian John and Callum Lewis to give Joel Rogers time and space on the wing. With his pace and with work to do, he made no mistake as he sprinted away to score the third.   New Tredegar also tried to move the ball whenever they secured possession but were unfortunately, they were unable to master the dreadful conditions.  The Sports scored two more tries before half time. The first was cored when Megan Lewis found herself at scrum half, she opted to run and beat two defenders to score. Cian John added the conversion then right on the stroke of half time Mackenzie Dent was the beneficiary of good work by Joel Rogers initially, then Ieuan Pilliner as he turned loose ball into good ball. He retrieved the loose ball on the ground, got up on his feet then charged down the touch line. He was held up just short of the line but then fed it inside to Mackenzie Dent for him to charge over the line to score.

The second half proved to be even more challenging than the first as the rain developed. The Sports kicked off New Tredegar, fielded and opted to run, their attack was brought to a halt by flanker Harri Williams, a good ruck saw scrum half Abi Davies Jones pass to Callum Lewis, he put Tom Chick away and the winger used his pace to run in the try from thirty-five metres out.  Both sides battled on in the mud and deserved great credit. The home team added two further tries, one from Harri Williams who tackled his opponent over the line then quickly get on his feet to pounce on the loose ball to score. Thomas Coles worked hard for the final try of the game when he fielded a clearance kick, he set off on a run with determination and speed then power his way through two tacklers to score. Ieuan Pilliner added the conversion.

The Sports continued to both rotate their players throughout the half to ensure all players enjoyed their equal share of game time. They also supported their opponents, by sharing a player to play fifteen side throughout the game. The Sports make the long journey up to New Tredegar next week for the return fixture.

Bridgend Sports Matchday Squad:  Abi Davies Jones, Bailey Llewellyn Hopkins, Callum Jones,  Callum Lewis, Chloe Gant, Cian John, Dylan Morgan, Dylan Parry, Harri Williams, Iestyn John, Ieuan Pilliner, Jodie Keane, Joel Rogers, Mackenzie Dent, Mason Balmer, Megan Lewis, Morgan Edwards, Theo Clarke, Thomas Chick,Thomas Coles & Tyler Willicombe Burton.