Fixture

It was a trip to the Vale of Glamorgan last Sunday for the Sports Under Tens. The sun shone and the perfect conditions allowed both teams to play some expansive rugby. The teams enjoyed themselves and provided the on looking parents with a reason to be cheerful, after the disappointment of the previous day’s proceedings at Twickenham.

The game was expected to be a round robin event but turned out to be a game between the two clubs. Both clubs therefore decided to play four ten minute periods to ensure all players in their squads took the field.

It was the Sports who got off to a flyer in the first period as they ran in seven unanswered tries. The team combined their flowing attacking game with an eagerness in defence in this first period. Llantwit Major failed to grapple with the positive away team start. Joel Rogers grabbed a hat trick with Cian John, Thomas Coles, Thomas Chick and Morgan Edwards all claiming a try each. Harri Williams also converted six of the seven tries. It was particularly pleasing to see the young Sports players starting to adapt their game by competing in the ruck area to turnover ball and whenever the ball was moved, each player showed great awareness of the supporting players to ensure the ball was moved along the line and then back again whenever play broke down. This allowed players with pace to exploit freedom in the outside channels to score.

Seven tries to the good going into the second period was useful but reality soon set in for the Sports , as Llantwit Major found some confidence to attack early in the period. They attacked with pace to score first as Dylan Brown was put into a gap and made no mistake as the Sports defenders failed to place a hand on him.

The Sports hit back immediately from the restart, a run from Harri Williams took ball into a ruck, possession was retained and the ball passed on to Callum Lewis who timed a pass to perfection to put Dewi Worrall into space, he was held up ten metres out close to the touch line, the ball was recycled again for Cadan Hayes to run at the Llantwit defence before passing on to Tom Coles and then onto Cian John who sprinted in to score in the corner. Llantwit were determined to compete and the ruck area began to be a bit of a problem for the Sports as the home team’s confidence grew.

The Sports were forced to defend for a short period with Harri Williams, Callum Lewis, Mason Balmer and Tom Coles making good tackles to keep Llantwit Major at bay.  Their efforts kept Llantwit out and eventually forced an error from the home team. From the scrum, Joel Rogers initially made good ground before handing on to Mackenzie Dent who powered over the gain line before the ball was moved to Cian John on the wing to race in for his second try of the period and his third of the game.  Llantwit Major fought back again as Dafydd Morgan raced down the touch line from within his own half to score at the opposite end for the second period to end 2 -2 and the Sports leading 9 – 2 overall.

 The Sports worked harder as a team in the third period with more players registering on the tackle count with Iestyn John, Joel Rogers, Tyler Burton and Callum Lewis to the fore. The pressure told on the home team again, as Bridgend Sports ran in a further four tries. Joel Rogers scored two followed by tries for Mackenzie Dent and Dewi Worrall who deserved the reward for their efforts throughout the game.  

   Leading 13 -2 into the final period, the Sports added two further tries, through a sixth try for Joel Rogers and a second for Morgan Edwards before Rowan Taylor registered the final score of the game for Llantwit Major as he sliced his way through a tired Sports defence from ten metres out to make the final score 3 tries – 15 tries to Bridgend Sports. Llantwit converted two of their tries and the Sports converted fourteen through Callum Lewis, Harri Williams and Ieuan Pilliner.

 Both sides had contributed to a highly entertaining game, played in excellent spirit, well refereed and the entertainment greatly appreciated by all players and parents.

Next week the Sports face a stern challenge as they face Kenfig Hill at home. 

 Match day Squad: Cadan Hayes, Callum Lewis, Cian John, Dewi Worrall, Harri Williams, Iestyn John, Ieuan Pilliner, Jodie Keane, Joel Rogers, Mackenzie Dent, Mason Balmer, Morgan Edwards, Thomas Chick, Thomas Coles, Tyler Burton.