Fixture

 Bridgend Sports Under Tens 4 Treorchy Under Tens 2

It was the turn of the Zebras of Treorchy to visit Newbridge Fields this week to play Bridgend Sports Under Tens who had in the week previous despatched the Badgers of Pontyclun. The Sports quickly set about the task of defeating this week’s opponents and they were soon off to the perfect start by winning the toss.

Treorchy set themselves up to defend and prevent the home team from moving the ball quickly. The Zebras efforts stifled a series of Sports attacks as early runs from Dewi Worrall and Ieuan Pilliner were brought to a halt. An infringement at a ruck gave the Sports a penalty.  From the penalty, Mackenzie Dent took play deep into Treorchy territory, good recycling from the latter player’s drive gave Joel Rogers a split second advantage, he did not need a second invitation to slice through the remaining defenders for Bridgend Sports first try.

Both sides then competed well in the tackle and ruck area which resulted in large parts of the first period being played in the middle sections of the pitch. Both sides wanted to move the ball but the final pass was spilled on a number of occasions to restrict the score.   The Sports however, broke through at the mid-point of the period. Treorchy ran the ball from deep, but an Iestyn John tackle brought the attack to a halt, Dewi Worrall snapped the ball up at the breakdown to supply ball for Mackenzie Dent who found space out wide to run in from fifteen metres for the home team to take a 2 – 0 lead.

 Great defensive work from Harri Williams brought the Treorchy restart to a halt to present the Sports with possession, a number of phases of play were put together that enabled Cian John and Callum Lewis space to run, but the attacks were to prove fruitless as the Sports were penalised for holding on to the ball at the ruck.  Treorchy looked to have found their way through the defence but a final tackle from Tom Chick denied the Zebras a scoring opportunity for the first period.        

Two further ten minute periods of play followed, both periods ended in a 1 -1 draw.  The Sports took the lead in both periods, Joel Rogers scoring the home team try in the second period for LLew Thomas to bring the scores level for Treorchy.  Treorchy then resorted to a more defensive and physical approach to slow the ball down to disrupt any quick ball.  Their indiscipline cost them as such tactics serve to galvanise the Sports youngsters these days and they turned the negative tactics into an energy source in the final period. Starting with the ball in the final period, Sports Joel Rogers was determined to strike early and blitzed the defence with his pace but unfortunately strayed over the touch line. Treorchy attacked from the restart but each attack was brought quickly to a halt with solid tackling from Callum Lewis, Dewi Worrall, Harri Williams, Iestyn John, Ieuan Pilliner and Cian John.   It wasn’t long before Mackenzie Dent powered over for a score for the Sports, only for Llew Thomas from Treorchy to level the score in the final period.

The Sports ran out deserved winners by four tries to two or twenty points to ten.       

 Newbridge Fields is becoming a bit of a stronghold as the Bridgend Sports group of nine and ten year olds are developing into a more determined team. The coaches have worked extremely hard to develop the skill base during the wet winter months and it is clearly paying dividends. Newer players Bailey Llewellyn Hopkins and Tyler Burton also made valuable contributions for the Sports this week.    

Match day Squad:  Bailey Llewellyn Hopkins, Cadan Hayes, Callum Lewis, Cian John, Dewi Worrall, Harri Williams, Iestyn John, Ieuan Pilliner, Jodie Keane, Joel Rogers, Mackenzie Dent, Thomas Chick and Tyler Burton.

New players are always welcome to join us, please visit our web page http://bridgendsportsclub.rfc.wales/  and select club then contact to get in touch or turn up at training every Wednesday at the Bandstand, Newbridge Fields at 6 p.m.