Fixture

Plate Final – Bridgend Sports 2nds 27 Tondu 2nds 8

It was a dry and fresh afternoon up at Cefn Cribbwr RFC for the Barrie Morris Memorial District Plate final between Bridgend Sports and Tondu.

Both sides started the match eager to score the games first points, with both packs battling for early supremacy in the set piece. An early midfield attack from Tondu saw them venture into the Sports half early and Sports indiscipline at the ruck presented Tondu with a penalty which was calmly slotted between the posts for a 3-0 lead. They soon increased their lead with the opening try. Some neat work down the blindside eventually saw flanker Jack King squeeze his way through the defence in the corner to score. Conversion fell short. 8-0 to Tondu.

That seemed to wake the Sports up a little, and some great attacking rugby from the midfield with centres Lloyd Roderick and Ryan Lewis causing dents in a stubborn Tondu defensive line. Sports were then given awarded a penalty of their own, which outside-half Darren Lewis converted with relative ease. 8-3.
The Sports pack were slowly getting on top in the scrummaging contest with front row James Harris, Adam Boon and Evan Stanton dominating up front. Sports then starting to turn the screw on their opponents with fullback Richard Byrne entering the attack at every opportunity. Some quick recycling of ball at the ruck soon put Sports on the front foot and some good backline passing saw the ball eventually fed to the right where wing Tom Pearce out-gas his opposite number to score in the corner. The conversion from Darren Lewis from the touch line was sublime.

Just before the half ended, the Sports threequarters launched another attack, another surging break from fullback Byrne and some great support play from backrowers Ian John and captain Dai Dent saw the ball worked to the other wing Rob Spear who himself showed good pace to score out wide. This time the conversion was missed, but the Sports entered halftime 15-8 to the good.

Second half saw the Sports playing down the slight slope and the front five continued to dominate both the lineout and scrum, with veteran scrum half Simon Partridge marshalling his backline well. But it was the Tondu three-quarters who started the half the brighter. The threatened the Sports defence on numerous occasions but some excellent tackling thwarted them at every instance. There was no score for a further 10 mins has both teams tried to get a grip on the game. In fairness both sides tried throwing the ball about at every opportunity and the match was becoming a good spectacle.

Sports forwards Rhys Obbard and Richard Jones worked tirelessly both in defence and in the loose with 2nd row Jamie Lorimer continually breaking the gain line. He was soon joined by brother Martin Lorimer and the two siblings caused plenty of headaches for the Tondu defence. Both forwards and backs combined for the Sports third try. A rolling maul saw the Sports rumble into the Tondu 22 before prop James Harris burst through to score a well deserved try. Lewis failed to add the conversion.

Sports were now on top and as Tondu looked to chase the game, gaps started to appear in their backline. Replacement wing Mark Evans weaved his way through some lacklustre tackling to find another replacement, centre Josh Davies on his shoulder. He then exploited the gap to cut through and score the games final try under the posts. Lewis this time finding no problem in converting.

Tondu didn’t let their heads drop though and continued to push, looking for some consolation score. It wasn’t to come though and as the referee blew the final whistle, Bridgend Sports were the District Plate winners – securing a 27-8 victory against a very plucky Tondu.

District awarded their Man of the Match to the Sports captain for the day Dai Dent.