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A New Year and  a new clubhouse as the Sports renewed their association  with Bridgend Town Cricket Club was topped with a bright start to 2019 as the Sports Mini and Junior teams took to the field this week. The Mini teams along with the Under Twelves played away games,  the Under Thirteens, Fifteens and Sixteens all played at home. 

Under Sevens

The Under 7's travelled to Pyle where spectators saw some exciting running by both sides with the scores tied at half time. The young Sports players settled into their game by the start of the second half , they became more organised in defence and just edged the match through some  great teamwork. There were 4 tries each for Dion Williams & Isaac Davies, plus tries for Isaac Dando & Jesse Jones.

The man of the match went to Harley Morris who is a great team player in attack, he also put in   a solid display in defence.

Under Nines

Pyle proved to be great hosts and played a big part in a close, enjoyable game of rugby that was  great to watch for the Sports family of supporters. The Under Nines needed a game as they had not played a competitive game for some weeks due to the bad weather and the Christmas break. The fourteen strong Under Nines  got straight to work with skilful ball handling and a solid defence. Their good play paid off with a total of nine tries to their opponents five. Dan Perriman and Thomas Roberts scored three tries each, with Dan Flower, Max Hearing and Harry Trevelyan also getting to the try line. Finlay Moore deserved a special mention as he remained on the field for the duration of the game on his debut for the Sports.
Kayden Jones may be one of the smallest players on the field, but he made some fantastic breaks to set up a few tries with countless tackles against bigger opponents, rightly earning him Star Player. Whilst Thomas Roberts was awarded Tackler of the week for being defensively outstanding with tackles into touch thwarting some potential Pyle tries.

The final score was Pyle 25 Bridgend Sports 45.

Under Tens

An early start on a crisp fresh winter’s morning up the Afan Valley was in store for the Under Tens as they travelled to Pontrhydyfen.

A fantastic squad of 18 players turned out for the Sports who soon made their mark through a bright start . Some barraging runs up midfield and quickly recycled ball allowed Oskar Amerin to power over in the corner to open the scoring. The Sports doubled the  lead speedster Noah Roberts simply outpaced the defence to score a great try. Pontrhydyfen should have  scored at the end of the period only to be denied by a tremendous last gasp try-saving tackle from debutant Rhiwbyn David in what was his first ever game of rugby.

The second period and a much changed team for the Sports produced a right tussle with the contest  for the ball on the floor dictating the flow of the game for the next ten minutes. The home side deservedly got a try back with a great team move. They seemed galvanised by this and started to take the initiative a little - before some great rucking by the Sports saw the ball eventually worked out to Lennon Griffiths who dissected the defence and rounded the wing to score his first try of the game.  Pontryhdyfen however, took back control by scoring two more tries from close range charges.

The third period started with the Sports rampaging through their opponents  rush defence putting the hosts under pressure forcing them to spill balls and turn over possession. Superb counter rucking from the Sports opened up acres of space for both Noah Roberts and Liam Sales to each score great individually finished tries.

Pontryhdyfen finished the period with another good try and their never give up attitude was evident throughout.

Going into the last period, with tired bodies everywhere, the game became a little scrappier, but Lennon Griffiths again weaved his way through  tacklers to score another fine try. An opposition try followed as the home side capitalised on some unfortunate Sports handling errors to make the score 5-6.  The last play of the game allowed Pontrhydyfen to get a somewhat deserved equaliser and fittingly the game ended up all square.

The final score was:  Pontrhydyfen 30 Bridgend  Sports  30

Under Elevens

The Under Elevens also made  up for last time in their game against Pyle. In their first game for five weeks the Sports were victorious but not before Pyle made them work hard for the win.  

Unsurprisingly with such a long lay-off the young players played some good rugby in patches but scrappy in others. When the Sports played good rugby, they were able to score some good tries and put in some good hard tackles. 
 

The Sports scored tries through  Joe Perriman, Henry Dong, Joe Wright x 2, Dylan Evans x 2, Gabriel Burroughs x 2, Finley Goodwin x 2 and Madison Rees  with four conversions:  2 from Dan May and 2 from Charlie Paget

Star player of the week was Joe Wright who played his first game of the season. He  made some fantastic breaks and  tackles.

The final score was Pyle U11's 19 - Sports U11's 63

Under Twelves

Ebbw Vale U12'S 12-0 Sports U12's

The Under Twelves winning streak came to an end at Ebbw Vale. They faced a pumped up Ebbw Vale side and ended up paying the price for some ineffective rucking. Ebbw Vale ran out winners with the final score : Ebbw Vale 12 Bridgend Sports 0.  

The players were disappointed but will learn from the experience.

Under Thirteens

The Under Thirteens faced a new team as they hosted Penlan from Swansea. Penlan are one of the younger member clubs of the WRU having formed in 1967 and securing full WRU status in 2011. The club take great pride in developing mini and junior rugby near to the City Centre.

 The Sports had clearly shaken off any remaining  Christmas spirit as they set about their game with efficiency.  The omens were good for their opening game of 2019  as they won the toss. They  elected to kick and regained possession from the kick off. Good interplay from Connor Jones and Dylan Morgan created space on the outside for Connor Jones to gain ground , fellow forwards Thomas Coles and  Chloe Gant ensured play crossed the gain line for Megan Lewis to break from the final maul to score out wide.

The Sports continued to apply the pressure from the next kick off, again regaining possession to mount a  number of attacks with backs and forwards combining well.  Penlan enjoyed a little respite, when the Sports knocked on after some good initial play from halfbacks Will Ellis and Cian John then centre Iestyn John to create space for Cian John on the wrap around. The ball was switched inside for Ben King to make a positive input at the ruck then set off on a  run before the final pass went to ground.  Penlan opted for a clearance kick from the restart. The kick was fielded by Sports full back Callum Jones who took play back deep into the heart of the Penlan defence, the halfbacks and hooker Theo Clarke maintained the attack , Megan Lewis provided the required input at the ruck to ensure possession was retained and then return the earlier compliment to Chloe Gant who powered over on the blind side of the ruck to extend the Sports lead.  Ieuan Pilliner added the conversion.   The next try was down to the individual strength , speed and power of Connor Jones, he took the ball from the restart then saw space out wide , he was checked outside the twenty two but recovered to sprint to the line for the third try , Cian John added the conversion.  The Jones and John combination secured the next seven points for the Sports to extend their lead before Penlan centre Harry Abazzie scored a good individual try  which was converted.   This gave the away side some confidence but unfortunately , it was short lived as the Sports charged back at them from the kick off with Megan Lewis and Jodie Keane taking play deep into the twenty two for the back line to then take play to within five meters of the try line, Megan Lewis broke from the ruck to score her second try . Ben King added the last try of the half which was also converted for the Sports to lead 38 – 7 at half time.

Penlan regrouped at half time and fired a warning to the Sports early in the second half when left wing  Mackenzie Williams was put in space, he did well to race down the touch line to secure an early score to peg the score back to 38-12.   Sports right wing Tom Chick showed he could match this when he was put in similar space as the Sports worked the ball wide from a line out, he made no mistake as he raced down the opposite touch line then fend off the tacklers to score in the corner.

Abi Davies Jones set off on a fast and determined run from the next restart as she gathered the ball then made a great run to take play into the Penlan half, Connor Jones maintained the attack and from the ruck , Abi Davies Jones, Cian John , Chloe Gant and Callum Jones kept up the pressure ,  Chloe Gant emerged from the ruck with ball to pass to Iestyn John who was on hand to run in the try.  Megan Lewis scored her third try of the game after Jack Morgan ran another  clearance kick back at Penlan , Ieuan Pilliner added the conversion before Connor Jones rounded for the game with his third try of the game for the Sports to make a positive start to 2019.

Bridgend Sports Matchday Squad: Abi Davies Jones; Ben King; Callum Jones; Callum Lewis; Chloe Gant; Cian John; Connor Jones; Dylan Morgan; Iestyn John; Ieuan Pilliner; Jack Morgan; Jodie Keane; Mason Balmer; Megan Lewis;  Mollie Prance; Theo Clarke; Thomas Chick; Thomas Coles; Tyler Burton; Will Ellis. 

Under Fifteens

The Under fifteens were keen to get rid of the rustiness of their Christmas break with a hard fought match against a strong, well-organised and physical Cefn Coed side. The Sports went in 0-7 at half time but responded well to show some good intensity in the second half.

A second half try from James Murray, converted by Sam Goodwin, put the Sports back in the game, but it wasn't quite enough against a very strong defensive side.

The final score was Bridgend Sports 7 Cefn Coed 17.

Luke Yates deserves high praise for stepping in as a replacement hooker, whilst  Joe Ezard deserved the man of the match award.