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The first taste of a winter Arctic blast greeted the very early risers on Sunday morning for this week’s mini and junior rugby fixtures. Another full fixture list provided plenty of activity to warm even the coldest of people as nine teams took to the field with five  fixtures at home and four away.

The Under Elevens kicked off the early action at home , the team were forced to play a  number of players out of position ,as their numbers were depleted due to holidays and illness. The Sports  effort could not match that of their opponents, Beddau, who inflicted a 15-35 defeat on the Sports. The three Sport’s tries were scored by Charlie Paget  who also picked up player of the week for his effort in the tackle and at rucks.

Under Twelves.

The Under twelves played Caldicott who had made the long trip to Newbridge Fields with thirteen players. The Sports assisted as best they could but Caldicott proved stiff opposition at times as they tested the home team’s defence in a stop start game.   The Sports prevailed as they ran out 24 – 0 victors. The Sports tries were scored by Ben Evans (2), Joel Bennet and Lewis Lock. Eli Davies added two conversions.

Under Thirteens

The Under Thirteens hosted Bryncoch on the steps pitch. In a mark of the side’s spirit  all twenty two players were keen to play,  despite last week’s hiccup in the local derby.  It is how we respond to defeat not the defeat itself that helps define good teams.

Bryncoch were a pleasure to host , from early on, it was clear both sides wanted to play an all-round expansive game.  Bryncoch dominated the early loose play but some solid Sports defence soon had their opponents committing errors.  The first try of the game came from the Sports, Bryncoch had worked themselves upfield with a passage of play that saw them work the ball along the back line then win the early rucks. An early tackle from Sport’s Jack Morgan stopped an attack and the from the ruck mid-way between the ten metre line Bryncoch opted to run again but Sports outside half Cian John was up quick to intercept then head straight for the line to score, he also added the conversion. The restart saw the Sports attack to take play close to the try line following good work from Callum Lewis, Mackenzie Dent and  Chloe Gant only for the ball to be lost forwards before it was moved wide.

Bryncoch again looked to run the ball from deep , they managed to take play up to the ten metre line  but  lost possession at a ruck on their ten metre line.  Sports  Connor Jones secured the loose ball then set off on a run across field , he found some space to sprint  in for the second try. Cian John added the conversion. Bryncoch then dominated play for the next ten minutes but despite some adventurous running that threatened, they could not find a way to penetrate the Sports solid line of defence. 

The Sports regathered when Callum Jones made a run , he was tackled , Abi Davies Jones was on hand to keep up the pressure to link with Theo Clarke for him to set off on a short run. He popped the ball up to Callum Jones who took it,  he  threw a long pass to Callum Lewis.  Mackenzie Dent and Thomas Coles kept the play going forward, frustratingly the Sports conceded a penalty at the breakdown to allow Bryncoch to clear.  Once again, the away team looked to run from the lineout but a great tackle from Callum Lewis allowed the Sports to regain possession. A quick pass saw outside half Cian John make a break then pass to supporting player Connor Jones who was in again to extend the lead, Ieuan Pilliner added the conversion. Byrncoch refused to give in and constantly looked to threaten the Sports by using their large centres to gain ground but some last ditch tackling and an infringement at the ruck saw possession return to the Sports who then opted to tap and go. Will Ellis passed to Cian John,  he gave it to his centre Callum Lewis who bust the line and went on to score. Ieuan Pilliner added the conversion for the Sports to lead 28 – 0 at half time.

It may have been a healthy lead at half time but Bryncoch confirmed that they could be a dangerous side as they took an early second half lead with a try. Centre George Edwards switched play from open to the blind side where he spotted and exploited  space to race in unopposed to score under the posts. Matthew Wilder added the conversion. Iestyn John replied with a try for the Sports following good driving play from Ben King , Megan Lewis and Mackenzie Dent before Bryncoch responded again with a try and conversion.

Sports Chloe Gant smashed through the Bryncoch  defence for the next score  after great work from Tom chick and then Thomas Coles who took play into the Bryncoch twenty two. A link pass form Will Ellis put Chloe Gant into a  gap and she made no mistake. Ieuan Pilliner added the conversion.  Back came Bryncoch with a another score this time form centre James Bonnici , Matthew Wilder added the conversion.  The Sports then found top gear again in the last ten minutes Connor Jones scored two more tries and Cian John  one. All three tries were converted by Ieuan Pilliner.

It was a great advert for all that is good about junior rugby with both sides and supporters showing  mutual respect for each other to provide a real feel good factor for all players to enjoy the game .

Under Sixteens

Next up at home were the Under Sixteens who put in a fine performance to defeat Ystrad Rhondda twenty seven points to points to twenty. The Sports Under Sixteens are starting to build numbers at training and the effort showed as they defended with heart to register a fine win.

Turning to the away games, three of the sides were at Kenfig Hill.

The under sevens  faced Kenfig Hill with  a  smaller squad than usual. However, the players gave one hundred percent and played as a team in a competitive game.  Both sides played at a fast pace which produced some great tries. Isaac Davies scored an impressive five tries for the Sports, Eli McCausland, Dion Williams added two each. Cian Elward and  Riley Lewis also scored. The Sports edged the game by a  couple of tries because of a great team performance.

Under Eights

The Eights were next , it proved to be a tough encounter as Kenfig Hill scored an impressive eleven tries as they ran the Sports ragged. The Sports team fought hard to score five tries but came up short on the day with the final score reading Kenfig Hill 11 Bridgend Sports 5.

Under Nines

The Under Nines did  themselves proud as they fought out a tight battle over four games of rugby. Kenfig took the victory in the end with only two tries to separate the two teams with a  score line of  75 points  to 65 points.

The Sports were a little disappointed with aspects of their positional play as they let in two easy tries. Sports tries were scored by Ellis Morgan, Thomas Roberts, Max Hearing and Dan Flower who deserved the reward of the Star Player of the week. Tackler of the Week was awarded to Gethin Jones who was equally as active in his offensive play.

Under Tens

Finally the Under Tens squad travelled to Cwmavon and played some excellent rugby in what was generally a very scrappy game that led to a little frustration from the players. Despite their frustrations the Sports emerged victorious following a good start as Noah Roberts and Leo Giraud scored two tries. Cwmavon hit back quickly with a try.

The Sports then put in some fine defensive play before they scored a breakaway try, with a second for Noah Roberts. Cwmavon came back fighting again but were unable to break the Sport’s defence. The Sports next try came from  Gethin Evans who strode out for an excellent try that showed his power. Cwmavon broke through again following some sloppy tackling to add another to the scoreboard. The Sports were then awarded a penalty for a high tackle, Cwmavon defended it well before Lennon Griffiths broke away to score and he used some amazing footwork to confuse his opponents.

The second period did not prove to be much different as both sides conceded penalties for high tackles. Cwmavon took an early lead before the Sports held on with some good defensive play and then they countered to score further tries through Leo Giraud and Osian Stephens.

In the final fifteen minute period the Sports scored further tries from Leo Giraud & Noah Roberts before some lazy rucking allowed Cwmavon to steal the ball and break through to score. The Sports hit back again as Osian Stephens broke away with some great footwork and running to score a convincing try. Cwmavon ended up with the finishing try but they could not match the Sports as they ran out 45 – 70 winners.