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05 March 2019 / Club News

Bridgend Athletic Mini & Junior Round Up – Sunday – March 3rd, 2019

Storm Freya blew away the entire Bridgend Athletic Minii section games, with only the U13,14 & 15 teams playing in very testing conditions.

The U13’s welcomed Blackwood to Newbridge Fields on Sunday morning, with a wet game looking likely before kick-off... however when the game kicked off the rain had mostly subsided, but the going was heavy underfoot.  The weather meant it was a game for the forwards and most of the first half was a real battle up front with good hard running and both packs trading turnovers for fun.  There was space out wide though and with good hands along the back line it was the Ath who scored the first try. The ball went along the line to Harvey Tooze, who had the pace to run down the touch line, outpacing the Blackwood defence before cutting inside the full back and scoring a great try under the posts which Charlie Rees converted.  It was Blackwood who finished the half stronger scoring 2 quick tries getting outside the Ath defence on both occasions and crossing the line, with 1 try converted to leave the Athletic trailing 7-12 at half time.

The second half started as per the first with both sets of forwards enjoying the old-fashioned conditions and turning the game into a real arm wrestle. It was Blackwood who got on the scoresheet first to extend their advantage to 7-17.  It was through the forwards that the Ath responded with some good pick and goes, which resulted in a couple of quick penalties that put the team in the corner. From the resulting line out a well drilled planned move allowed Rhydian Greenhall to show good strength and crash over in the corner. The conversion was missed from out wide. 

 From the restart Blackwood came back hard with some added intensity and pace and following some quick recycling they scored a converted try under the posts. The game ended slightly prematurely with an injury to one of the Blackwood team; we wish him well with his recovery.  Final score 12-24 to Blackwood.

Next up for the U13’s is the proposed final away fixture of the season against Aberdare before 3 home games to complete the season.

 

Bridgend Ath U14s travelled to play Porthcawl on a day when the weather proved to be as tricky as any opponent. It was credit to Porthcawl that they managed to get the game on at all.

The game started on a heavy pitch in constant rain and it very quickly became clear that even running on the surface would be difficult and the teams would have to adapt their approach. It was the home team scoring first, opting to take 3 points after a high tackle. However, the Ath hit back with some impressive forward work before Fynn Bull picked up and chipped over for Josh Stephens to win the touch down. A touchline conversion from Jack Whitten and the Ath were leading 3-7. That lead was soon extended when the ball was moved to the left and McKenzie Grey beat his marker, kicked ahead and won the race to the line 3-12

Back came Porthcawl just before half time though and they claimed a try when a clearance kick fell short to allow a run in under the posts to make the interval score 10-12.

Second half and conditions were deteriorating, but both teams kept up the tempo set in the first 30. The forwards always seemed to make good ground for the Ath through the energy sapping mud and were generally looking stronger than their opponents. The Ath got their third try from strong forward play which resulted in a scrum and bringing Jack Whitten onto the ball at pace to score and make the score line 10 -19

Porthcawl threw everything at the Ath to salvage something but the defence stayed strong, with the backs always ready to ask questions of Porthcawl's defence, The Seasiders set up a last wide attack only to see Mc Kenzie Grey intercept and score to end the game with a well-earned victory for the Ath boys by 10-24.

Everyone contributed today and in Ryan Goodfellow, on his birthday, the Ath had a forward who led by example and showed a lot of power in the tight phases. Well done Ath

 

In horrendous conditions the Ath 15's played their Ospreys Cup semi-final against Trebanos down Newbridge fields. The team had worked hard in training to cover all scenarios of what could happen on the day. The players’ optimism was good despite our hooker breaking his shoulder in a District game 2 weeks earlier and 2 of our centres missing, one through injury and the other away.

Losing the toss of the Ath played with the wind first half and from the first lineout Trebanos showed their intent with a big driving maul resulting in a try. The Trebanos 10 had a big boot and at every opportunity put the ball long for his team to pressurise the Ath back 3. The tactic certainly worked for them in poor conditions with the Ath making a lot of mistakes. Trebanos sneaked another try out wide with poor tackling from the Ath. The Ath responded with a try from Evan Beach after numerous infringements by Trebanos for killing the ball. Half time score 5-10.

The second half got under way and with the half a game rule 6 player changes were made. The Ath were now against a strong wind and with the Trebanos 10 kicking long at every opportunity and the Ath lineout and breakdown not functioning as usual it was proving difficult for the Ath to get any momentum to their game. However the Ath did put a number of phases together after repeat infringements at the breakdown by Trebanos, with a well worked try from a lineout by Luke Griffiths. It wasn't long before Trebanos hit back with a horrible bounce of the ball beating the Ath winger for Trebanos to pull away. The Ath forwards were getting more frustrated at the breakdown as Trebanos were slowing the ball down at every opportunity and the Ath started giving away a few silly penalties allowing Trebanos easy points with the wind at their back and sealing the win for them.

Final score 10-28. The club wish Trebanos all the best for the Final.

 

 

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