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Showing pride, determination and sheer courage Bridgend Athletic survived a final five-minute siege on their try line of Alamo proportion by a far more physically endowed Cambrian Welfare outfit to complete a deserved 14-8 victory on the day. Cambrian looking for a Division 1 East Central league double faced a far different side from that back in their November triumph. The Athletic on a roll of 7 victories in their last 8 games are now a different proposition both in personnel, attitude, organisation and game expectation. The win moves them to 4^th in the table.

The Athletic were boosted by the return of long term injured outside half Luke Bevan easing himself back in at full back. Bevan’s excellent high hanging drop start to the game enabled flanker Sean Williams to tap the ball back to hooker Lee Murphy who released captain Ben Howe to charge into the Cambrian 22. When scrum half Aled Thomas released the backs via outside half Stuart Morris the home side were caught offside and Bevan kicked the resultant penalty to give the Athletic an opening minute 3-0 lead.

From the restart scrum half Thomas sent a high kick back into the Cambrian half. A fumble gave the Athletic an attacking scrum. Moving the ball centre Tom Jenkins made a half break and fed Bevan who was forced into touch just short of the try line.

When Cambrian opened play just inside the Athletic half a thumping tackle by Howe saw the ball dislodged and Howe seized possession to race to within 10 metres of the home try line before the cover defence halted the move. The Athletic pack were well on top in the opening quarter with good carries from prop Matthew Muir, lock Ben Cording and flankers Howe and Sean Williams. The pressure led to a penalty which Bevan kicked for a 5-metre touch. Hooker Murphy found Cording who in a training ground wrap around move with Williams saw Cording set up a driving maul. Despite Cambrian holding considerable weight advantage a well organised low driving maul saw eventual Man of the Match Cording driven over the try line to give the Athletic an 8-0 lead.

Athletic No 8 Will Barraclough then seized on a dropped pass inside the Athletic half and hacked the ball forward. He seemed destined for a try but having to slow to gather the ball gave the cover enough time to come across and halt him just short of the try line.

Cambrian came more into the game and when the Athletic conceded a penalty outside half Julian Huntley reduced his side’s half time deficit to 8-3.

10 minutes into the second period veteran outside half Morris launched a 50-metre siege kick deep into the Cambrian half. Excellent following by centre Tom Davies saw him catch Cambrian in possession and force a penalty for holding on.  Bevan duly despatched the penalty to extend the Athletics’ lead to 11-3. In the previous fixture the 3 Cambrian Huntley brothers half backs Mark and Julian and centre Julian had caused the Athletic problems with their pace. They were now trying to exploit that virtue, but a young 19-22-year-old three quarter line of centres Davies and Jenkins and wings Owain Leyshon and Joe Patterson assisted by the tackling of Howe, Williams and Cording were halting them in their tracks.

Cambrian were having more territory in the second period and benefited from a man advantage when hooker Murphy was yellow cared for adjudging to have collapsed a driving maul. The Athletic brought on Nathan Holman at hooker and Matthew Norman at prop sacrificing wing Owain Leyshon for the sin bin period. During this time in the 65^th minute Cambrian flanker Luke Riley broke down the blind side and outstripped the Athletic cover to cross wide out to reduce his side’s deficit to 11-8. The Athletic brought on speedy flanker Cameron Thomas to shore up their defensive efforts. Another long relieving kick from Morris put the Athletic back into the Cambrian 22 where Athletic pressure forced a penalty. Bevan’s third successful kick ensured Cambrian needed a converted try in the last 10 minutes to overcome a 14-8 deficit.

For 5 minutes the Athletic looked comfortable but then the home side staring defeat in the face and with a series of penalties laid siege to the Athletic line. The Athletic line out with Cording, Jonathon Stoker and Williams disrupting the Cambrian throw ins led to the home side with considerable weight advantage opting for a series of 5 metre penalty scrums. However, the scrummaging prowess of props Wayne Fooks and Norman and hooker Holman consistently drove them back. Using their large forwards, they then laid siege to the Athletic line to meet a wall of Athletic defenders’ hell bent on holding their lead. It was with considerable relief when with the final play the Athletic emerged with the ball and kicked it off the park to preserve their winning run.

The Athletic team manager Paul Hearne summed up the Athletic coaches’ views on the game “Lock Ben Cording with his massive amount of tackles and all-round contribution was awarded Man of the Match, while in the pack Ben Howe, Sean Williams and Matthew Muir were also prominent. There was also a huge contribution from youngsters Will Barraclough, Tom Davies and Tom Jenkins., while replacements Nathan Holman, Matthew Norman and Cameron Thomas put in a huge defensive effort when under the cosh in the closing stages. Our kicking game from half backs Thomas and Morris and full back Bevan was also good on the day. The coaches were pleased with the win and despite the team not playing to its full potential we have acquired a winning habit and dug deep in the closing minutes showing great character. With long term injured players Luke Bevan and Cameron Thomas returning to the squad and the contribution of veteran Stuart Morris to call on things look bright for the remaining 5 games of the league campaign.”

It was a double celebration for captain Ben Howe who 36 hours earlier had been with his partner Jade at the birth of their baby daughter Adalyn. Congratulations both from all at BARFC.

Next up for the Athletic is a home game at Newbridge Fields on March 2^nd against Llantrisant with the Athletic determined to erase memories of the lowest point of their season, which lit the spark for their upsurge in fortunes.