News

Tondu 10 Bridgend Athletic 14

National League Div 1 West Central – Sat Sept 9^th 2017

Bridgend Athletic won a hard-fought encounter at near neighbours Tondu by 14 points to 10. Tondu were heavily reliant on using their weight superiority to try and dominate up front with driving mauls and set scrums, while the Athletic looked to use their speedier back division.

Tondu opened the scoring with a penalty which Athletic centre Robin Davies soon cancelled out. The Athletic showed they too could use a driving maul and a series of thrusts at the Tondu line saw lock Jonathon Stoker force his way over from close range. A second Davies penalty extended the Athletic lead to 11-3 at half time.

Tondu came out all guns blazing in the second half and attempted a series of 5 metre line out mauls to soften the Athletic. A very good defence was finally breached and a converted try saw the Athletic advantage reduced to 11-10. The Athletic fought back and a clever grubber kick by Dan Howells saw full back Stuart Floyd-Ellis outstrip the home defence, but unfortunately slipped while trying to pick up a try scoring opportunity.

A third Davies penalty extended the Athletic lead to 14-10. They saw out the game with 14 players after Dan Howells was sin binned,driving Tondu back into their own half with a 30-metre driving maul.

For the Athletic Sean Williams, Lee Murphy and Jonathon Stoker carried well at forward, while scrum half Aled Thomas and outside half Sam Richards put in some useful tactical kicks and full back Floyd-Ellis was an elusive runner. It was an excellent team performance with 1-15 putting their bodies on the line against a very physical approach from the Waterwheelers.

This Saturday Sept 16^th another local derby sees Maesteg visit Newbridge Fields.