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10 December 2017 / Club News

Match Report First XV

Aberavon Quins 7 Bridgend Athletic 22

National League Div 1 West Central – Sat Dec 9th 2017

 

Bridgend Athletic made it three successive league victories in succession as they outscored Aberavon Quins by 3 tries to 1 in a 22-7 away win. In those 3 games they have amassed106 points for and only 10 against with a favourable 17-1 try count. This run of form coincides with the return from a preseason injury of captain and flanker Ben Howe, who turned in a man of the match performance in this game. The win moved the Athletic to 3rd in the Div 1 West Central table – though they have played more games then the two sides immediately below them.

 

The victory was well deserved but had the home side’s finishing been more clinical and the Athletics’ defence not first rate the winning margin could have been much less. On at least three occasions solid defence from the young back line of centres Stuart Floyd-Ellis and Tom Jenkins and wings Robin Davies and Tom James kept out potential try scoring opportunities for the Quins.

The Quins applied early pressure and a break by outside half Foard Cooksley was halted just short of the line allowing scrum half Dan James to clear to touch upfield. The line out saw the Quins penalised for Athletic outside half Luke Bevan to make no mistake with the resultant penalty to open the scoring. Quins flanker Connor O’Callaghan then charged down an attempted clearance kick but failed to ground the ball when a try looked likely.

 

No 8 Sean Williams won a line out on the Quins 22 to set up a driving maul conducted as usual by hooker Nathan Holman. The home side had no answer to the growing momentum of the drive and Holman crossed for his third try of the season. A threatening run from Quins wing Jordan Crealock was halted by a combined tackle from flanker Sam Treharne and wing Tom James, but the Athletic were then penalised for offside. The home side kicked to touch and set up a driving maul only to knock on which signalled half time with the Athletic 8-0 to the good.

 

The Quins made a hash of the restart with players in front of the ball. However, they retrieved the situation with former Aberavon No 8 Robbie Morgan, who was a constant thorn in the Athletic side,losing possession just short of the line. A 40 metre Athletic relief kick was miss fielded by the home side. The Athletics’ scrum with front row Wayne Fooks, Matthew Muir and Nathan Holman in the ascendancy drove the home 8 backwards. An attempted clearance kick from the Quins was gathered by Athletic full back Michael Powell. The speedster glided through the home defence and supplied the supporting centre Stuart Floyd-Ellis with a try scoring pass. Bevan converted to stretch the lead to 15-0.

 

The Quins responded moving the ball from a line out on the Athletic 22 for full back Jordan Condon to run a good line through the Athletic midfield to cross under the posts. He converted his own try to reduce the deficit to 15-7. The Athletic set piece was working well with the line out through locks Jonathon Stoker and Chris John and No 8 Sean Williams aligned to solid scrummaging ensuring plenty of Athletic possession.

 

The Athletic brought on flanker Ben Davies and lock Ben Cording. Luke Bevan hit the upright with a penalty before the Athletic crossed for their third and match winning try. A sustained period of Athletic pressure from driving play with Davies prominent set up a scrum on the home 22. From the scrum half backs Dan James and Luke Bevan quickly set the back line in motion and slick handling saw a training ground move culminate in centre Floyd-Ellis cross for his second try of the game and his fourth of the season. Bevan’s conversion saw him pass the half century of points for the season and become the Athletics’ leading points scorer, and give his side a 22-7 victory.

Coaching Assistant David Williams commented “This was an excellent win with the whole pack playing well with a solid set piece. The backs defence was good with centre Floyd-Ellis showing good commitment for his two tries. Perhaps the side could have been more street wise and employed more tactical kicking with the pack in the ascendancy and played their rugby on the front foot closer to the opposition try line.”

 

This Saturday Dec 16th the Athletic visit Ammanford looking to avenge an opening day of the season 29-19 defeat. The Athletic threw away a 19-3 advantage when indiscipline saw them play the final 30 minutes with only 13 or 14 players on the field.

 

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