News

Bridgend Athletic delivered their best performance of the season to record Ystalyfera’s first Div 1 West Central defeat of the season with a bonus point 38-21 away victory and keep their own 11 league match winning sequence since Nov 4^th intact.

The result was the more remarkable as due to injuries and unavailability the Athletic fielded 3 back row forwards in the back division. Flanker and Captain Marvel Ben (O’Driscoll) Howe, who started the winning sequence with his return from preseason injury, filled the outside centre spot, with Jacob David on one wing and Youth No 8 Will Barraclough making his senior debut on the other wing.

Playing down the slope Fera charged down an Athletic clearance kick inside their own 22 which led to Fera strongly attacking the Athletic try line. Remarkably Howe turned over possession on the try line and broke away with the ball. He kicked ahead towards the Fera 22 where scrum half Dan James caught the Fera full back in possession. Good forward interpassing involving Matt Muir, Wayne Fooks, Ben Cording and Jonathon Stoker saw James change direction with a pass to outside half Luke Bevan who ran a great angle to ghost through the home defence and cross under the posts. He converted his own try. When Fera were penalised at a ruck inside the Athletic half their dissent saw the penalty moved to 45 metres from their try line and in the range of Bevan who increased the Athletic lead to 10-0. Another Athletic Youth senior debutant Caine Woolerton showed great composure to gather a kick on his own 22 and glide through the Fera defence until halted just short of the home try line. From the ruck scrum half Dan James dummied and dived over wide out for his fifth try of the season. Bevan converted to bring up his 150 points for the season and increase the Athletic lead to 17-0.

Fera struck back when the referee adjudged the Athletic had infringed once too often following a series of 5 metre scrummage drives from Fera and awarded a penalty try to the home side. Athletic centre Chris Price gathered a clearance on half way and counter attacked. He threw a long wide pass to fellow centre Howe who drew the cover before releasing wing Jacob David to run in from 20 metres. Woolerton made another long run out of defence but was hurt in the tackle and left the field with a blood injury to his hand. Liam Phillips filled in until Woolerton was fit to return. Fera struck back on the stroke of half time when their wing Luke Caines chipped ahead and regathered to cross in the corner. Outside half Steff Castle converted to reduce his side’s deficit to 22-14 at half time.

Playing down the slope the Athletic took early control of the second period. Following good work by the back row of Ben Davies, Sam Treharne and MOM Sean Williams Fera were penalised. Bevan kicked to the corner. Fera illegally halted a series of Athletic 5 metre line out drives, before the Athletic pack powered their way over the try line for hooker Nathan Holman to cross in the corner for his fifth try of the season and secure an Athletic try bonus point. Bevan converted to increase his side’s lead to 29-14. Ystalyfera were not finished and on a rare visit to the Athletic 22 their powerful pack drove prop Andrew Llewellyn over the try line for a converted try by Castle to reduce the deficit to 29-21.

The Athletic were undaunted and finished the remaining 20 minutes in complete control up front as the bigger home pack wilted in the strong sunshine. Bevan’s astute kicking and the Athletics’ surprising dominance at the scrum by front row forward Wayne Fooks, Nathan Holman and Matt Muir led to Fera conceding a series of penalties. Lock Gareth Bartlett and hooker Lee Murphy joined the fray as Bevan landed 3 late penalties for a match haul of 23 points and a well-deserved Athletic 38-21 victory.

Athletic Head Coach John Apsee summed up, “Despite disruptions we came with a positive attitude to keep our 6-month winning sequence going. All 18 players used played with great energy and intensity to the pre-match game plan to stifle the Fera forward strength and stretch them out of their comfort zone.” The Athletic face Bonymaen at the Morganstone Brewery Field this Tuesday April 17^th k/o.7.15pm, before travelling to Seven Sisters on Saturday 21^st April.