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Tondu Youth won a hard-fought local Ospreys East Division  Derby against Bridgend Athletic Youth by 14 points to 9.

Tondu had a more seasoned pack against a mainly first year Athletic outfit, while the Athletic had more experience in the backs. Tondu played mainly to their forward strengths and were rewarded with 2 close range tries despite the younger Athletic side fronting up on the day, while the Athletic frustrated by too often cutting back inside where Tondu’s formidable back row could snuff out the danger.

The Athletic made a lively start with an over eager Tondu side conceding early penalties. The Athletic drove a driving maul from a line out deep into the Tondu 22. Flanker Dan Osarigie broke clear and scrum half Josh Tidy released outside half Cameron Lewis. Tondu recognising the potency of Athletic centres Tom Davies and Will Barraclough were found offside. Levi Hallet kicked the resultant penalty to give the Athletic an early lead.

Tondu responded and kicked a penalty to touch 10 metres from the Athletic try line. Good defence from back row forwards Ben Owen and Tom Zelinski stopped the initial drive. Tondu then set up several thrusts at the Athletic line culminating in flanker Mason Hughes twisting his way over wide out. Outside half Jacob Thomas added the extras to give the home side a 7-3 lead.

The Athletic struck straight back. Tondu were penalised allowing the Athletic to kick to touch. Top of the line out ball from Jac Basset saw half backs Tidy and Lewis feed centre Tom Davies in midfield. Davies was tackled but Tondu were guilty of going over the top at the ruck. Hallet’s penalty reduced his side’s deficit to 7-6. The Athletic then lost outside half Cameron Lewis to a blood injury forcing a reshuffle with full back Hallet moving to the pivot role. Lewis did return but moved to full back.

Tondu managed to cross the Athletic line but an excellent joint effort by Josh Tidy and Tom Davies prevented the ball being grounded. However, from the 5-metre scrum the Tondu No 8 picked up and initiated a series of thrusts at the Athletic line. Excellent defensive efforts from lock Morgan Bennett and the front row of Brandyn Fooks, Jack Obbard and Ellis Bull halted the initial surges. Tondu’s persistence eventually paid off when flanker Kyan Lloyd breached the green and gold defence. Thomas conversion stretched the lead to 14-6. The Athletic responded with a third Hallet penalty to give the Water wheelers a 14-9 half time lead.

The Athletic had the better of the early second half exchanges with wings Owen Thomas and Ethan White showing pacy runs. A well organised Tondu defence withstood the early pressure. It was then Tondu’s turn to test the Athletics’ defensive resolve. A stout defence kept the Athletic line intact.

Centre Will Barraclough then showed why he has often been an Athletic match winner. He shook of a series of tacklers on his own 22 line and ran 60 metres into the Athletic 22. It looked a certain try but a determined Tondu effort saw their wings come across field to halt the Athletic flyer just short of the line, though conceding a penalty and incurring a yellow card in the effort. Hallet was unable to add a fourth penalty going wide of the upright. The Athletic brought on substitutes Corbyn Lee, Josh Llewllyn, Keegan Thomas and Teo Files. With 7 minutes remaining the Athletic opened play 30 metres from the Tondu line. Centre Tom Davies threw a floated pass from the middle of the field to wing Owen Thomas on the touchline. Thomas sprinted over the try line. but the referee adjudged the pass was forward.

Both sides were unable to penetrate determined defences in the second period and Tondu’s tactics prevailed on the day running out 14-9 victors.

Athletic coach Paul Obbard was pleased with his side’s commitment saying “Boys you all played well today, despite the final score, you were the better team on the day. Only difference was Tondu played to their strength through their forwards, our forwards did face up, but we needed to play to our strength, via our backs. It’s a learning curve, so well done, main thing is to stick together and keep going, it will come. We are very proud of the Ath squad and they should be extremely proud of themselves.”