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16 May 2017 / Team News

Youth March to Final

Bridgend Athletic Youth 41 Senghenydd Youth 18

WRU League Play Off Semi Final – Taffs Well – Sat May 13^th.

Bridgend Athletic winners of the Ospreys A youth league played Senghenydd the undefeated winners of the Dragons Youth League in the semi-final of the WRU League play offs. The Athletic produced a mesmeric performance of 15-man rugby outscoring Senghenydd by 7 tries to 3 in a comprehensive 41-18 points victory.

The Senghenydd pack and back division were physically much bigger than the Athletic, but could not match the slighter Athletic side for speed and handling skills, despite enjoying more possession. Senghenydd opened strongly and monopolised early possession, but could not penetrate a resolute Athletic defence with big hits coming in from all angles, especially the outstanding back row of Luke Williams, Javan Bell and Ben Davies.

In their first meaningful Athletic attack after 10 minutes excellent driving play and inter passing with locks Will Barraclough and Tom Davies prominent saw centre John Taylor spot a gap to dive over for the opening try. After 30 minutes the front row of Morgan Clement, Cameron Thomas and Thomas Zielinski conceding huge weight advantage won a scrum inside their own half. Half backs Caine Woolerton and Luke Bevan opened play for full back Sam Richards to make a line break and release wing Joe Patterson to run in from 22 metres. Bevan converted to put the Athletic 12-0 ahead. With a penalty count of 7-1 against the Athletic following a warning Athletic centre Stuart Floyd-Ellis was sent to the bin and Senghenydd wing Random Wygold landed the resultant penalty. This gave the Ath a 12-3 half time lead

Despite still having only 14 players the Athletic came firing out of the blocks in the second half taking the game to Senghenydd . A clever grubber kick from scrum half Woolerton saw the Athletic backrow catch and rip the ball from the Senghenydd full back to put Patterson over for his second try.

Scrum half Woolerton then then made a break from his own 22 carried on by Jon Taylor. Woolerton was again involved and when ankle tapped just short of the line popped a try scoring pass to lock Tom Davies. Bevan’s conversion made it 24-3 to the Athletic. The 5^th Athletic try even had the Senghenydd supporters gasping. Jon Taylor and Sam Richards combined inside their own half before inter passing involving wing Tom James and Taylor saw Taylor cross wide out for his second try of the game.

Senghenydd responded with their forwards setting up centre Connor Wygold for a well worked try. They then tried running the ball from just inside the Athletic half but a spilled pass saw centre Stuart Floyd-Ellis pounce on the loose ball and outpace the covering defence in a 50-metre run to the try line. Bevan’s conversion opened a 36-8 Athletic lead. Senghenydd replied with a Josh Lewis try. Good inter passing by the Athletic forwards with Bell and Bevan involved saw replacement wing Eugene Richards run a good angle to cross for the seventh Athletic try. A spirited Senghenydd side saw Tom Davies cross for their 3^rd try and the 10^th try of a thoroughly entertaining game.

Great credit should go to the Athletic starting team and bench for executing the game plan of coaches and Athletic stalwarts Lee Grabham, John Doherty and Kevin Gamble to stretch the more physically equipped Senghenydd side. From a very impressive team performance Senghenydd supporters were particularly impressed with outside half Luke Bevan whose exemplary line kicking and distribution controlled the game, while No 8 Luke Williams was always in the thick of the action leading the pack.

The Athletic will now play Cardiff Blues league winners Rumney Youth who defeated Nant Conwy 15-14 in the other play off semi-final. The match for the WRU league trophy and top Youth league side in Wales takes place this coming Friday 19^th May at Ystrad Mynach – kick off 7pm.

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