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Poor defence cost Bridgend Athletic dearly as at least three of the five tries scored by Llantrisant should have been stopped resulting in their heaviest 32 - 8 defeat of the season in the early kick off at Llantrisant.

The Athletic started brightly and for 10 minutes playing down the slope made numerous incursions into the Llantrisant 22 but were unable to find a chink in the home defence. Llantrisant broke out and capitalised on some panic in the Athletic defence when a dropped kick was offloaded under pressure. Outside half Sam Richards was yellow carded for a transgression in the red zone. Llantrisant for the 10 minutes of the yellow card pummelled the Athletic line with scrums and driving lineouts, but the Athletic scrum and defence held out, with lock Ben Cording and captain flanker Ben Howe making high tackle counts.

After a scoreless 28 minutes Athletic scrum half Dan James made a 25-metre break into the Llantrisant 22 and when halted Llantrisant were penalised at the ruck. Robin Davies kicked the penalty. Two minutes later Llantrisant centre Lewis Morgan received the ball with the Athletic defence lined up. He went for the outside break and evaded three attempts to halt him before crossing in the corner. Full back Morgan Raison converted from wide out to put Llanharan 7-3 ahead. Morgan repeated the move from closer to the Athletic line and again was too good for a lack lustre Athletic defence to put his side 12-3 ahead at half time.

A Morgan Raison penalty stretched the lead to 15-3. The Athletic were penalised when holding the ball at a ruck when attacking inside the Llantrisant 22. Noting the Athletic in an attacking position Llantrisant took a quick penalty and ran 70 metres downfield into the Athletic 22. Athletic flanker Ben Howe making his 100^th 1^St XV Athletic appearance thought the ball was out of the ensuing ruck when he kicked it, but the referee disagreed and gave the Athletic captain a 10-minute rest in the sin bin.

A poor crossfield clearance kick saw the Athletic short of numbers and were punished when wing Elliott Jones showed great speed to run along the left touchline and evade a last-ditch tackle attempt to cross in the corner. Raison converted. Llantrisant then created a bonus point try by pulling the Athletic defence to the right and quick passing along the line created an overlap for Jones to cross in the corner to stretch their lead to 27-3.

The Athletic brought on experienced hooker Lee Murphy and prop Lewis Dando and youngsters Joe Grabham, Caine Woolerton and Owain Leyshon from last season’s youth team. This raised the tempo of the Athletic performance. Outside half Sam Richards grubber kicked behind the home defence from just outside his own 22. Woolerton gathered and showed great speed to arc around the covering defence to cross wide out in the corner.

Llantrisant had the final say when wing Kyle Austin chipped ahead along the right touchline and won the chase to touchdown in the corner and subject the Athletic to their worst defeat of the season.

Athletic Head Coach John Apsee was disappointed with the intensity of the Athletic performance and the tackling particularly of the backs

The team now have two training sessions ahead of playing high flying promotion contenders Rhiwbina this Saturday at the Morganstone Brewery Field to remedy faults highlighted at Llantrisant. They will want to put on a good performance in front of match sponsors the Athletic Old Boys Association. A Former Players Reunion at the Athletic clubhouse will follow the game.