WRU Championship Cup – Rd 1 Sat Sept 27th, 2025
Bridgend Athletic RFC progressed to the 2ND Round of the WRU Championship in their inaugural season in the Championship East, with a 28 (4t) to 10(1t) victory against Mountain Ash at Newbridge Fields.
The game followed a similar scoring pattern when the sides met in the league in the opening game of the season with the Ath only taking the lead at 14-10 in the 65th minute, and then adding a further 2 late tries to seal a 28-10 victory.
Ath outside half Ollie Olds produced a well-directed kick off to start the game. Ath captain Iestyn Merriman was first to the ball and set up an Ath attack. The Ath maintained early pressure until conceding a penalty after 6 minutes. From the resultant line out inside the Ath 22 Ash sent a grubber kick to the corner forcing the Ath to concede a 5-metre scrum. A well worked front of line out move saw the visitors cross in the corner and a very good conversion gave them a 7-0 lead,
In the 25th minute Ath pressure forced a 5-metre scrum. Front row Brandyn Fooks, Lee Murphy and Ben Owen got a nudge on allowing scrum half Evan D’Adamo a snipe and when the ball was recycled lock Ben Cord finished off a handling move to cross mid-way out D’Adamo converted to level the scores.
Lock Adam Evans had been carrying well and broke from 40 mts out only to be held 10 metres short of the line, and without support the move fizzled out. An Ollie Olds break into the Ash 22 with an overlap should have been finished but his pass did not go to hand, and the half spoils were shared at 7-7.
Mountain Ash had the better of the opening stages of the 2nd half and a long-range penalty after 53 minutes saw them take a 10-7 lead.
The Ath finally took the lead in the 65th minute. Half backs D’Adamo and Olds releases Dan O’Sullivan and Rhys Ward Jones and Gabe Brown had the strength to hold off a challenge and cross near the posts. D’Adano’s conversion saw the Ath lead for the first time at 14-10.
The Ath now had all their 5 replacements on the field props Matthew Greenman & Ollie Donague, No 8 Evren Ozbelin, Lock Jon Stoker and wing Owen Thomas. Cam Thomas was having a stormer tackling and carrying and set up possession for Olds and Brown to put Rhys Ward Jones over. The Ath was now in full flow as D’Adamo took an inside pass to race 20 metres for the Ath’s 4th try. He converted both for a match haul of 13 points.
Wings McKenzie Grey and Joe Patterson contributed – but had few opportunities as both sides were tactically kicking long for territory.
Head coach Stuart Morris jointly picked Adam Evans and Cam Thomas as joint players of match, commenting everybody contributed but would have liked more control in possession.
The Ath this Saturday return to Championship East action away at Penallta, before returning to Newbridge Fields on Oct 11th to play Rumney in a game sponsored by the Ath Old Boys. A great chance for them to reminisce of their own playing careers at the Ath.
The Ath is again grateful to Mr Josh Llewellyn of Gyleston ManorEstate for sponsoring the fixture and to photographer Paul Harwood for his quality pics, and all the match day helpers at NF.