Fixture

 

Bridgend Athletics’ brief flirtation with the top of Division 1 West Central was ended when Maesteg Quins took their place with a 33-24 win in a pulsating game that ebbed and flowed at South Parade.

 

The Athletic started brightly and a good run by lock Chris John saw outside half Luke Bevan held up crossing the try line. Full back Stuart Floyd- Ellis ran the ball gathering a kick into the Ath 22 and beating several defenders before being illegally tackled on the Quins 10 metre line. Bevan slotted the penalty to open the scoring.

 

The Quins powerful pack created the first try of the game pushing the Athletic 8 over the try line for No 8 Lewis Tutt to touch down. Full back Owen Howe converted. Howe then kicked a penalty to put the Quins 10-3 ahead. The Athletic responded when centre Stuart Edbrooke broke clear. Scrum half Aled Thomas fed Bevan whose long pass gave wing Dan Howells the space to round his opponent to cross for an unconverted try in the corner for his sixth try of the season. Howe then extended the Quins lead to 13-8 when the Ath illegally halted a driving maul.

 

Back came the Athletic when a good passing move from half way involving Bevan and centre Tom Jenkins saw full back Floyd-Ellis enter the line at speed and run in from 22 metres. Bevan’s conversion put the Athletic 15-13 ahead at half time.

 

Two early second half penalties won from good forward pressure with Matt Muir, Ben Howe and Griff Davies prominent saw Bevan extend the Athletic lead to 21-13. A Quins driving maul put them on them on the front foot and quick passing saw centre Owen Richards breakthrough for a try converted by Howe to reduce the Quin’s deficit to one point. Bevan’s fourth penalty following a good run from wing Dan Howells increased his side’s lead to 24-20. The Quins then applied forward pressure resulting in hooker Jay Ronan crossing in the corner. Howe’s conversion and third penalty then put the Quins 30-24 ahead with 10 minutes remaining.

 

The Athletic thought they had scored when another excellent run out of defence by full back Floyd Ellis saw wing Dan James race in at the corner. To his and even the Quin’s supporters surprise the referee adjudged the scoring pass was forward. With the final play of the match the Quins were awarded a penalty on half way. Their Merthyr permit player Howe capped a faultless goal kicking display with his seventh successful attempt. This sent the Athletic home pointless from a display that at the very least merited a losing bonus point.

 

This Saturday the Athletic April 15^th entertain Kenfig Hill at the Bridgend Ford Brewery Field. Following the game all former players and committee are invited back to the Ewenny Road clubhouse for a celebration reunion of 40 years of Youth Rugby at the Athletic.