Fixture

 

Bridgend Athletic avenged an earlier season 8-7 home defeat to run out 17-6 winners against Maesteg at the Old Parish. This win took the Athletic to 1^st place with 61 points in a very tightly contested Div 1 West Central League. However only 3 points separate the closing pack of Trebanos, Maesteg Quins, Bonymaen and Aberavon Quins who all have games in hand over the Athletic.

 

Unfortunately, a sizeable crowd saw the morning sunshine replaced as heavy rain swept across an already heavy ground just before kick-off and persisted until half time, making handling difficult. The Athletic applied early pressure and should have taken the lead – but a penalty awarded for Maesteg illegally pulling down a maul went wide of the mark. The Athletic players were convinced they had a try when they drove over the try line from a 5-metre lineout, but the referee thought otherwise and awarded them a 5-metre scrum instead. The Athletic front three of Matt Muir, Nathan Holman and Wayne Fooks drove the scrum forward, but Maesteg conceded a penalty to stop the drive. The Athletic reset the scrum but failed to control the ball and the opportunity was lost.

 

Despite dominating possession and territory the Athletic lacked the composure and tactical nous to turn the advantage into points against a resolute home side, until in the 30^th minute when outside half Luke Bevan kicked a 40-metre penalty. Maesteg then upped their game and levelled the first half with a penalty from outside half Tadhg McGukin.

 

Maesteg came out firing at the start of the second half and pressurised the Athletic during the opening 10 minutes, but were unable to break down the Athletic defence with the back row of Ben Howe, Stuart Edbrooke and Chris John and centres Tom Jenkins and John Taylor up to their defensive duties. The siege was broken when full back Jonathan Phillips kicked from his own 22 to within 5 metres of the Maesteg try line. Good following up forced the home side to concede touch on their 22. Hooker Nathan Holman marshalled an excellent driving maul from the lineout and was rewarded with his 6^th try of the season. Bevan kicked the conversion to open a 10-3 lead.

 

Maesteg fought back and a second McGukin penalty narrowed their deficit to 10-6. Although too many errors by both sides marred the game as a spectacle, the crowd were kept on their feet with the result in doubt. With 10 minutes remaining the Athletic gained a foothold inside the Maesteg 22. A series of 5 metre scrums and carries towards the Maesteg line forced the home side to defend desperately. Lock Jonathon Stoker was convinced he had scored, but again the referee adjudged the ball was held up.  Young scrum half Dan James tried a few snipes before the experienced Griff Davies capped  a fine performance finding an opening and crossing for his third try of the season. Bevan converted to seal the 17-6 victory, and become the Athletics’ leading points scorer for the season overhauling Dan Howells with 68 points.