Fixture

Bonymaen 21 Bridgend Athletic 9

Division 1 West Central – Sat 7^th Jan 2016

There was to be no repeat of the opening day’s 25-6 Athletic bonus point win as table topping Bonymaen exacted revenge at Parc Mawr with a 21=9 home victory.

The home side playing down the considerable slope on their ground put the Athletic under early pressure by using the slope with tactical kicking to the corners. The Athletics’ resolve was finally broken in the fifteenth minute when they conceded a penalty kicked by centre Richard Cunniffe. The Athletic scrum was coming under pressure and the Bonymaen 8 took advantage of resultant penalties to keep the pressure on. Two further Cunniffe penalties increased the lead to 9-0.

As the half progressed the Athletic pack settled and came more into the game. No 8 Griff Davies along with flankers Ben Howe and Luke Williams carried and tackled well. Youth hooker Cameron Thomas was also influential in broken play. From a lineout 30 metres from the Bonymaen try line out half backs Aled Thomas and Sam Richards brought centres Michael Hathaway and Stuart Floyd-Ellis into play. Bonymen then infringed at a ruck and Stuart Floyd-Ellis reduced the half time deficit to 9-3 from the resultant penalty.

It was now the Athletic's turn to use the slope and they went straight on the attack from the resumption of play .A series of drives at the Bonymaen try line from props Wayne Fooks and Matt Muir and locks Chris John and Jonathon Stoker were halted just short. However, the pressure told and Bonymaen were penalised inside their own 22. The Athletic tried firstly kicking to the corner, but their driving maul was halted. When a second penalty was awarded Stuart Floyd-Ellis went for goal and reduced the deficit to 9-6. Continued Athletic pressure saw the youth centre kick his third penalty – a long range effort from 40 metres to level the scores.

The Athletic made a hash of the restart inside their own 22 resulting in a line out to the home side. A resultant planned cross kick from their outside half Ian Brooks saw the Athletic defending too narrow and an easy gather and pick up for an all too familiar try against the Athletic by wing Nathan Brooks. Cunniffe converted to put Bonymaen 16-9 ahead.

The Athletic tried to respond by stretching play across the field. Full back Dan Howells caused problems with his elusive running but was hauled down a few metres short on two occasions. Wings Chris Walker and Chris Price were also held on determined runs.

The momentum of the game changed in the final quarter. Bonymaen were able to bring on fresh legs in their pack. Unfortunately, late Athletic withdrawals meant they arrived at Parc Mawr  shorn of their proposed forward cover and were only able to bring on youth half backs Dan James and Luke Bevan to see out the game. The home pack was dominating possession and the set scrum against a tiring Athletic 8 and a carbon copy cross kick saw a late try by home full back Lawrence Thomas deny the Athletic a deserved losing bonus point.

Team Manager Paul Hearne commented “Despite a poor start we clawed back a 9-0 deficit, but lacked the skill to score tries when on top. Athletic man of match was lock Chris John. with very good performances from flankers Ben Howe and Luke Williams and hooker Cameron Thomas.”

The Athletic will look to bounce back when they entertain Builth Wells on Saturday 21st January.