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BARFC Senior Match Reports

Nantyfyllon 61 Bridgend Athletic 10

WRU Plate

Bridgend Athletic RFC suffered their worst defeat in memory with their defence often parting like the Red Sea allowing Nantyfyllon to run in 9 tries.

With three tight previous games against Kenfig Hill and Tondu, nobody at BARFC envisaged a capitulation on this scale.

It was hardly the 70^th birthday present Ath linesman and club founder Phil Rees wanted. Although missing several key players including captain Ben Howe, the team wore the green and gold of Bridgend Athletic on the day.

The tone was set as Nantyfyllon scored from their very first attack and then again from the restart with two converted tries. By the 20^th minute they had secured their bonus point try leading 26-3. The lone Athletic points coming from a 40 metre Robin Davies penalty. With this huge buffer Nantyfyllon were able to play with freedom and tempo. Another feature was their communication and enthusiasm, while the Ath were much more passive.

When things are going your wa you make your own luck and on the stroke of half time Nantyfyllon intercepted on half way to lead 33-3 at half time.

The start of the second half saw the Athletic at last on a sustained attack inside the Nanty 22. Good interplay between outside half Matthew Hobby and centres Tom Jenkins and Joe Patterson, saw Patterson cross under the posts. Davis converted.

However, normal service was soon resumed as Nantyfyllon ran in 4 further tries, including with the final move of the game.

Head Coach John Apsee will return from holiday to face the task of bringing the shell-shocked side back to where it was prior to this day. The Athletic are far better than the result suggests and hopefully can put this down as a very very bad day at the Office, before facing the same opponents this Saturday September 18^th at Newbridge Fields.

Youngster wing Ieuan Evans the slightest of the Athletic backs was brave in the tackle and another youngster Kalifi Molitika playing at openside flanker never let his head drop and is one for the future.

Tondu 2^nd XV 38 Bridgend Athletic Generals 5

Friendly – Sept 11^th, 2021

With kenfig Hill unable to fulfil an Ospreys Cup fixture BARFC Generals arranged a friendly away against their Tondu counterparts.

A well matched first 30 from both sides with the Ath playing in to the wind some big carries  from Lewis Down, Harry Griffiths, Matthew Tellem and Aled Pilliner were putting the Ath in some good positions but failing to capitalise when in the 22 due to some good defence from Tondu allowed them to pin the Ath back and clear there lines.

With Tondu dominating IN the Ath 22 for the last 10 of the first half they ran in 2 converted tries. The Ath responded with one last attempt before half time. Nick Jones bossing the tempo of the game put Matthew Tellem through a nice hole for a big carry and great try.

Tondu introduced fresh legs with a few subs which the Ath didn’t have the luxury of. The Ath trying to run the ball with some great runs from the ever-present versatile Ryan Pickford, who was also  playing in his 4th position of the season, but were let down by the support runners not keeping up with him and missing out on some potential tries. Lineout went well all day with only one poor lineout which Tondu capitalised on.

The Ath chasing the game were moving the ball well round the field before acting fly half Hywel Cosby unfortunately left the field with a head injury later and was replaced by Ath’s lone replacement Coach Liam Griffiths.  Tondu did well to score from turnovers and push it wide where their fresh players were able to outpace tired Ath players.

Coach and Team Manager Liam Griffiths said while the score did not reflect the game, fair play to Tondu for capitalising on mistakes and finishing when in the Ath 22. The Ath will be looking to write the wrongs in a fortnight when we meet in the Ospreys Cup on Sept 25th.

Poor weekend of results from the senior sides some more availability next weekend will hopefully give a truer reflection of what we’re capable of doing