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Bridgend Athletic became only the second side this season to breach Nantyfyllon’s Maesteg Park Fortress with a very hard fought 14-13 win in a battle in the mud against a passionate and determined Nantyfyllon. Back in November the Athletic backs had run riot at Newbridge Fields registering 7 tries, but on a narrow pitch against more organised opponents they had to settle for a single try from wing Sam Richards to decide a game with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

The Athletic started in confident mood trying to play 15-man rugby despite the conditions, with hooker Lee Murphy and flanker Sean Williams making in roads into the Nanty territory. Nanty broke off the shackles with a strong run from flanker Tyler Dawe and kick ahead requiring full back Geraint Roberts to halt the move near the Athletic try line. A strong Nantyfyllon driving maul into the Athletic 22 drew a penalty converted by outside Half Rhodri Davies for the opening score in the 25th minute.

A strong run by Ben Davies with good support from Ben Cording and then Lee Murphy drew an Athletic penalty inside the Nantyfyllonn 22. Another Sean Williams break also led to another Athletic penalty inside the Nantyfyllon 22. Similarly, a third Athletic attack drew a penalty. On all three occasions the Athletic kicked to the corner to set up driving line out mauls, but on each occasion the referee adjudged the Athletic throw in not straight to the frustration of the Athletic team and support. With time running out in the half a good move started by full back Geraint Roberts and carried on by Ben Howe with most of the Athletic involved led to the Athletic winning a fourth penalty inside the Nantyfyllon 22. This time the Athletic erred on the side of caution and Jacob Lloyd levelled the half time score by converting the opportunity.

The second half saw an early yellow card for Athletic lock Ben Cording and Nantyfyllon centre Cameron Jones. When Nantyfyllon kicked a penalty to touch 5 metres from the Athletic line the Athletic were forced to sacrifice wing Robin Davies to bring on lock Jonathon Stoker to even out numbers in the pack. However, they were unable to halt Nantyfyllon’s driving maul leading to a try in the corner for lock Gethin John, well converted by Rhodri Davies.

The Athletic hit back immediately. Outside half Jacob Lloyd kicked a good penalty to the corner. The Athletic drove the line out but Nantyfyllon held them out. A series of thrusts from props Wayne Fooks and Matthew Muir were halted but scrum half Aled Thomas fed Athletic captain Ben Howe on the blindside. Howe drew two tacklers before sending out a back of the hand pass to put wing Sam Richards flying over for his fifth try of the season to challenge leading try scorer Lee Murphy’s six.

When the yellow card period ended the Athletic brought on wing Tom Davies and left Jonathon Stoker on with lock Will Petchell after a good display making way. Athletic centre man of the match Dan 0’Sullivan was keeping the Athletic on the front foot with fellow centre Stuart Ellis making a strong break into the Nantyfyllon 22 drawing a penalty which Lloyd converted to give the Athletic a slender 11-10 lead. Iestyn Merriman then came on the flank for the Athletic and Dan James at scrum half.

Nantyfyllon’s pack were exerting a lot of pressure and drew a penalty when the Athletic were caught offside. Davies restored the Nanty lead to 13-11 with his second penalty.

With five minutes remaining Floyd- Ellis was illegally halted 35 metres out and Lloyd coolly stepped up with his third penalty to give the Athletic a 14-13 advantage.

There followed an incessant four minutes of intense Nanty ball retention and pressure. Initially the Athletic defended well around 40 metres out until Dawe broke clear and was halted just short of the Athletic line. Another two minutes of heroic Athletic defence with the game in its final play eventually saw Nanty knock on and relief for the Athletic team and supporters as their Div 1 West Central  title challenge remained on track.

The Athletic coaches nominated youth centre Dan O’Sullivan as Man of Match with Jacob Lloyd and Geraint Roberts also sound in the backs, while Ben Howe, Sean Williams and Lee Murphy stood out in an attritional forward battle. Team Manager Paul Hearne said “Having not played at Nantyfyllon in many years today was no different to the past when Nanty was always a difficult place to get a result.”