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Pyle RFC 7 Bridgend Athletic RFC 36

Specsavers Plate Competition 1^ST Round – Sat Sept 21^st.

Having given Sean Willliams a guard of honour for 30 minutes it looked like Pyle could be party poopers for his 300^th Senior Athletic appearance. A combination of solid defence and lack of control resulting in errors kept the scoreboard attendant redundant. A head high tackle preventing Athletic N0 8 Ben Davies from scoring from a pickup at a 5 metres scrum saw Pyle reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes with their flanker in the bin. Ruthlessly the Athletic exploited their advantage to run in 3 tries in 5 minutes to settle their nerves.

Replacement outside half Aled Thomas on for the injured Luke Bevan made a fine 40 metre break before passing inside to the supporting wing Lindsay McCausland to gallop over for the opening try. Sean Williams gathered the restart and made 30 metres before releasing McCausland. Pyle held the attack just short of the line, but quick recycling saw young prop Callum Swinford cross wide out for his first senior try on his first league start for the 1^ST XV. Swinford took the restart and launched a counter offensive. Thomas made another break finding scrum half Robin Davies in support to release full back Stuart Floyd-Ellis to run in from 30 metres for a try wide out, which he also converted. Unfortunately, Swinford was injured in the move and left the field to be replaced by Wayne Fooks.,

Athletic wing Owain Leyshon became the third Athletic player forced to leave the field with No 8 Ben Davies moving to the wing and Will Petchell slotting in at No 8. On the stroke of half-time centre Chris Price made a break and drew the full back before a potential scoring pass to supporting prop Matthew Norman was sent at Exocet speed resulting in it flying off Norman’s chest, leaving the Athletic with a 17-0 half time lead.

Within 5 minutes of the restart Sean Williams carried into Pyle 22. Quick ball from Robin Davies saw outside half Aled Thomas spot a break and race under the posts for a try converted by Stuart Floyd-Ellis. Shortly after Williams caught a five-metre line out and was held on the line. Scrum half Davies spotted stand in wing Ben Davies unmarked on the blind side and Davies crossed for the fifth Athletic try. Williams was yellow carded, and Pyle launched a series of drives inside the Athletic 22 culminating in flanker Gareth Cox crossing wide out. Will Gallenfort converted. The Athletic were then temporarily reduced to 13 players when wing McCausland was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball forward. With stirring play by the Ath pack led by captain Ben Howe and locks Ben Cording and Jonathon Stoker Pyle were denied the possession to take advantage. Matt Muir and debutant Harry Harries came on for the Athletic. Williams also returned.

Centre Price made an inside break and the ball was transferred via centre Tom Jenkins to hooker Lee Murphy to cross for the Athletics’ sixth try. MOM Stuart Floyd Ellis converted to send the Athletic into the 2^nd round plate draw with a 36-7 win.

The Athletic in patches showed what a potent attacking force they can be. They need to back this up with more consistency throughout the 80 minutes if they are to mount a Division 1 West challenge starting at home this Saturday against strong opponents Dunvant.