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Bridgend Athletic Generals 24 Dunvant 2^nd XV 15

Wru Conference Central – Sat Nov 9^th, 2019

Bridgend Athletic Generals reversed a 25-7 away WRU Conference Central defeat on Oct 12^th with a bonus point 25-14 home win against Dunvant 2^nd XV on November 9^th.

Dunvant started the game by applying pressure on the Generals line out, but the Bridgend side maintained their resilience and fought back with some good passages of play dominating territory and possession.

An Athletic line out take by Aled Pillner set up a driving maul from which scrum half Scott Jones popped the ball to Hywel Cosby who run up the blindside channel, chipping the ball ahead and regathering to score the opening try.

The Athletic were dominating possession. A well-directed cross field kick from wing Liam Phillips  allowed the Generals to contest and win the ball in the air. A few good ruck phases allowed prop Callum Swinford to showcase his delicate ball skills by offloading to fellow prop Lewis Dando who crossed in the corner.

Some more dominant Athletic attacking play looked like another Athletic try scoring opportunity. However, consistent pressure from the Dunvant defence forced the Athletic to spill the ball and a quick turn over set the Dunvant wing free to sprint 60metres for a converted try. Although the Athletic continued to attack they were unable to breach a well organised Dunvant defence giving the Generals a slender 10-7 half time lead.

Dunvant started the second half by applying continuous pressure on the home side. Some Athletic ill-discipline gave away a kickable penalty just outside the 22 which Dunvant successfully converted to level the scores.

After the restart the Athletic turned possession and pressure into some great territorial play.

The Generals pressed the breakdown with Aaron Mordecai and Rory Thomas prominent in turning over possession and creating effective link up play.  From one such turnover a quick blind side snipe saw Kristian Smith, son of club legend Alan “Wolfie” Smith score a try in the corner, which was well converted by Scott Jones.

From the restart the Athletic regained pressure and spread the ball wide with the ball being chipped through and well picked up on the greasy surface by Ryan Pickford to cross in the corner for the Athletics’ bonus point try. Scott Jones converted to give the Athletic a 24-10 lead.

Following the restart, the Athletic were penalised deep in the Dunvant 22. Dunvant took a quick tap penalty and broke away to score their second-long range try of the game

A scrappy last 10minutes saw both teams battle in the Newbridge fields mud with no additional points scored, to leave the Athletic with a much need morale boosting 24-15 Conference win.

Athletic Man of the match was given to Rory Thomas who led from the front with his destructive ball carrying and tackling.