News

A large crowd at the Morganstone Brewery Field watched as Bridgend Athletic moved to second place in the Div 1 West Central table with a seasonal double over local rivals Tondu. While the 14-10 win at Tondu was against the run of play, there was nothing fortuitous in this 22-14 victory, the score line flattered the visitors as the Athletic could have had 3 further tries with more control. Fielding 6 of the 7 three quarter line 20 years of age or younger the Athletic backs played without fear and created better scoring opportunities than their more experienced Waterwheeler counterparts. Last season’s Athletic youth half backs Dan James and Luke Bevan were quite prepared to run out of defence, while Bevan’s all-round contribution of kicking out of hand and landing all 6 kicks at goal – 1 conversion and 5 penalties was the icing on the cake.

The Athletic have now won their last 5 games with 154 points for and 31 against and a favourable try count of 25-3. Playing with confidence the Athletic controlled possession and territory in the opening exchanges. Tondu were able to repel some 5-metre line out drives and scrums before the pressure led to a penalty goaled by Bevan after 10 minutes play. Tondu were looking nervy under the high ball and put some relieving kicks into touch on the full. An offside led to Bevan’s second penalty. From the restart it was the Athletic who made a mistake and were punished with a penalty kicked by Tondu centre Josh Tatchell.

Tondu were awarded a scrum on the Athletic 22. The Athletic front row of props Matthew Muir, Wayne Fooks and hooker Lee Murphy won the ball against the head. However, indecision cost the Athletic as they messed up knocking on the ball for Tondu to have another bite at the cherry. This time they won the scrum and half backs Geraint Gillet and Paul Smithson moved the ball wide for full back Aled Jones to cross in the corner to put Tondu 8-6 ahead. An Athletic cross kick caught the Tondu defence out and it looked like scrum half Dan James would gather and score, but he knocked on trying to scoop up the ball. Wing Tom James was also bundled into touch just short of the try line. Just before half time the Athletic forwards with Matthew Muir and Jonathon Stoker prominent made a series of ball carries into the Waterwheelers 22. Tondu strayed offside and Bevan put the Athletic 9-8 ahead at the interval.

Tondu came out firing at the start of the second half moving the ball between forwards and backs. However, a crunching tackle in midfield by Sam Treharne on for the injured Athletic lock Ben Cording saw the ball run loose just inside the Athletic half. Quick as a flash centre Stuart Floyd-Ellis pounced on the ball and sprinted 50 metres for his fifth try in the last 3 games and become the Athletics’ leading try scorer for the season with 7. Bevan added the extras to stretch the Athletic lead to 16-8. An excellent break by Bevan took play from half way into the Tondu 22, but the Athletic dropped the ball with the line tentatively close.

The Athletic brought on prop Matthew Norman and hooker Nathan Holman to freshen up the front row. Back came Tondu and Tatchell reduced the deficit to 16-11. The Athletic forwards with MOM Sean Williams and flankers Ben Howe and Ben Davies were a more dynamic outfit than their heavier counterparts and covered any Tondu attempts to break the Athletic down up front and in mid field. Bevan stretched the lead to 19-11. The Athletic brought on their final substitutes back row Cameron Thomas and experienced scrum half Aled Thomas making his 150^th 1^st team appearance for the Athletic. A kick ahead by Thomas saw Athletic wing Joe Patterson just beaten to the touchdown by the Tondu cover. A flat pass from Thomas saw centre Tom Jenkins just fail to hold the pass as he crossed the Tondu line.

The Waterwheelers were trying desperately to get back in the game. Inexperience saw the Athletic try to run out of their own 22 and were caught not releasing in the tackle. Tatchell’s penalty brought his side back to 19-14. Further Tondu pressure saw Tatchell have another penalty opportunity, but to the Athletics’ relief he dragged it wide.

With 5 minutes remaining scrum half Thomas stole the ball won at a Tondu scrum. He broke clear and fed the supporting Cameron Thomas. Tondu were penalised when a ruck formed, and Bevan completed a perfect day with the boot with his 5^th penalty for a match haul of 17 points and move to 79 for the season. Tondu pressed but were forced to run from deep with the excellent well organised Athletic defence preventing the Waterwheelers picking up a losing bonus point.

In the end the Athletic coaches were pleased with their side’s performance particularly the defence in which the starting back row of Sean Williams, Ben Howe and Ben Davies were outstanding. No 8 Williams moved to second row when Cording was injured and ruled the line out from both positions. He justly was awarded MOM. It was a typical derby hard fought with both sides desperate for bragging rights, but the Athletic having more of a cutting edge and creating more chances.

The Old Parish this Saturday January 6^th is the next destination for the Athletic as they look to extend their excellent late 2017 form into 2018 and avenge a woeful performance at Newbridge Fields last September losing 9-6 to Maesteg in a match best forgotten.