Bridgend Athletic 45 Seven Sisters 12
National Leagues – Div 1 West Central Sat 0ct 14th 2017
Bridgend Athletic RFC were in seventh heaven running in 7 tries against Seven Sisters at the Morganstone Brewery Field. With the experienced full back Jonathan Phillips pulling the strings and guiding a young back division containing four of last season’s Athletic Youth team, the back division showed what they can do with control to their play.
The Athletic kicked off and flanker Tom Morgan won possession. They made a series of probes with flanker Chris John carrying well before putting the ball along their back division. Phillips entered the line and put MOM Dan Howells over for his fourth try of the season. Outside half Luke Bevan converted from the touchline. The Athletic pack with Jonathon Stoker and Nathan Holman prominent continued to dominate. Lock Ben Cording swooped on a loose ball and drew a defender before putting No 8 Sean Williams over to increase the lead to 12-0. The third try came from a 5-metre line out and rolling maul with hooker Nathan Holman the man in possession as the pack drove over the try line. Bevan converted. The fourth and bonus point try came when Phillips caught a high ball deep inside his own half. He weaved his way past three would be tacklers before releasing speedy scrum half Dan James to run in from 35 metres. Bevan converted. From the restart the Athletic spun the ball via centres Tom Jenkins and Stuart Floyd-Ellis to Phillips who stepped inside a defender and raced 60 metres to the try line to give the rampant Athletic a 33-0 half time lead.
To their credit Seven Sisters came out strongly at the start of the second half and dominated the opening 10 minutes of the half. A dropped Sister’s pass trying to move the ball saw Dan Howells fly hack the ball towards the Sister’s try line. The covering defence made a hash of picking up the ball on their try line and No 8 Sean Williams was alert to take advantage and equal Howells as the Athletics’ leading try scorer this season with his fourth touchdown of the season and second of the match. From the restart props Matthew Norman and Matt Muir made ground and the ball reached wing Robin Davis. He passed inside to Phillips who showed a clean pair of heels to the defence to race home from 65 metres. This extended the lead to 45-0.
The Athletic were then guilty of losing their shape as white line fever struck many players and chances went begging. Seven Sisters took advantage and finished strongly as the Athletic took their foot off the pedal They were rewarded with two late tries through replacement Shane Rodgers and centre Ben Atkin, with full back Ieuan Ellman converting one of the tries.
The Athletic used four of their bench flanker Jacob David, lock Jamie Doherty, hooker Lee Murphy and scrum half Aled Thomas.
This Saturday the Athletic visit Aberavon Quins looking to make it three out of three victories on the road.
Bridgend Athletic RFC Scorers
Tries
Jonathan Phillips(2)
Dan James
Sean Williams (2)
Nathan Holman
Conversions
Luke Bevan (5)
Severn Sisters Scorers
Ben Atkins
Shane Rogers
Alex Duke
There doesn't appear to be any tagged photos.
Please wait as the server processes your request. Do not attempt to refresh the page.