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Bridgend Athletic were made to battle all the way to preserve a 10-match winning sequence by a Resolven side battling for Div 1 West Central survival. There was to be no repeat of a home 45-3 seven try romp as it took until the dying minutes for the Athletic to secure a 23-15 victory.

Circumstances dictated that the Athletic sent out a much-changed side from the last game a 40-14 win against Kenfig Hill. In the pack only, lock Jonathon Stoker and backrow forwards Sean Williams and captain Ben Howe started. While in the backs only outside half Luke Bevan, centre Tom Jenkins and full back Robin Davies started in the same positions, with flanker Ben Davies playing in the centre.

Resolven took a third minute lead with a well struck 40 metre penalty from outside half Owen Evans. Despite dominating territory, the Athletics’ much changed side lacked its normal fluency and entered into an arm wrestle against a bigger Resolven pack, instead of spreading it wide where Resolven looked more vulnerable. Having spurned two kickable penalties to go in vain for driving line outs Luke Bevan then levelled the scores with a well struck 40 metre penalty goal. The Athletic failed to capitalise on their territorial advantage and Resolven who barely came out of their half hit the Athletic with two long range penalties from Evans to lead 9-3 at half time.

The Athletic seemed to get the message at half time and started moving the ball more fluently. Wing Dan James made a determined touchline run and gathered a chip ahead but was held up over the try line. From the resulting scrum No 8 Sean Williams picked up and showing great strength forced his way over for is 8^th try of the season. Bevan converted from wide out to give the Athletic a 10-9 lead.

The Athletics’ momentum was halted by an injury to the referee in the 50^th minute. Fortunately, a qualified referee was among the spectators and following a 15-minute delay the match resumed with the new referee. However, it was the home side who benefitted from the break. Within a few minutes they regained the lead with a fourth Evans penalty. A minute later Bevan restored a one-point Athletic lead at 13-12. This lead was short lived as Owen’s 5^th penalty gave the battling home side a 15-13 advantage. Bevan redressed the balance with his third penalty and a 16-15 Athletic lead. A dangerous late high tackle on Athletic wing Chris Price saw a Resolven player lucky to escape with just a yellow card.

With 4 minutes remaining the Athletic kicked a penalty to touch within 5 metres of the home try line. Hooker Lee Murphy found replacement lock Ben Cording and joined the forward drive. Ben Howe carried the ball before replacement flanker Iestyn Merriman broke away from the drive and forced his way over with two players on his back. Bevan’s conversion came as great relief to the Athletic supporters, also denying the home side a losing bonus point they deserved on the day.

Team Manager Paul Hearne commented after the game “Fortunately in the end we won a game in which a below par and low energy performance could have gone the other way. Despite the efforts of man of match Luke Bevan and Lee Murphy, Ben Howe & Sean Williams we kept making careless mistakes and indiscipline keeping Resolven in the game with penalties. We need the players to really focus with the coaches in training over the next two weeks before our final home game against Bonymaen at Newbridge Fields on April 7th, followed by 4 mainly difficult away games against 3 of the top four sides. It will be a great pity if complacency undoes all the good work of the last 5 months unbeaten run.”