Fixture

COWBRIDGE  A UNDER 9’S 7  BRIDGEND SPORTS UNDER 9’S 5

COWBRIDGE B UNDER 9’S  4 BRIDGEND SPORTS UNDER 9’S 7

BRIDGEND SPORTS UNDER 9’S 7 LLANISHEN UNDER 9’S 6

A late change to the scheduled fixture required the Sports Under 9’s squad to travel to Cowbridge for fixtures against two top sides from the Blues region , Cowbridge and Llanishen.  Traveling with a depleted squad the Sports youngsters played three full games, narrowly losing the first against an excellent Cowbridge A team, then winning against Cowbridge B and Llanishen.

Both Cowbridge teams were very talented and skilful at moving the ball wide to pacey attacking players. Llanishen, in contrast, were very strong in the tackle area but through strong running at times the Sports showed they are able to compete and grind out results even though they were not able to produce one of their better performances this week.  Through the sterling efforts of Coach Justin Hostettler Davies, the squad are adapting to the tackling game and players continue to develop each week.

In the first game, against Cowbridge A the Sports paid the price for a slow start, as they failed to put in tackles on key players. This consequently allowed the opposition too much space. Cowbridge seized the initiative with an early try and attacked from deep at every opportunity. The Sports ended up chasing the game narrowly losing the first half 3 – 2 and the second half 4 – 3. Tries for the Sports were scored by Ben King, debutant Dewi Worrall, Mackenzie Dent, Rhys Wilson and Tyron Davies. 

Cowbridge had significant strength in depth and were able to field a strong B team for the second fixture. The team played in identical style to the A team in the first game, looking to move the ball wide to players with pace at every opportunity. Sports countered this with some direct running through the middle with attacks through Thomas Coles, birthday boy Iestyn John, Dewi Worrall, Ben King and Mackenzie Dent.  Cowbridge scored first, but the away team, having benefitted from the earlier game, were now alive to the challenge and soon began to close down Cowbridge with players Tyron Davies, Dewi Worral, Alex Stimpson, Thomas Chick, Thomas Coles, Cian John and Iestyn John to the fore in the tackle area. They ended the first half three points to two in front.  Cian John, Mackenzie Dent and Thomas Coles scored the tries.   In the second half, the Sports pressurised the opposition into mistakes with the whole team making at least one tackle. In attack though, the players became a little guilty of overcrowding the centre of the field at times. Cowbridge scored first in the second half,  the Sports responded well with further tires from Mackenzie Dent (2), Alex Stimpson and Tyron Davies to run out deserved 7 – 4 winners.     

Entering the third game of the morning, the young Blue and Whites faced another tough challenge from Cardiff side Llanishen, the Red and Blacks, for long periods, contained the Sports in what became a highly competitive game that could have gone either way. The first half ended four all with Bridgend Sports scoring through a hat trick of tries from powerhouse Mackenzie Dent and one from Ben King. In the second half the Bridgend side just edged the game 7 -6 with further tries from Mackenzie Dent, Thomas Chick and the final score to Dewi Worrall who crowned off an outstanding debut. He was deservedly awarded player of the week.   New players are always welcome with training every Wednesday currently at Broadlands School. Follow us on Twitter @SportsMiniRugby for regular updates.     

Following the first game, the young players were honoured to have their photograph taken with Wales’ legend Martin Williams, who was on hand to support the Cowbridge home team. The Sports players would like to extend their thanks to Martin for his time