Fixture

Tonyrefail  Under 9’s 7 Bridgend Sports Under 9’s 9

Bridgend Sports under 9’s travelled to Tyn y Bryn Park, Tonyrefail for an away fixture on Sunday morning.  The sides had met on two previous occasions at Bridgend already this season, with both fixtures being close run affairs;  a 5 -5 draw in September followed by  a narrow 7 – 6 victory for the Sports, more recently.  This week end’s match followed that of those previous meetings. It was competitive, with both sides having some skilful runners that were able to beet defenders to score.  The Sports however, ran out victors by 9 points to 7, due to a good team effort and all players were prepared to contribute to the tackling.

In the first of three 10 minute sessions , The Sports started well enough, but when they were penalised for the use of a hand off  on a run, Tonyrefail took full advantage and soon worked the ball to their pace man Sam Talbot who raced down the touchline  to score.  Joel Rogers responded for the Sports after play was taken up field from the restart.  Both sides then defended well for the first quarter. The Sports broke the deadlock with a second try for Joel Rogers, following good running and support play involving Iestyn John, Callum Lewis, Dylan Morgan and Alex Stimpson.  Tonyrefail levelled immediately, with a switch move from the kick off, that confused the away defence for a try out wide.  

 Bridgend Sports were determined to hit back and almost scored when Thomas Coles fed Dylan Morgan but the latter was penalised for a hand off. Good tackling from Thomas Coles thwarted two Tonyrefail attacks and secured possession again, for the away side.  Now attacking with turn over ball, space was found for Cian John who raced down the wing to score.  A fourth Bridgend Sports try followed when Tyron Davies off loaded to Thomas Chick, he changed the angle of attack to score in the try in the centre of the in goal area. Sam Talbot scored again for Tonyrefail just before the end of the first session to make it 3 -4 to the Sports.

Tonyrefail started the second session as they had finished off the first, with a try to level as they caught the Sports napping. The levelling of the scores fired up the Sports and some solid tackling from Ben Fisher, Dylan Morgan, Thomas Coles and Ieuan Pilliner helped turned the game. Tries followed, the first from Alex Stimpson who took the ball on the blind side from a scrum, he jinxed past two players to score. Dylan Morgan extended the Sports lead to 4 -6, as he claimed the next score, after solid work from Mason Balmer and Dewi Worrall.

In the third and final session, the Sports took the lead on three occasions but Tonyrefail clawed it back each time. The Sports constantly probed the home defence with runs from Iestyn John, Joel Rogers, Callum Lewis, Dylan Morgan, Thomas Chick, Dewi Worrall, Tyron Davies and Thomas Coles.   Joel Rogers scored three tries for Bridgend as he along with Dylan Morgan constantly probed the defences, Joel Rogers often beating defenders, by turning them inside then outside, whenever he was put in space by his fellow players. 

Although guilty of bunching on occasions in attack, Bridgend Sports had secured the win as all players are beginning to contribute to the wider collective defensive effort.  Dylan Morgan was the stand out tackler this week; he was well supported in this aspect of play by Alex Stimpson, Ben Fisher, Callum Lewis, Iestyn John, Ieuan Pilliner, Mason Balmer, Thomas Coles, Thomas Chick and Tyron Davies. The young players earned their reward for focusing their energies into play on the pitch and working together on the pitch. Next week the Blue and Whites have a home fixture against the Blue and Blacks of Llanharan. 

Match Day Squad : Alex Stimpson,Ben Fisher,Callum Lewis, Cian John, Dylan Morgan, Iestyn John, Ieuan Pilliner, Joel Rogers,Mason Balmer; Morgan Edwards, Thomas Chick, Thomas Coles, Tyron Davies, Dewi Worrall, Rajnaarayanan Rajasubeshan,Zachary Solder