Fixture

BRIDGEND SPORTS UNDER 9’S  5     TONYREFAIL UNDER 9’S   5

BRIDGEND SPORTS UNDER 9’S  2     KENFIG HILL UNDER 9’S    4

The Sports Under 9's faced a tough Sunday with another round robin set of games as Kenfig Hill joined in with the scheduled home fixture against Tonyrefail at Newbridge Fields. The Sports youngsters played the two games back to back with the first against Tonyrefail.

The home team struck first with Iestyn John prominent in an early attack and after several phases of play, the ball was eventually worked to the wing again for him to score his first try of the season.

Tonyrefail hit back immediately with a try from their star player Sam Talbot. The Sports young players  had, once again, paid the price for being slow to break into their tackling game. The home team did however respond well with tries from Mackenzie Dent and Joel Rogers, the latter emanating try from a Ben King charge plus good supporting play and linking from Tyron Davies.  Joel Rogers was really enjoying his first game of the season with some solid tackling and blistering running creating havoc for the away team. He was denied a second try following good defensive work near the touch line from Tonyrefail.   From the restart, Tonyrefail forced their way back into the game with another fine long range try through a Sam Talbot run from deep in his own half.

Some promising running from Sports players Thomas Chick, Tyron Davies  and Jodi Keane  could not break down the Tonyrefail defence. Eventually the ball was lost in the tackle close to the away side line. Sports applied good pressure at the scrum but somehow Tonyrefail scrambled the ball away to put that man Sam Talbot into space for him to score another long range try, making the half time score 3-3.

The Sports scored first in the second half with a try for Dylan Morgan. He showed great determination to score.  Both teams tried to make ground but were cancelling each other’s efforts out by applying early pressure on opposing runners at the restart.  Tonyrefail broke the deadlock as players Sam Owen and Sam Talbot scored for the away team to lead 4 -5. The Sports responded with several runs, with Alex Stimpson, Dylan Morgan, Tom Chick, Callum Lewis and Thomas Coles to the fore.  The final try of the game was scored by Tyron Davies for the Sports to secure a 5 – 5 draw.

The Sports returned to the field for their second game of the morning against local rivals Kenfig Hill. Kenfig Hill were keen to avenge their close 8-10 defeat at the hands of the Sports from two weeks previous.  It was the home team who scored first however, following runs from Jodi Keane and Morgan Edwards. Support play from Tyron Davies took play up to the Kenfig try line. Tom Chick was on hand to claim a deserved try from close range.

Kenfig Hill dug in and attacked again. It was clear, the well organised away side were eager to impose themselves on the game.  They scored two tries from deep attacks, with Eli Cowen proving a handful in attack and defence.  He scored two tries, the first running from his own line after the Sports were penalised for encroaching too early.  Kenfig Hill ended the half in the lead 1 -2.

In the second half Bridgend Sports scored first again to level the game scores at 2-2. The home team were now up for the game with Joel Rogers putting in some hard tackles along with Thomas Chick and Dylan Morgan . Alex Stimpson, Callum Lewis, Cian John and Ieuan Pilliner contributed but Kenfig Hill proved the stronger of the two sides, running in further tries from Eli Cowen and Donovan Rankin to edge the game 2-4 . The Sports claimed victory by two points the last time the sides played but it was Kenfig Hill who took the spoils by two tries this week.  In the final game of the day Kenfig Hill defeated Tonyrefail 8 -2 in a high quality game.

Next week the Sports visit Tondu and will need to ensure they start well and work as a team if they stand a chance of competing against a side that has previously shown themselves be tough opponents.

SQUAD: Alex Stimpson, Ben Fisher, Ben King, Callum Lewis, Cian John, Dylan Morgan, Iestyn John, Ieuan Pilliner, Jodi Keane, Joel Rogers, Mackenzie Dent, Mason Balmer, Morgan Edwards, Thomas Chick, Thomas Coles, Tyron Davies