Fixture

The Sports were privileged to host Felinfoel RFC Under Twelves last Sunday. Felinfoel is a club that is steeped in history of the game running as far back as 1873-74 season.  Over the years the clubs has produced some 16 internationals which includes British Lions Captain and welsh legend Phil Bennett and another Welsh Rugby legend W.H.Clement, also a British Lion and Welsh Rugby Union Secretary from 1955 to 1981.

The weather may have been kind and both sides wanted to play an open game. However, a heavy pitch took its toll, particularly up front where the forwards struggled to make the large number of rucks as both sides looked to run with the ball at every opportunity. Even though the Sports were to dominate the scoreboard , Felinfoel made a great contribution to the game as they mounted several attacks from deep. Unfortunately, they could not penetrate the home defence where Callum Lewis. Cian John, Harri Williams, Will Ellis and Ben Evans were always prominent in halting the away side attacks in the first half. 

The defence and the more reliable set piece possession, provided the opportunity for the home team to keep themselves in the game and their efforts were rewarded with three first half tries.

The first was scored after a sustained period of attack from the Sports, with forwards Theo Clarke, Harri Williams and Mason Balmer all involved. Wing Tom Chick made good ground after Iestyn John went on a dummy run to check the Felinfoel defence. Play was then switched back across field, centre Ben Evans put opposite wing Jodie Keane in space, she made good ground before being tackled then from the ruck outside half Cian John spotted space down the narrow side, he sprinted past the defender to score near the corner. Ieuan Pilliner added the conversion.  

Felinfoel were smarter and more industrious at the breakdown and  kept themselves in the game as they ran the ball from deep, one attack was brought to a halt and the Sports countered but lost the ball in contact near the Felinfoel line, a long clearance kick was fielded by Sports Ben Evans who stepped then counter attacked before putting wing Tom Chick away who used his speed to sprint his way in for the second try.  It is an old cliché but there is no substitute for pace and Tom Chick scored his third when he was given the ball in space deep in his own half, he backed himself to sprint from seventy metres out to score. The conversion followed for the home side to lead 19 – 0 at half time.

The Sports forwards responded positively in the second half and began to contest the ball, Megan Lewis robbed her opponent of the ball in a tackle then charged up field with forwards Tyler Burton, Mackenzie dent and Mason Balmer on hand to continue the attack in the centre of the field, before setting backs Jack Sperduty, Ben Evans and Cian John loose. Smart inter and support play between the two centres created a lovely try for Ben Evans out wide. Not to be out done by his fellow centre Cian John scored next.

Harri Williams added a third try of the half for the Sports after, another Megan Lewis break, she off loaded to Harri Williams  for the flanker to step one way then the other before he successfully grounded the ball. The home side dominated the game at this stage taking the ball up field straight from the kick off. Forward Mackenzie Dent saw an opportunity for a run through the middle to score under the poste, Ieuan Pilliner added his third conversion of the afternoon.

Felinfoel brought a great attitude to the game and to their credit did not give up their attacking ambitions throughout the fifty minutes and to everybody’s delight they scored the final try of the game after the Sports failed to deal with a loose ball on their own line. Felinfoel pounced for the score and converted to make the final score 41-7.

Bridgend Sports Matchday Squad: Ben Evans; Callum Lewis; Callum Moore; Cian John; Dylan Harrison; Harri Williams; Iestyn John; Ieuan Pilliner; Jack Sperduty; Jodie Keane; Mackenzie Dent; Mason Balmer; Megan Lewis; Theo Clarke; Tom Brimson;  Thomas Chick; Tyler Burton and Will Ellis.