Baglan 13 Sports 13

Squad - N Townley, L Evans, I Hearne, S Narbeth, G Lewis, M Murphy, P Carter, G Punter, M Channell(Capt), R Dowling, J H-Davies, M Harris, J Bryant, R Wallace, M Jehu, P Roberts

 

The early pressure in this match came from Baglan who pinned the Sports in their own 25 for 10 minutes forcing an offside from the Sports which allowed Baglan full back, David James to score the first points.

This seemed to stir the Sports to show some mettle with good driving by Gary Punter taking the Sports into the Baglan 25, but poor handling allowed Baglan to hack the ball back down field and force another penalty and James made the score 6-0 to the home side.

 

Then Justin Davies for the Sports began to win some quality line out ball allowing the Sports to change their lines of attack more in keeping with their past form. Scrum half Geraint Lewis broke two tackles from the base of the scrum and moved the ball along the 'threes' when Carter chipped over the defence for the ever present Matthew Channell to score wide out.

Townley failed to add the extra points. Again the Sports were using good possession well and attacked again with intelligent switching in the midfield resulting in Leigh Evans scoring from 40 yards having been given the overlap. Townley's conversion failed after hitting the posts.


This would prove to be a critical miss. 6-10. With minutes to half time although the Sports looked in control, they gifted a try to Baglan allowing their centres to run through their midfield. James converted to make the score at half time 13-10 to the home side somewhat against the run of play.

The second half was a dour affair for 20 minutes with the Sports gradually getting the upper hand with Townley kicking a fine 45 yard penalty to even the scores at 13-13. With minutes left the Sports spurned the chance to win the match after a penalty was awarded in front of the posts. They opted for a scrum and a set moved failed to produce points much to the dissatisfaction of head coach Mark Watts who almost needed attention from the medical team after the game. Again Ryan Wallace was man of the match and the whole back row of Channell, Dowling and Punter looking a class act. Final score 13-13.