Sports 24 Blaengarw 12

The early pressure in this game came from the visitors, driven on by enthusiastic, and very vocal travelling supporters. They attacked the Sports line with one driving maul after another, being repelled by the slightly smaller Sports pack. The pitch was heavy and gaining territory was always going to be of paramount importance. When the Sports fed an attacking scrum on the Garw 22 metre line, Roddy Boobyer slipped the visitors back row and with a fine call on the inside from number 8 Gary Punter, Boobyer popped a perfect pass for Punter to score near the posts. Jayce Evans made the score 7-0 after 15 minutes.
Again Blaengarw attacked and when Ryan Wallis turned over the ball at a maul and Boobyer made a thrust in the centre, it was second row Matthew Chapman who was lurking in mid field, he made yards and perfectly timed a pass to Jamie Lorrimer who turned on the afterburn and hurdled over the attempted tackle by the full back to score wide out, Evans just missing the kick. Blaengarw were not to be denied the drove the Sports back into the 22 metre area, forced a penalty, which they took quickly and scrum half, Richard Morgan used his experience and scored a good try. Nathan Gronow converted with ease. 12-7.

Sports fly half Boobyer was again in the action when his long diagonal kick from deep in the Sports half caught the opposition flat footed and Sports wing Richard Byrne put in a classic foot rush to set up a ruck 5 yards out. The fit Sports forwards were soon in support with Phil John and Gary Plaster making short yards before Rhys Brewer drove over the line. Jayce Evans missed the kick with the ball now getting somewhat waterlogged and heavy. There then came a passage of play with both sides entertaining a good crowd with open play in rather heavy conditions. Fleet footed winger, Leigh Evans for the Sports was prepared to counter attack from any position, earning him man of the match award, this running deterred the Blaengarw kicking game.

When Richard Morgan picked up from the Blaengarw scrum base, his opposite number was out of position and he ran in a fine second try from 35 yards. Gronow had the same problem with the heavy ball and failed with the conversion. At 17-12 the Garw side were very much back in the game and the next try was going to be all important. At this stage Sports coach had made good substitutions from the strong subs bench with dean Griffiths and Jo Bryant making their mark. It was regular fly half Nathan Townley who came on and started to open up the match, with Boobyer back to his normal number 12 position. It was Townley who fed Boobyer for the bonus point try when the latter carved his way through the defence to score under the posts.
Townley took over kicking duties to make the final score 24-12. Blaengarw were unlucky not to get a losing bonus point which they deserved and it was a pleasure to watch the experience of Richard Morgan, who played with the ‘Boobyers' at Maesteg, possibly the best scrum half in our division and with his younger cousin, captain, Rhys Morgan the future of this classic valley side looks to be in good hands.