Sports 17 Cefn Cribbwr 15

Very few points have separated these two sides over the last few seasons and last Saturday was no exception. With a cross wind that favoured neither side Cefn kicked off and began to dominate the early stages with their 9 man game. Skipper Tony Davies at number 8, being the driving force and prime mover. It took just 5 minutes of this pressure to allow space on the blind side of a driving maul for winger Mark Lewis to squeeze over for an unconverted try.
From the re-start the Sports gained good territory and forced a penalty when Roddy Boobyer carried the ball well and was stopped from releasing the ball. Nathan Townley made the score 3-5 after 12 minutes. At this stage the Sports were coping well with the forward game that Cefn opted for and Gary Punter, Ryan Wallis and Jamie Lorrimer in the back row were playing exceptionally well.

But Tony Davies was again at the centre of the Cefn attack as he marshalled the pack to a push over try close to the posts and Alud Jones made no mistake in taking the visitors to a 3-12 lead at half time.
The second half started with the Sports, now confident that their pack were containing the Cefn attack, widening the ball as often as possible. Sometimes from deep in their half, with Michael ‘Mitch’ John looking dangerous and putting Townley away for a near miss try in the corner. It was Roddy Boobyer who spotted a hole in the visitors line and after quick Ball from Townley he simply switch-popped the ball to Mitch who ran in under the posts. Townley converted to make it 10-12 and the Sports taking control. The pressure was coming from the Sports and they were enjoying territorial advantage and making good use of it when Chris Morgan at scrum half quickly fed Boobyer direct and his experience saw sports flyer Richard Byrne wide on the wing, he fed him and the try came right at the corner flag. Townley stepped up for the hardest kick of the game, with the cross wind picking up, and slotted a superb conversion.

At 17-12 to the Sports it was now Cefn’s turn to throw everything into attack and they forced the Sports into handling on the ground and set up an exciting final 15 minutes when they kicked a penalty to make it 17-15. In the dying seconds Cefn could have won this game with two penalties failing. However, no one would deny that they deserved the losing bonus point in a fair well fought local derby. Townley did not have his best game but his touchline conversion proved to be the difference between the sides.

Gary Punter was man of the match as he laid his body on the line in defence and again coped with indifferent ball at the back of the pack.