Sports 12 Crynant 12
In this ‘stop-start’ season, interrupted by home internationals and the weather, the home supporters were expecting the Sports Club to
carry on in the league, where they had left off some 5 weeks ago. When from the kick off the Sports put on substantial pressure and forced
the visitors onto the back foot, there looked to be a miss-match in teams. After just 5 minutes, from a third phase move the Sports kept
their shape and number 8, Gary Punter made himself available as an overlap for Roddy Boobyer to find with a well flighted pass. Jayce
Evans missed the conversion and the Sports led 5-0. On the next two visits of Crynant to the Sports 22 metre line, two penalties were
conceded and 6 points taken by number 8, Christian Gibbins putting the visitors ahead against the run of play.
Crynant’s scrum half Craig Davies and Gibbins were the only real threats in the whole side.
Their game plan seemed to be to kick away the ball and gain territory even if it meant losing possession. The Sports countered on numerous
occasions but were frustrated by a passionate tackling effort from the visitors. In attack the Sports wasted good overlap situations with the
final pass either going forward or not to hand. On the stroke of half time Roddy Boobyer made a solo break after showing a dummy to the
opposing centres, and the try under the posts was classic and made to look easy... much to the relief of the frustrated home support. Jayce
Evans made it 12-6 at the break.
The second half was quite the worst performance from the Sports this season. Their defence was sound and Crynant never looked like scoring
a try, with Ryan Wallis and Rhys Dowling tackling really well. But they completely lost their shape in attack and were reduced to
dependence on one or two dramatic individual efforts. Jamie Lorrimer charged in his usual robust manner only to fail to link with support
and Michael ‘Mitch’ John again looked a class above all the visitor’s threes but could not escape their cover.
With the pack unable to produce quality quick ball it was again down to Punter to act as a second scrum half and shovel out slowish ball or just take it on
himself. This fell right into the hands of the visitors and the tight game they wanted. Again Gibbins took advantage of Sports mistakes and
reduced the lead to 12-9 with a well struck penalty following a handling error by the home side. Even with dramatic substitutions and
positional changes, the Sports could not retain their composure and allowed Gibbins to earn the visitors a draw in the closing minutes. It
is a game the Sports will want to forget but credit must be given to a below par Crynant side who deserved a draw but not a win.