Sports 17 Cwmgwrach 12

Cwmgwrach came to the Bandstand field undefeated and having maximum bonus points from their first three games. They elected to play with the strong wind and from the outset put their eight-man game into play. With a much bigger pack, there was lots of tight forward moves from the visitors. But once again the Sports were up to the task with the front row of Griffiths, Wallis and Brewer laying their bodies on the line time and time again.
Cwmgwrach missed an early penalty but were not using the wind advantage well at all and it was the Sports who were putting on the pressure through the back row combo of Punter, Channel and coach Dowling. When the visitors managed to force a five metre scrum, they were truly focused on a drive and forced the Sports to concede a penalty try that Wayne Phillips converted.
The remainder of the half became a battle between the two 25 metre lines with neither side making deep penetration, until on the stroke of half time when Narbeth and Ryan Morgan made ground on the left wing and the following up pack were unlucky not to drive over. At half time it was 0-7.

The first 5-10 minutes of the second session saw the visitors put their driving game back on track and it was ex Ebbw Vale flanker, John McPhail who got the touchdown after seven drives by the tight forwards. The kick failed. The Sports were further frustrated by the visitor’s pack disrupting the set pieces and slowing down the scraps of ball that the home threes were getting.
Punter at number 8 was scrambling what ball he could to three-quarter line that wanted more possession. The Sports were using the wind and forced a mistake from the Cwmgwrach centres and Townley put some points on the board with the penalty.

With 15 minutes remaining Townley picked up a good pass from Chris Morgan and chipped superbly over the threes and as he and Boobyer ran through the defence, either could have touched down as the ball popped up a treat for them. It was Boobyer who grounded it and Townley converted making for a final 10 minutes or so at 12-10 to the visitors.
This seemed put total belief into the Sports and they totally dominated the closing minutes. The forwards started winning better ball and when Townley picked up the ball on halfway he made a outstanding break through the centre and with the full back and winger closing in there was Jayce Evans alongside him at real pace. The full back had the support of wing Richard Byrne, who acted as a perfect decoy as this talented 18 year old ran in a great try for Townley to convert making the final score 12-17.

Cwmgwrach deserved a losing bonus point although their game was rather one-dimensional.
Man of the match was Nathan Townley who showed great patience and maturity in waiting for good ball and showed real class when he had the smallest of room to attack.