Penygraig 5 Sports 26
Bridgend Sports visited the Mid Rhondda club of Penygraig on a misty, damp afternoon, with the ground heavy and rather muddy. What was to follow was 40 minutes of good handling and dedication to running rugby that was to the credit of both sides. The young Penygraig side with 10 youth players from the last two seasons looked alert from the outset but it was the composure and experience of the Sports that showed when, in sticky conditions, Gary Punter scored an early try from the base of the scrum. Nathan Townley adding the conversion points. Good kicking from the hands of Mitch and Townley seemed to be the difference in the sides.Penygraig then put on pressure and seemed to be harshly penalised by the referee, much to the annoyance of the home support.
During this spell the home side were unlucky not to score.From deep in defence Sports winger Paul Carter, who had been testing the opposition for some time, made a break that opened the home defence, and with good support he found the right wing, Leigh Evans in at his side, and his pace was all that was needed to make a try wide out. A quite superb kick from Nathan Townley made the score 0-14. This was by no means 'one way traffic', in fact the young legs of Penygraig pushed to the Sports line and continued a concentrated attack.
Again it was Carter who broke away being fed intelligently by Townley, who unlocked the defence. This time Mitch John was at hand and did not need the overlap support on his shoulder to score under the posts. At 0-21 the Sports were home and dry and it was not even half time. Once more the home side attacked and the Sports defence, which has been good all season, held out. The final movement of the half saw another penetrating run by the Sports threes, well supported by the forwards and sub prop Ryan Rees scored his second try in two games to make the half time score 0-26 to the visitors.The second half did not live up to the first in terms of points, but the endevour was the same. Both sides giving their 'all'.
In fact Penygraig put pressure on the Sports through some intelligent kicking, a tactic that was well employed by Nathan Townley in the first half. A kicking game we have not really seen from him this season. It was credit to the home defence that they did not conceed a point in this half and at the end were well deserved in getting a close driving try making the final score 5-26. There was good tackling in the centre from Narbeth and John with Leigh Evans always looking dangerous. Some of these performances from the likes of Carter and Evans will give coach Steve Rees plenty to think about over the festive period. It was an apt end to the first half of the season when Ryan Rees scored the final try. His way of playing, with a smile, has rubbed off on players and supporters alike. He scrummages beyond his size and plays with true the Sports Club ethos. The team can be proud of the first part of this season and if we can give some more support to our second team, then the likes of Carter and Leigh Evans will surely be challenging for places in the first side. Unless we play more second team games, this transfer of talent can't happen. The seconds are our life blood. Lets make it work in 2009.