Fixture

Match Report | Bridgend Sport v Caerphilly | Final Score 27-12 | KO Midday

Written By – Warren Lewis

The Northern, biting, Baltic winds greeted the visitors on a really crisp sunny morning at the Bridgend Recreation Ground today. The sun shone brightly and the game itself started brightly also with Abhishek making a great break from the KO into the home team's 22.

In support were Josh Morkot and Connor Mayo who took it up to the line. Good tackling by Logan Turner and Eli Weekes kept the visitors on their line initially but eventually nice passing along the Bridgend line saw a clear line break back into the visitors' 22. Will Haley made a great clearance kick and an outstanding break by Scott Pritchard saw him dragged down just short of the line and a pop pass to the ever-present Owen Hughes in support just failed to hit the mark. A great follow up tackle on line by Wil Lewis kept the pressure on but alas the home team again kept their line intact.

The home team gradually made some ground and eventually picked up and ran straight through the breakdown to score from their 22. This direct approach pointed the way for the home team who shortly thereafter again, keeping it tight, went blind to run in their second try from halfway.

After all the pressure from Caerphilly, these short pick and runs were to prove the Achilles Heel today for the Cheesemen. However, as the game went into the second 20 some great tackling and pressure from centres Huw Ashman and Owen Hughes set up a scrum 5 for Scott Pritchard to pick up and crash over for a well-deserved first score.

From the next KO Owen Hughes put boot to ball and kicked on the low KO, and with strong follow up from Hughes and Wil Lewis, Hughes picked up and passed to Cian O'Sullivan who popped the ball to the barnstorming Abhishek who made good ground. The resultant ruck released Ioan Hill and Callum Morris to pass along the line enabling Scott Pritchard to square the scores at 12-12 at half time, with two scores from the visitors in quick succession.

The second half saw Athletic keep the ball tight and again they picked up and ran straight through the ruck for a 17-12 lead at the start of the second half. The visitors kept going though and eventually won a penalty to clear their lines. It was to be one of those days though as the quick Bridgend Centre fielded the kick and broke through 4/5 tackles before spreading the ball to set up field position in the Caer 22. The home team then kept it tight and ran straight through the ruck to take the score to 22-12.

Strong running by Scott Pritchard and Abhishek again deserved more as the game moved into the final 5 mins but alas it was Athletic who were to have the final say with a close range pick up from a scrum five to take the final score to 27-12 after Ellis Hughes had made a try saving tackle moments before following another long range run out of defence from the home team.

A good effort boys and following the break over the festive season a great opportunity to blow those cobwebs away and see where we need to focus in 2018 #togetherasone