16th September 2006: Bridgend Athletic V Waunarlwydd

Played: Away
Result: Lost 21-23

Report

Waunarlwydd produced their best performance of the season to date, they out scored their hosts by three tries to two but unfortunately poor discipline and the inability to close the game down resulted in a disappointingly narrow loss.

Having been given a scenic tour of Bridgend by the bus driver on route to the ground, this resulted in the pre match preparations being slightly rushed. The game started in front of a healthy crowd which included a large Waunarlwydd contingent (keep it up it is much appreciated by the players) all seemed well. This mood was to prove short lived as our hosts hit us for 10 points in as many minutes. The Athletic backs created an opening in midfield which resulted in the games opening try out wide on the left which they also converted in addition to a penalty goal.

Following this early setback Waun gradually got back in to the game mainly through their forwards. A Waun line out on the Bridgend ten metre line resulted in an impressive forward drive which was finally held up on the hosts try line. Further sustained pressure by Waun finally resulted in scrum half Lee Gunnell burrowing his way over for a try which was converted by outside half Rhys Williams. During this period Waun also lost full back Simon Crane through a facial injury he was replaced by Rob Townsend.

Waun were by now slowly gaining the upper hand and a sustained period of pressure from both forwards and backs resulted in the Athletic conceding a five metre scrum. From the ensuing scrum Waun No8 and captain Simon Hart fed scrum half Lee Gunnell who crossed unopposed for his second try which again was converted by Rhys Williams.

Half Time Score: Bridgend Athletic 10 Waunarlwydd 14

The early exchanges in the second half continued to see Waun dominate, this resulted in some neat passing between forwards and backs which resulted in centre Stuart Fletcher being worked free for a deserved try, with Rhys Williams adding the extra points.

Waun continued to pressurise the hosts in to making unforced errors and from a resulting Waun lineout created a further try scoring opportunity only to squander it by dropping the ball! With twenty minutes remaining Rhys Williams was agonisingly wide with a 45 metre penalty attempt in to a stiff breeze, from the resulting drop out the Athletic managed to gain a position on the halfway line which finally resulted in their right wing being worked free and despite the close proximity of the touch line he managed to evade the cover defence and cross for a converted try out wide on the right.

Andrew Birmingham replaced wing forward Andrew Phillips with 15 minutes remaining. At this point Waun were still enjoying a fair amount of possession which should have allowed them to dictate the game, unfortunately the odd dropped pass and general loose play allowed the Athletic to remain in the game! With now less than 10 minutes remaining Waun’s wing forward Daniel Joseph was rather harshly yellow carded for a lineout offence. From the resulting penalty the Athletic added a further three points to bring the score to 21 – 20 to Waun.

It was now very much game on with the Athletic very much in the ascendancy with Waun’s 14 players defending manfully, however as invariably happens in these situations deep in injury time a penalty was conceded and successfully converted  by the Athletics outside half to take them in to the lead. The game restarted with less than sixty seconds playing time remaining and despite throwing everything at their hosts they were unable to breakdown the hosts defence.

Reflecting after the final whistle Waun’s players and coaching team knew is was a game they should have won, not applying “rugby nous” and discipline had cost them.

Whilst acknowledging it was a disappointing defeat, we all need to remember it was a massive improvement from the season’s opener at Loughor, and the performance was certainly one that the players and coaches can build from.

Team Sheet

Backs
15	S Crane
14	P Davies
13	S Fletcher
12	M Mason
11	G Lillicrap
10	R Williams
9	L Gunnell
Forwards
1	T Gronow
2	L Brooks
3	A Lee
4	D Moore
5	E Bennett
6	D Joseph
7	A Phillips
8	S Hart (C)
Replacements
16	M Lewis
17	A Birmingham
18	A Edwards
19	M Gorman
20	R Townsend

Scores

Tries - L. Gunnell (2), S. Fletcher (1)
Conversions - R. Williams (3)

Photos