Maesteg Celtic in tough battle to secure vital win
MAESTEG Celtic entertained Brynamman at Garth Park last Saturday. With only one league point between the sides, this was an important game for both teams. Once again both packs battled out an even encounter. Celtic front row of Sean Lambert, Ashley Poole and Daniel Miller created a solid platform in the scrum, while second row Alex Jones dominated the lineout.
Celtic opened the scoring when flanker Garin Bowen broke the Brynamman defence and ran 40 yards before being brought down. Prop Daniel Miller drew the three quarters defence with a run at the posts and scrum half Morgan Lloyd moved the ball wide. Centre Lee Arthur arrived at pace and picked up a loose ball to score. Mathew Harris converted.
A determined Brynamman attack took them into the Celtic 22 and a missed tackle in front of the posts allowed them to score out wide. Celtic forced a lineout from the kick off and Alex Jones won clean ball. Outside half Mathew Harris gave centre Lee Arthur a short pass and he crashed through the defence. The forwards took the ball on and then gave it to the backs who put Lee Arthur over in the corner.
From another brilliant Alex Jones lineout, centre Kristian Jenkins crashed through the defence and flanker Garin Bowen picked up and went on another long run. He passed to full back Lloyd Jenkins who ran into the Brynamman 22 and drew the cover defence. A clever reverse flick inside to wing Rhys Fisher created the third try.
The second half was very intense with Celtic going hard for the bonus point and Brynamman solid in defence. Celtic spent long periods in the Brynamman 22, with second row Mathew Jones and flanker Jonathan Davies carrying the ball with determination.
The deadlock was broken when Brynamman went the length of the field to score near the posts.
Celtic finally got their bonus point in the final moments of the game when scrum half Morgan Lloyd took a quick penalty in the visitors 22 and sub forward Robert Golden stepped inside a tackle and ran in under the posts. Mathew Harris converted.