DIVISION 2 WEST CENTRAL
RESOLVEN ................... 30 MAESTEG CELTIC ...... 19
MAESTEG Celtic visited third-placed Resolven hoping to improve on the home result.
It turned out to be an exciting, fiercely contested encounter with both teams fully committed to the final whistle. Celtic’s pack went head to head with the strong Resolven pack and didn’t give an inch while their backs tackled ferociously in the face of continued pressure.
Celtic opened the scoring after a series of forward drives resulted in a penalty which outside half Mathew Harris kicked. Resolven responded with a penalty to level the scores before Harris kicked his second penalty from halfway. He soon extended Celtic’s lead with another great kick. Resolven responded with intense forward pressure which was rebuffed by great defence from Daniel Miller, Oliver Petty, Garin Bowen, Ashley Poole and Mark Hiller-Rees. Resolven were forced to move the ball and a missed tackle allowed their outside half to cross under the posts. The half ended with a penalty by Harris after wing Scott Wilkins was taken out late. This was followed by a penalty by Resolven for a lineout infringement.
Celtic played uphill in the second half, and most of the play was in their territory. Resolven kicked off and the ball struck a Celtic player on the head before he caught it. The referee called a scrum and Resolven took full advantage to score a try out wide. Resolven went for the bonus point but were unable to cross the Celtic line. In frustration they kicked a penalty to make the game safe.
Celtic refused to give up and scrum half Morgan Lloyd gave Mathew Harris possession on his 22 and he gave a long pass to centre Lee Arthur who was unmarked. Arthur ran to halfway before passing to winger Ben Poole who took the ball on and then kicked ahead before being charged into touch. Centre Kristian Jenkins picked up at pace and ran to the posts. He was brought down just short so he popped the ball up to Lee Arthur for a remarkable try. Harris converted.
Resolven responded with a well worked try by their three quarters. The game ended with a period of intense Celtic pressure on the Resolven line but their defence held out for the win.