DIVISION 1 WEST CENTRAL
SEVEN SISTERS .......... 15 BRIDGEND ATHLETIC 33
BRIDGEND Athletic recorded another seasonal double away to Seven Sisters.
It moved them to third in the table just one point adrift of Aberavon Quins who they host on March 25.
The Athletic dominated the first quarter territorially and it was ironic their opening try came from Sisters first excursion into the Athletic 22.
A Chris John crunching tackle knocked the ball from his opponent’s hands. Flanker Johnny Howard was on hand to pick up the loose ball and make ground to halfway before releasing speedy winger Mike Powell to run in under the posts from 50 metres.
Outside half Luke Bevan converted.
Two minutes later, winger Liam Phillips also showed his pace intercepting on his own 10 metre line, handing off a would-be tackler and outpacing the chasing defence to touch down in the corner. Bevan added an excellent conversion to put the Athletic 14-0 ahead.
Seven Sisters outside half Jack O’Reilly responded with a penalty.
The Athletic went straight back on the attack and forward thrusts tied in the Sisters defence, so when the ball was released by scrum half Aled Thomas to outside half Bevan, the youngster spotted a half gap and crossed near the posts. He converted his own try to extend the lead to 21-3.
Seven Sisters hit back and outside half O’Reilly put a grub kick behind the Athletic defence for centre Kyle Davies to win the race to touch down. O’Reilly’s conversion reduced his side’s deficit to 21-10.
Good play from centres Tom Jenkins and normal No 8 Stuart Edbrook, playing out of position, set up a five metre lineout.
Chris John took the lineout throw in for the forwards to set up a driving maul which resulted in hooker Lee Murphy’s third try in two games from this ploy. It also handed the Athletic a bonus point and a healthy 26-10 half time lead.
In the second period Aled Thomas and Stuart Edbrooke both made decisive breaks which only desperate defence kept out.
Eventually, lock Chris John was held up metres from the line.
Scrum half Thomas ran wide from the maul and fed prop Nathan Holman who ran an excellent inside line to cross wide out.
Bevan converted to stretch the lead to 33-10.
Sisters reverted to a tight game with kicking for position.
The home side also played for pride before a large support and were rewarded late on with a try from John Hapgood from a driving lineout.
Team Manager Paul Hearne said: “It was a good all round team performance and was particularly pleasing that five players stepping up from the second XV fully played their part in the win.”
The Athletic play Ammanford this Friday night March 17 at the Bridgendford Brewery Field looking to avenge their first defeat of the season.