Athletic fall to narrow defeat

BRIDGEND ATHLETIC 13 ABERAVON QUINS ..... 16

BRIDGEND Athletic conceded their first league double when following an earlier 9-7 loss to Aberavon Quins, the same side inflicted another narrow defeat.

This left both sides in joint second place on 57 points. Trebanos blew the division title race wide open with an away victory at leaders Bonymaen. Maesteg Quins are also very much in the mix with only four points separating the top five clubs.

For the Athletic it was very much a glimpse into the future as they started the game with five of their current youth team players and ended it with seven of them on the field. All the players involved showed they have the skill and temperament which along with match experience can make them future fixtures in the senior team.

The Athletic kicked off with a very strong breeze behind them. Within a minute the Quins conceded a penalty 40 metres out which outside half Luke Bevan sent high over the crossbar. From the restart, the Athletic were penalised inside their own 22 and Quins outside half Ryan Pugh levelled the scores. The match was evenly poised throughout the first half with the Athletic failing to take full advantage of the wind, though on occasions Bevan did show he had the armoury to deliver very long touch finders. Bevan and Pugh again exchanged penalties. It looked like half time would produce a stalemate. However, with the final move of the half Athletic No 8 Jonathon Howard beat four defenders before looping a long pass out to Dan James. The youngster with an eye for the line and the speed to match weaved in and out to dive over wide out. Bevan’s conversion gave the Athletic a 13-6 half time lead with the Quins having the benefit of wind advantage in the second half.

The Quins took early control in the second half and their pressure told in the 50th minute when their No 8 Connor O’Callaghan took an inside pass to cross under the posts. Pugh levelled the scores with the conversion. A series of forward drives with Howard, Griff Davies, Jonathon Stoker and Nathan Holman prominent took the Athletic to within 5 metres of the line before the Quins forced the movement into touch. Youth winger John Taylor came on for his debut. He linked well on two occasions with full back Ellis to show his speed and was twice halted just short of glory.

The Quins were then awarded a long range penalty which Pugh had no difficulty in kicking, giving his side a 16-13 lead with 15 minutes remaining. The Athletic mounted a furious effort to win the game, but both forward drives and slick back movements failed to breach the visitors’ defence. With two minutes remaining the Athletic were rewarded with a kickable penalty but unfortunately on this occasion the ball and the Athletic’s hopes were just wide of the mark.

The next two Saturdays see the Athletic journey up the Llynfi Valley for tough fixtures against Maesteg at the Old Parish on April 1 and Maesteg Quins on April 8.