MID GLAMORHAN DISTRICT RFU BARRIE MORRIS MEMORIAL CUP FINAL
BRIDGEND ATHLETIC SECONDS ..................... 18 BRIDGEND SPORTS SECONDS ..................... 16
STRAIGHT from the kickoff the Sports were penalised. Athletic outside half Scott Jones kicked the penalty to touch 5 metres from the Sports line.
Hooker Simon Mustoe controlled the lineout maul to cross in the corner. It was an error-strewn first half punctuated by both sides conceding many penalties. The Athletic spurned a few kickable chances to try and repeat their first minute driving maul, but were thwarted in their efforts to cross the try line. Sports scrum half Darren Lewis and Athletic outside half Scott Jones exchanged penalties to give the Athletic an 8-3 lead going into the last minute of the half.
Flanker Aaron Mordecai was held just short of the Sports line and when the ball was recycled, prop Matthew Norman was on hand to dive over. Scott Jones’ conversion sent the Athletic in at half time with a 15-3 advantage.
The Sports started the second half strongly. A good back move saw an overlap created for winger Robert Pearce to cross in the corner. Darren Lewis converted to reduce his side’s deficit to 15-10. Another Lewis penalty narrowed the lead to 15-13.
The Sports with flanker Steve Hearne prominent were now on top and a tir- ing Athletic were kept in the game by the backrow efforts of Sean Williams, Rob Davies and Aaron Mordecai.
With five minutes remaining, Lewis put the Sports ahead for the first time with his third penalty.
Then came a crazy final four-minute period. The Athletic were awarded a penalty 30 metres out which Scott Jones converted with a kick that just about cleared the cross- bar. In the final minute the Athletic were penalised 40 metres out. Following Athletic backchat, the referee then marched the Athletic back 20 metres so the final kick at goal was in front of the posts.
Unfortunately for the Sports the earlier accuracy of Lewis deserted him and a relieved Athletic threw their arms in the air as the referee signalled the end of the contest.