WEST CENTRAL
BONYNMAEN ................ 3 MAESTEG QUINS ....... 10
BONYMAEN were determined to preserve the Quins record of leaving Parc Mawr winless. Results between any leagues’ lights, especially in testing conditions, are defined by fine margins. The margin in this match was near diaphanous.
Quins started scintillatingly, hemming Bonymaen in their own 22. A midfield move stripped the Bonymaen defence bare and sent Jack Picton racing up the wing. His perfect chip ahead, left Ben Davies with a foot race to touch the ball down before it crossed the dead-ball line.
He did and Owen Howe kicked the inebriated conversion that weaved and curled over.
Kicking proved fruitless in the teeth of a gale. The slightest imprecision would see Owen Howe belt the ball back miles. Expertly Bonymaen maintained possession, pouncing on inaccuracies to keep the ball for inordinately long periods. Still the Quins kept their hosts at bay.
Breaking through, Bonymaen’s Richard Cunniffe passed inside. A desperate attempt to bring down the receiver was made a second too soon season with a well struck penalty.
Waunarlwyyd were attacking along the Athletic 22 when Athletic centre Stuart Floyd-Ellis anticipated a pass and intercepted to race 75 metres for his ninth try of the season. Bevan’s conversion put the Athletic 10-7 ahead.
This switched the momentum of the game. Athletic scrum half Aled Thomas gathered a clearance kick on his own 10 metre line and launched a counter attack. He chipped over his opponent, regathered and passed inside to supporting flanker Ben Howe who drew the full back before releasing wing Dan Howells. The former Ath player playing on permit from his recent move to Swansea outpaced the defence for his seventh Athletic try of the season. Bevan converted from wide out.
From the restart Lee Evans punished an Athletic mistake with a penalty goal. Two minutes later a poorly executed Waunarlwydd clearance kick saw a dropped pass seized on by Athletic debutant youth wing Sam Palmer who fly kicked ahead and justified his selection with a well-taken, composed try. Bevan’s third conversion gave his side a 24-10 halftime lead.
The second half started passive scrums much to the annoyance of the home crowd but with injuries in the front row and front row cover the visitors had no choice.
Pyle were now finding a bit of form and the ball as going out to the backs and centre David Pound found some space and galloped on through to score a converted try by Will Gallafant.
Soon after the second half kick-off the home and impressive Lawrence Thomas kicked the goal.
Getting back into the home 22, an indiscretion allowed Howe to put the Quins into double figures with a penalty.
Home play against the wind remained exemplary, but the Quins managed to steal possession or win a penalty.
Rhodri Davies and Howe would then punish the Swansea suburbanites with huge touch-finders.
Healy, Steve Williams and Tutt were an effective second line of defence.
Like a “flying column” the back-rowers ensured Bonymaen’s breakthroughs were extinguished.
Home wing Joe Mil- as a replica of the first with Waunarlwydd first out of the blocks. An Evans penalty reduced the deficit, before Bevan cancelled it out with one of his own. The half in deteriorating conditions was much of a stalemate. Sam Treharne came on at lock for the Athletic.
The Athletic scrummaged well against heavier opponents with all five players used Wayne Fooks, Matthew Norman, Matthew Muir, Lee Murphy and Nathan Holman showing great technique. The back row of Ben Howe, Sean Williams and Ben Davies again showed they are a match for any in this division with superb defence and the ability to turn over ball and counter attack.
It was a counter attack of the highest order that secured the Athletic bonus point try. With seven minutes remaining Waunarlwydd launched a blind side attack from a scrum 5 metres from the Athletic line. Their wing about to be forced into touch threw a pass inside. Athletic captain Ben Howe seized on the loose ball and set off along the touchline before passing to win Howells who sprinted 50 metres before handing on to scrum half Thomas. Thomas on the left touchline spotted three Athletic play- side were proving to be a handful in the backs and got on the score sheet with an unconverted try. With frustration in the defence they quickly jumped on a loose ball and went over for another and final unconverted try.
All credit to Pyle for not gaving up to the final whistle.
Pyle’s next game is home to Neath Athletic on Saturday, January 27, kick-off 2.30pm. len was worked clear and seemed destined to score, only for a second wave of Quins defenders to bundle him into touch inches short of the line.
It was a 20 points wind and the Quins only managed 10. Whether they would weather the inevitable home storm would be seen.
In the third quarter the Quins didn’t get into the opposition half. However, just like the retreating Swansea bay tide, Bonymaen first spent time on the Quins five yards line. Then they could only reach the 22 and as the game went on, they gradually receded further and further away from the tryline. ers Floyd-Ellis, full back Robin Davies and centre Tom Jenkins unopposed on the right-hand touchline and launched a welldirected cross kick. It was Jenkins who won the race to touch down as the ball trickled over the try line to open a 32-13 lead. Athletic wing Tom James then came on.
To their credit Waunarlwydd continued to press and Evans forced his way over with the last move of the match to make the final score 32-18 in favour of the Athletic.
Athletic coaching assistant and former Wales scrum half Gerald Wil-
On the hour Thomas missed a goal shot and from this juncture, Bonymaen looked increasingly less likely to score.
With the clock proving the Quins’ friend, tell-tale signs of the visitors finally gaining the upper hand came in the last 15 minutes. Bonymaen’s scrum and breakdown play were getting penalised.
Bonymaen were sapped of energy and with a renewed impetus brought to the Quins’ play by the fresh legs of Mike Owen, Rhodri Bwye, Gavin Burridge and debutant Rhydian Jenkins, the hosts were finally pinned in their own half.
Forced to run from their own tryline, each inch liams was delighted with the Athletic performance. He said: “Man of match Stuart Floyd-Ellis was superb and following a week with flu scrum half Aled Thomas was very good. The back row of Ben Davies, Sean Williams, Ben Howe and replacement Cameron Thomas were again top notch with the Athletic only conceding six tries in our sevengame winning run, while our finishing with 31 tries in that period is also exceptional.
“The front row also scrummaged well throughout despite the pack conceding consider- with the Sports missing a last-minute penalty. There was to be none of that drama with this meeting with the Athletic crossing for five unanswered tries in a comprehensive 25-0 victory at Newbridge Fields.
The Athletic dominated possession and territory. Their five unconverted tries came from hooker Hywel Cosby, lock Gareth Bartlett, flanker Tom Davies, outside half Scott Govan and replace- won became was as hard as gaining a yard.
After 10 phases Bonymaen found themselves still under the shadow of their own posts, out of puff, out of options and out of time.
A bonus point proved the better part of valour as belting the ball into touch signalled a massive celebration of compelling, gloriously gutsy Quins team win.
A pointless second half was a magnificent testament to an impenetrable Quins defence and immaculate discipline in difficult circumstances. Every Quins shoulder was firmly stuck to the wheel for a very first win at Parc Mawr. able weight advantage.”
This Saturday, January 27, the Athletic look to keep their run going on a visit to Seven Sisters, where it is anticipated remarkable prop Wayne Fooks in his 20th season of senior rugby will make his 350th appearance for the Athletic.
The club are grateful to its longest sponsor JH Apsee & Son Removals & Storage Specialists with over 40 years association with the Athletic for sponsoring the fixture. Director Simon also sponsored this season’s substitutes all weather suits. ment Grant Edwards.
Athletic team manager Liam Griffiths named No 8 Aaron Mordecai MoM with prop Aled Piliner also playing well at forward. Scott Govan, Chris Price and Ryan Pickford were the pick of the backs. He said: “In terrible conditions we never looked threatened. It was pleasing to have a second consecutive whitewash with the defence improving week on week.”