Sports and Porthcawl set for another battle Local rugby
FAIRWATER were in devastating form as they trashed Old Penarthians 75-5 in the first round of the National Bowl.
Having lost both of their opening games in Three East Central A, the Bowl came as a welcome distraction and ended in a morale-boosting win as they ran in 11 tries.
Ryan Griffiths and Ben Jackson both crashed over twice as Fairwater dominated proceedings.
Ryan Young, Kieron Dorbani, Mike Andrews, Jack Evans, Nathan Simms, Luke O’Brien and Elliot Phillips followed them over the line to ease into the next round.
Liam Free then struck an impressive 10 conversions to add gloss to the scoreline.
There was also a big win for Gwernyfed, also winless in Three East Central A, as they thrashed Brynithel 50-0.
Ben Barrel was at the double while Craig Parry, Jack Williams, Lewis Cook, Tom Lloyd and Kieran Jones thundered over. Gareth Dodd also crossed and went on to kick five conversions.
Elsewhere, Tom Owen bagged a hat-trick as Abercwmboi thumped Fleur De Lys 49-17.
Geraint Cutland added a double while Anthony Kemble and Paul Edwards hit further tries. The latter showed his impressive kicking skills with 14 points from his boot.
Hirwaun, Penygraig and Llandaff also picked up big wins while Ogmore Vale, Rhigos and Brackla fell to heavy defeats.
Other teams to make it through include Pontycymmer, Pyle, Cefn Cribbwr, Pontyclun, Llandaff North, Pentyrch, Treharris, Ferndale, Tonyrefail, Penallta II and Bridgend Athletic II.
There was an abnormally large number of walkovers recorded too – 29 in total – with reasons ranging from injuries to work commitments.
Llantwit Major, Cefn Coed, Old Illtydians, Cowbridge and Taffs Well all benefitted from this while Rhymney, CIACS, Tongwynlais, Sully View, Cathays and Tondu II all conceded their games. A DIFFERENT season but the same story for Bridgend Sports as they bowed out of the National Bowl in the first round to rivals Porthcawl once again.
But if they end the season with another league title, they will certainly be smiling.
And they look set for another title race with Porthcawl as the pair occupy the top two spots in Three West Central A, with the Seaweeds drawing first blood in this year’s rivalry following their Bowl triumph.
“Porthcawl are great rivals. We know them quite well and they know us quite well too,” said press secretary Garnet Edwards.
“We beat them in the league at Porthcawl last year and they beat us at Bridgend and in the cup.
“All three games we played last year against Porthcawl ended with no more than three points in it.
“And that was the way it was looking after the first half.
“Porthcawl defended really well. We attacked them for the first quarter of an hour and they didn’t have the ball in their hands.”
Sports trailed 14-11 at the break with player/coach Ken Morris going over and Josh Davies converting and hitting a penalty.
“But the second half was different altogether,” he added.
“Sports had a couple of injuries but Porthcawl played better.
“They opened the game up and it was a good win for them, there is no denying that.”
After a tight first half, Porthcawl ran away with it in the second period with Alex Davies, Lloyd Rosser-Standford, Jonathan Phillips and Gareth Rees adding to a penalty try. Phillips then kicked three conversions and two penalties to seal a convincing 39-10 triumph at the Bandstand Field.
But Edwards already has his sights focused on the league.
After getting knocked out of the Bowl last season, Sports went on to beat Porthcawl to the Three West Central B title, and Edwards is hoping for a repeat this time around.
“We’re top of the league at moment,” he said.
“We’ve had two wins and a bonus point in each game but we’re in a new league and don’t know the strength of some of the west Wales sides.
“Swansea Uplands and Abercrave can turn up and have really good sides.
“I think the coach is right to think we’re promotion contenders but I think we should be looking to finish well in the league.
“In three weeks’ time we play Porthcawl and the squad will have a lot of prove so that will be a humdinger of a game. It should be a much more contested match.
“We’ll know in two or three games whether we are promotion contenders.”
And Edwards is optimistic when looking towards the future with the club currently in a strong position following promotion last season.
“The strength of the club is down to the development of the youth section, who are now feeding through after we started a junior and youth section about six or seven years ago,” explained Edwards.
“There is also a new coaching team with player/coach Morris along with two well-known players in Gareth David and Sean Donovan.
“And their impact has been very positive.”