Revenge for Athletic as they beat Ammanford and the conditions
BRIDGEND ATHLETIC 21 AMMANFORD ............... 6
BRIDGEND Athletic exacted a measure of revenge over Ammanford, who won the previous match last September, by winning a hard-fought encounter at the Bridgendford Brewery Field.
However, mother nature conspired against both sides attacking intents providing a foul night with heavy gusting wind and rain.
Jonathon Phillips chipped ahead and was cynically tackled without the ball resulting in a yellow card for the visitors. The Athletic set up a five metre driving lineout from the penalty – only for Ammanford to deny a clear scoring opportunity by dragging it down reducing their side to 13 players with a second yellow.
The Athletic went for a set scrum from the penalty – but a huge wheel was allowed by the referee nullifying the Athletic numerical advantage.
Ammanford then countered and won a penalty in front of the Athletic posts which full back Ceri Rees kicked to put his side ahead.
From the restart the Athletic won a penalty of their own from which outside half Luke Bevan levelled the scores. Both sides countered each other for the remainder of the half to leave the score at 3-3 at half-time.
With wind advantage the ploy was to kick to the corners and use their pack to put pressure on the opposition. This tactic paid off very early as the Athletic set up a driving maul inside the Ammanford 22. With the maul progressing at a rate of knots towards the line, it was once more illegally pulled down with a try certain. The player responsible paid a heavy price leaving the field both injured and with his side’s third yellow card of the night. The Athletic were disappointed in not receiving a penalty try, but took the lead with Bevan’s second penalty.
Bevan and scrum half Aled Thomas kept the Athletic on the front foot with well-judged kicks to the corners.
The pack drove Ammanford from a scrum on the 22 to within five metres of their line, only for Ammanford to collapse it. Only a penalty resulted. The Athletic were not to be denied and pushed the Ammanford scrum back for their Man-of-theMatch No 8 Griff Davies to touch down. Bevan’s conversion brought his points tally for the season to 50.
Ammanford reduced the deficit to 13-6 with a second Rees penalty. However most of the remainder of the game the Athletic spent camped inside the Ammanford half.
Bevan then increased the lead to 16-6 with his third penalty – again for pulling down a maul. However, this tactic eventually paid off as the Ath- letic drove a lineout from their 22 for hooker Nathan Holman to cross for a try and complete the scoring.
The Athletic entertain Aberavon Quins at New- bridge Fieds this Saturday.
The club would like to thank Robert Williams of Ogmore Farm Riding Centre for sponsoring the fixture.