OSPREYS YOUTH
SWANSEA UPLANDS YOUTH ......................... 17 BRIDGEND ATHLETIC YOUTH ......................... 14
IN A bitterly ice cold windy day Bridgend Athletic Youth suffered a setback in their quest to re- tain their Ospreys A League title with a 17-14 defeat by championship rivals Swansea Uplands.
Having weathered the elements and leading 14-9 at half time, complacency set in and a woeful second half display saw them concede 8 unanswered points. The Uplands moved level on points with the Athletic at the top of the table with 31 points, but the Athletic are top with a superior point differential and have two games in hand on the Swansea side and two games in hand on other close rivals Bryncoch who have 30 points. The Athletic have completed their programme against the top sides with 4 victories from 6 games and 2 losing point narrow defeats.
Playing against a gale force wind in the first half tries from No 8 Will Barraclough and centre Morgan Roberts both converted by captain for the day Matthew Hobby saw the Athletic lead 14-9 at half time with the Uplands kicking 3 penalties. An unconverted try levelled the scores. The Athletic second half performance was summed up in the final minute. The Uplands were awarded a penalty in front of the Athletic posts. An ill-fated Laurel & Hardy like attempt by an Athletic player to distract the kicker resulted in the missed penalty being retaken and succssfully goaled. This summed up the Athletic second half performance. Flanker Tom Davies was the Athletic stand out player.
With 6 games remaining against the bottom 4 sides it appears only complacency can deny the Athletic a second successive Ospreys A title. Head coach Lee Grabham and assistant Kevin Gamble will have to ensure the players rediscover their focus for the remainder of the campaign. It is hoped that nothing prevents this Saturday’s March 24th local derby against Nantyfyllon taking place at Newbridge Fields.