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Despite matching Cambrian Welfare’s 3 tries the Athletic were outdone by Cambrian Welfare’s 3 Huntley brothers who contributed 29 points in Cambrian’s 34-21 victory at the Morganstone Brewery Field. Captain and outside half Julian contributed 16 points with 4 penalties and 2 conversions, centre Jonah 8 points from a try and drop goal and other brother scrum half Jackson a try.

It also helped Cambrian’s more fluid back movements having consistency of selection as opposed to a constantly changing Athletic team disrupted by injuries to key players from last season and fielding yet another half back and centre combination this season.

The Athletic anticipated a physical contest up front and were equal to the task. Last year’s Athletic Youth captain and Ospreys development squad flanker Joe Grabham had an excellent senior debut as did newcomer lock Will Petchell making his first Athletic start. In the backs wing Will Barraclough was always looking for the ball and had a good game. Full back Caine Woolerton played well but was hampered late in the first half by a leg injury.

The Athletic opened brightly and settled quickly. They were aided when Cambrian No 7 was yellow carded for collapsing a driving maul. This led to a gap appearing when the Athletic opened play which outside half Sam Richards exploited to run through and cross under the posts. Robin Davies converted. On their first foray into the Athletic 22 in the twelfth minute Cambrian took a quick tap penalty and centre Jonah Huntley spotted a gap to race over for a try converted by brother Julian to level the scores. He then converted a penalty when the Athletic became isolated attempting to run out of defence and were penalised for not releasing. The Athletic had an opportunity to level when Cambrian were again penalised for pulling down a driving maul. Julian Huntley punished this miss by extending the Cambrian lead to 13-7 after the Athletic collapsed a scrum.

Tempers flared and a mass brawl broke out. When referee Lloyd Hughes restored control, he issued two straight reds to Athletic lock Ben Cording and Cambrian hooker Carl Facey on the stroke of half time.

The Athletic again made a good start to the second period. Dan James came on at half time and moved to scrum half with Aled Thomas dropping back to full back to replace the injured Woolerton. James took a quick penalty but was obstructed as he broke forward leading to a Cambrian yellow card. The Athletic kicked to touch for a 5-metre driving line out. As the driving maul approached the try line James sniped off the side to cross in the corner. Davies touchline conversion put the Athletic 14-13 ahead.

The lead lasted barely 2 minutes as Cambrian ran back a poorly directed clearance kick and scrum half Jackson Huntley finished off the move to restore an 18-14 Cambrian lead. Two quick Julian Huntley penalties extended the Cambrian lead to 24-14.

Athletic wing Robin Davies then ran a clearance kick back at Cambrian. Good link play between Athletic No 8 Sean Williams and flanker Ben Howe saw Howe break from 30 metres out. He drew the full back and offloaded a well-timed pass to the supporting speedy scrum half Dan James who crossed for his second try. Davies conversion reduced the deficit to 24-21. The Athletic went straight back on the attack but dropped the ball on the Cambrian 22. Cambrian flanker Luke Riley hacked on regathered and ran into the Athletic 22 before putting wing Simon Warren over wide out. Julian Huntley converted to stretch the lead to 31-21. Centre Jonah Huntley then took the game away from the Athletic with a neat drop goal.

Both sides then went for a bonus point try. Good work by replacement flanker Tom Davies and Barraclough prevented Cambrian achieving their goal, while Barraclough’s attempt to break away was also foiled.

It was another frustrating league encounter for the Athletic with the coaches disappointed with lapses in concentration after scoring leading to quick responses from Cambrian whose enthusiasm gave them a deserved victory on the day.

Athletic captain Ben Howe asked for 5 high intensity training sessions over the next 2 weeks to improve his side’s fitness levels and play in the high tempo manner they were used to last season. The club’s next fixture is away at Llantrisant on Nov 24^th – a prelude to the Wales – South Africa game.

The club would like to thank its longest sponsor Mr Simon Apsee of J.H.Apsee & Sons Removals and Storage Specialists for sponsoring the game.