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Admiral National League Div 1 West Central

Bridgend Athletic produced an inspired display to boost their Div 1 West Central status with six of the best in a try fest against District D Cup Finalists Skewen RFC.

The tone of a fast-flowing game was set from the Skewen kick off. The ball went loose 10 metres from the Ath line. Wing McKenzie Grey gathered the bouncing ball pinned his ears back and swerving inside an outside Skewen would be tacklers about 10 seconds later crossed in the corner for perhaps the quickest ever Ath try.

Inside 5 minutes Skewen responded with their own brand of open rugby to level the scores at 5-5. Evan D’Adamo restored the Ath lead on 10 minutes with a well struck penalty. Back came Skewen who following a break were awarded a penalty try for the Ath tackling a player before the ball reached him.

The score remained 8-12 for 25 minutes until with the final play of the half the Ath drove a line out for 20 metres, before No 8 Dan Apsee touched down and D’Adamo gave the Ath a 13-12 half time advantage slotting the conversion.

The Ath boosted by their half time lead drove a line out on their 10-metre line before outside half Oliver Olds broke and handed the supporting flanker Cameron Thomas a try scoring pass. D’Adamo converted to make it 20 – 12 to the Ath. Five minutes later following an Ath tackle Skewen spilled the ball 40 metres out. Grey was alert picked up and ran 40 metres to cross for his second try and overtake fellow wing Lochie Barron who was missing his first game of the season with his eighth try. D’Adamo converted to raise the team and support extending the lead to 27-12 and securing the 4^th and bonus point try. A D’Adamo penalty extended the led to 30-12.

A flowing move along the three quarters saw wing Stuart Floyd-Ellis feed full back Jonathan Phillips who raced clear to cross for the fifth try, again converted by D’Adamo. Skewen were playing their part in free flowing rugby and were rewarded moving a tap penalty to cross for a converted try, to reduce their deficit to 37-19 with 15 minutes to play. The Ath emptied their bench and fresh legs saw them halted in the left corner, but with swift interpassing wing Stuart Flloyd Ellis crossed for the sixth Ath try in the right-hand corner.

Ath captain Ben Howe ensured there was no coming back for a pacy Skewen side marshalling his troops to maintain their dominance of territory and see out a must win game.

The outcome of fellow strugglers Brynamman’s home game against Birchgrove this Wednesday will determine if this result was sufficient to keep the Ath in Div 1 West Central or may need to overcome league leaders Tondu at the Brewery Field this coming Saturday April 27^th in their final game of this campaign.

A great effort by all the 20 Ath players and great commitment from prop Matthew Norman travelling back and fore from an M&J tour down West Wales. It was also Ben Cording’s 100^th 1^st XV game for the Ath.

A reminder Presentation Evening is Sat June 1^st in the Ath clubhouse.

Once again thanks to Simon & Rod Apsee of J.H.Apsee & Sons Removals & Storage for sponsoring the fixture.

Also, thanks to club photographer John Canon for his great pics accompanying this report.

We complete our Div 1 West Central season next Saturday April 27^th at the Brewery Field Bridgend against promoted Tondu, and competing for the Annual Daryl Dyke Memorial Trophy.