Fixture

With fixtures stacking up a midweek trip to Porthcawl became a necessity and provided an exiting evenly contested game and a late Liam Garland drop goal sealing a 20-22 victory.

Birchgrove started brightly and with obvious intent and could have been two tries to the good in the first 15 minutes but for stout home defence and a little bit of over anxiousness near the line. It was evident though that the home side were well blessed with backs that were fleet of foot and the counter attack was maybe going to cause the visitors a few problems.

After a Liam Garland penalty attempt fell just short his opposite number was more successful with his attempt 3-0. Porthcawl were now showing signs of confidence with ball in hand and what looked like an innocuous turn over on the halfway line turned in to a sweeping 50 yard move involving their 10, 13 and then 15 going over for a well worked converted try 10 -0.

Birchgrove were soon back on the attack though and looking to respond quickly and after threatening the line and being thwarted at attacking lineouts the forwards galvanised themselves to allow Stephen Crane to touch down for a converted try 10-7.

With the game continuing to ebb and flow it was Porthcawl who were to take the advantage in to the half time break as once again they were able to breach the Birchgrove line and go in 15 – 7 in front.

The vistors wasted no time in trying to cut the defecit in the second half but were continuing to meet stiff resistance and speedy counter attack. The breakthrough came though as ground was secured near the visitors line and another grand forward effort brought a try for James Evans converted by Liam Garland 15 -14.

In the true spirit of this see saw game it was Porthcawl who were now to take the initiative  and they were to enjoy a period encamped on the visitors line which should  have yielded them precious points but for some unexplainable reason they spurned a number of kickable penalties in favour of the more ambitious quest for tries !!!

Despite resolute Birchgrove defence , Porthcawl did eventually reap their reward as their forward effort gained a further try which went unconverted 20-14. With the game building up to a grandstand finish Birch again pulled out all the stops and Lee Jones battled over for a try to bring the visitors to within 2 points with a short time to go 20 -19.

With time running out a Birchgrove attack provided the ideal platform for a dramatic drop goal finale and Liam Garland stepped up to take the opportunity in confident fashion to take the points in an exciting game played in the best of spirits between two committed sides. Final score 20-22

Next up is Banwen away Sat 26^th March