Fixture

Birchgrove RFC | 1st Team 19 - 25 Taibach RFC | 1st Team
Lee Harris
Try 1
Jordan Williams
Try 1
Nicky Rhys Fisher
Conversion 2
James Samuel Evans
Try 1

Match Report
02 October 2016 / Team News

TAIBACH TAKE THE SPOILS IN TOP OF TABLE CLASH

Birchgrove had to settle for a losing point as they went down 19 -25 in a see sawing  Top of the Table match at Parc Bedw today.

Taibach were first on the score sheet with a well taken penalty from their outside half whose steady left foot was to prove a useful tool for the visitors as the game unfolded. 0 - 3

As in previous games this year Birch were keen to get their fast attacking backs in to the game at every opportunity but things were not helped today with a greasy ball and a stubborn Taibach pack who were intent on making sure home good ball was kept to a premium.

Birchgrove were soon on the scoresheet though when some confusion in the Taibach centre area saw the ball drop loose and the ever alert Jordan Williams was quick to hack on. With no one at home in the visiting defence it was a foot race that Williams was to win and with deft footwork shepherded the ball over the line for a Try converted by Nick Fisher 7 – 3

Taibach were soon on the offensive from the kick off and with their pack dominating they soon set up camp on the home line from a Penalty and line out catch and drive. Although sterling defence held them out on two occasions a third assault on the line saw a try for their 15 converted by 10 and the lead was back with the visitors 7 – 10.

With the visiting pack now in the ascendancy Birch had to weather a storm but stout defence with Adam Percival, Dai Cullen, Chris Grimes and Tom Downing in evidence kept the scorer inactive until a penalty from the left foot of the Taibach outside half increased their lead to 7 – 13

Birchgrove though were still showing signs of positive rugby and the back division of Richie Beynon, Nick Fisher, Jordan Williams and Adam Percival eager to look for running opportunities. It was a Williams , Fisher combination in fact which was to lead eventually to the next score as an exchange of passes led to a breach of  the Taibach defence. Although initially snuffed out Ritchie Beynon was on hand to carry on the move with Tom Downing and Dai Cullen helping James Evans over the line only for the referee to signify he was held up. Evans was to get just reward from the resulting 5 yard scrum though as Dai Cullen picked up from the retreating scrum and offloaded to Evans for the try converted by Nick Fisher. So half time saw the home side go in with lead restored 14 – 13.

The second session did not start well for Birchgrove as Dai Cullen was invited to take a 10 minute rest by the referee for what some thought was an innocuous technical offence. Taibach though took early advantage of the depletion in the home ranks camping on the home line and launching wave after wave of forward drive until the resistance was to concede a second converted try and a grip on the lead once more 14 –  20

Birch were not in any mood to surrender though and hit back quickly with the Try of the Match. A long clearance from Taibach was deliberately allowed to cross the touch  line by the ever thinking Darren Poland who at the same time demanded that no one on the line touch the ball thereby leaving it available for a quick throw in. Poland quickly completed the throw to an also alert James Evans and the ball moved on to full back Lee Harris who we know can be an elusive runner from full back. Well he lived fully up to this billing as with a combination of jinks, side steps and acceleration picked his way through the whole of the Taibach team and ran in a try from fully 60 yards. 19 -20

Birch were now back in the game and looked to launch their exciting back line at every opportunity. Whilst highly commendable, this  was occasionally their downfall as opportunities to gain a foothold were sometimes spurned in favour of the preferred and exciting and I have to say crowd pleasing enterprise. It was Taibach who were to take the game back to their opponents as attacks broke down and a series of unfortunate  Birchgrove tight play giving up the advantage of their own put in at line out and scrum twice  was to prove expensive as  Taibach turned pressure in to points with a Try 19 -25. The game finished with the well-deserved losing bonus for the home side being preserved as a last minute Taibach penalty  was pulled wide by their No 10.

So the 100% record has gone , which may be a “monkey off the back “. But still second in the league and plenty of Rugby to come  !!

 Regroup now for the Cup at Vardre next week.

 

 

 

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