Fixture

Birchgrove score Ten tries in their 60 – 0 victory at Rhyl to Progress in Cup Competition.

After numerous postponements, Birchgrove eventually travelled to Rhyl this week through the snow capped peaks of the Brecon Beacons and the flooded lowlands of the North Wales Coast to fulfil their Cup fixture with Rhyl.

The game started at a sprightly pace with both sides showing a degree of enterprise that made light of the sodden playing surface. First blood though went to the visitors as a classic move off the back of an attacking scrum allowed Ricky Rosser to move the ball through Ritchie Beynon and the hard running Chris Grimes was on hand to bundle over for the first try 5 – 0.

The home side were soon back on the attack though and pressing the visitors line when an indiscretion resulted in the game being held up for several minutes as players from both side questioned whether they would be better employed exerting their energies in pugilistic activities rather than freezing their  X !!! s  off on a wet freezing patch of grass in North Wales on a Saturday afternoon !!!!!!!  With the answer most definitely NO and with the assistance of an extremely tolerant official normal service was resumed !!!!!!

Birchgrove were first to get back in gear and having broken down a home attack with some very controlled aggressive defence they were able to move up field exhibiting some flowing back play to allow Luke Beynon who had joined in from his right wing position to go over on the left for try No. 2 converted by Ricky Rosser 0 -12.

Birch were now on song and the third try was not long in coming. A strong run from Jordan Williams left him just held up over the line but from the resulting scrum Ricky Rosser with a trademark show and go scampered over for try number three which he also converted. 0-19

Again, to their credit Rhyl came back at the visitors but the Birch defence was outstanding and held out against a wave of attacks on their line. Once again with a mix of measured clearance kicking and a good blend of power and pace behind a storming pack Birchgrove were able to finish the half with a score for Tom Downing following good plays involving Ricky Rosser, Richie Beynon, Lee Jones,  Jordon Williams and Darren Poland. 0-24.

With the home side having made a number of substitutions it was not long before Birch were to take a strangle hold on the second half of this game. Jordon Williams and Kyle Evans, from his unaccustomed position of full back, were making measured runs in to the heart of the home defence. The loose forwards Chris Grimes, Josh Key and Jack Perkins were ensuring a constant flow of available ball and the artillery ably led by Captain, Luke Williams, Tom Downing and the elder statesmen Dai Cullen, Darren Poland and Scott Hills ensured that Birch were playing a front foot game giving half backs Rosser and Beynon plenty of room for manoeuvre .

As a result a regular flow of scores ensued with wing Luke Beynon adding a second try, Ricky Rosser completing his hat trick (a combined yardage of 5) and one each for Adam Percival, Kyle Evans, Richie Beynon and topped off with a stunning 120 yard (possible typo) sprint to the line from evergreen Coach Darren Poland. Ricky Rosser added 3 conversions to complete the job 0-60.S

Bridgend Sports will be our opponents in the next round at Bridgend with the game probably taking place next week. If Birch can show the effort, commitment, dogged defence and skill levels exhibited today I believe we may enjoy an extended run in the competition to complement the excellent showing so far in the league.

Well done to all involved.