Fixture

Birchgrove took the Division 3 West Central Championship with a stunning 5 try 21 – 31 victory at Bridgend Sports today.

Having missed last week’s demolition of Alltwen it was great to be back on the touch line today as Birch readied themselves for the final game of this hugely successful season knowing that a win would give them an unassailable lead at the head of the table and the coveted Championship Title.

Bridgend Sports had proven themselves to be tough opponents in both the previous cup and league meetings earlier in the season which Birchgrove had won but no one was underestimating the difficulty of today’s task. It may have been this bit of pressure that almost gifted the Sports an early try as a handling mix up allowed them to hack the ball over the Birch line but a scrambling defence just managed to save the day.

After the early shock the game settled down in to a more even pattern with the home side perhaps having a marginal scrum advantage but not so pronounced as in our previous encounters. Sports were the first to strike though with a well taken long range penalty 3 – 0. With the confidence of this first score and helped by some poor line out work from the visitors Sports were also next on the score sheet with a well worked backs move from their own  successful line out ending with a corner try 8 – 0.

Birch bounced back quickly though with a try of their own when a solid set scrum win allowed Nathan Jones to get the ball away to his backs with the ball passing swiftly through the hands of Jordan Williams and Adam Percival to Matthew Edwards on the wing. Still with plenty to do to outstrip the cover defence Edwards pressed the “turbo button” at just the right time to sneak in at the corner for an unconverted try and welcome repost to some home “sledging” 8 – 5.

With the visitors now looking a lot more comfortable notwithstanding the odd shaky scrum, where Josh Key was again a tower of strength behind a wheeling or retreating eight, they were to take the lead for the first time. A successful line out provided Jones and No 10 Liam Garland with another opportunity to get the dangerous Birch back line in to action once more. With sure handling and thrusting running elusive centre Jordan Williams finished of a fine move in style to go over for a try converted by Matthew Edwards 8 -12

With the game still finely balanced Sports were looking to end the first half with a response but the visiting defence were well marshalled with the back row of Key, Chris Grimes and Kyle Evans quickly snuffing out attacking sorties with the brand of aggressive defence which has become a hallmark of this side throughout the season. So half time came with one hand on the Championship Trophy but with plenty still to do !

The second half started at quite a pace and Birch went through a bit of a scrappy period with slack lineout ball and a string of handling errors putting unnecessary pressure upon themselves. Sports sensed once more that they could maybe “wreck the party” and with their pack now gaining in confidence they dominated territory and possession for long periods. It was to the visitor’s defensive credit once more though that their line was not breached .

It was inevitable that the pressure would tell and Bridgend were able to sweep back in to the lead with two successful penalties to take the score to 14 -12.

Was this the time to say goodbye to the Championship dream ?  - Not likely  !!!

The true grit of this team is not to be underestimated and although living off scraps of good tight play ball and relying almost totally on counter attack to pose a threat the lead changed hands once more. Birchgrove were able to make ground up field and with the help of a penalty secured an attacking foothold. Liam Richards, who had been a thorn in the Sports side all day with his aggression, and Jordan Williams made ground. Lee jones, who himself has been something of a revelation with his strong and committed  running this season, proved once again that every barrier can be overcome as taking the ball at speed he smashed two defenders out of the way to stretch over for try number three , unconverted 14 -17.

With the fresh legs of Ricky Rosser, Dai Cullen and Jack Perkins now in the fray, the defining moment of this game was soon to come. With the Sports still feeling they were in the game and testing our tight game severely we were forced into a relieving kick along the touchline. As the Sports left wing attempted to gather he rather fortuitously slipped. Mathew Edwards was immediately upon him forcing him to roll in to touch ball in hand.  Edwards then matching his fleet of foot with speed of thought snatched the ball from the prostrate winger and in a flash had taken the throw in with the equally alert (especially for a second row) Tom Downing eagerly accepting the ball and trundling over under the posts for the Cheekiest Try of the season and a guaranteed bonus point

 With the Bridgend team looking on in utter amazement and engaged in futile complaints to the referee you knew the balance of Power was firmly switched to the visitors and the Game was up !!

Edwards converted and at 14 -24 with a bonus point in the bag and the clock running down,  that grip on the Trophy looked pretty solid. There were two more twists to this pulsating game with a converted try for the home side and Mathew Edwards finishing off a fine passage of play with the fifth try for the visitors and a conversion for a final score 21- 31.

All that was left was for the referee to signal the end of the game and the Start of the Celebrations.

A great end to a great season. A season that has had many heros in different ways and considerably more highs than lows. We have seen the solid performers of previous years put their hands up and put in the committed shift that we all know they are capable of. We have also seen a good number of  Youth players come of age and this offers us great hope for the future of the Club.

So as supporters, our thanks go to each and every player who has put the shirt on this year, to the Coaches, Darren Poland. Chris Grimes and Nathan Jones all of whom have excelled in their allotted coaching roles as well as on the field. Not forgetting the unsung back room heros, Martin (Fruity) Evans, Glan Brayley and Andrew Key (apologies to anyone I have left out).

Looking forward now to the Presentation night when I am sure there will be many more plaudits to hand out to celebrate one of the best seasons the Club has enjoyed. Watch this space for the date.

That’s all from me be back next season.