Fixture

Another bonus point  29 – 7 win against a stubborn Seven Sisters side strengthens Birchgrove’s position at the Top of the Table.

With Seven having a mixed season this was a game the home supporters would have expected to win but after 20 minutes there was still no score on the board as both defences proved difficult to break down.

It was in fact the visitors who could have taken the lead with a kickable penalty awarded for foul play but the kick was drawn just wide of the posts. The battle continued and although the home scrum ably led by the solid front three of Kyl Thompson, Joseph Davies and Liam Richards were dominant it was a mixture of some poor handling and stubborn defence that was frustrating the home side.

On 25 minutes though the visitor’s  line was breached and it was once again the dynamism of Flanker Lewis Cox which was to break the home duck. Having secured good ball and territory from a set piece Scott Beard and Liam Richards carried well to set up forward phases. Out of the disorder created by the home forwards Cox appeared ball in hand legs and lungs pumping to outstrip the cover defence for the first try and his eighth of the season 5 -0.

Seven tried to bounce back but some good defence and some aeriel excellence from the combative winger Leigh Di’lulio kept them at bay. The second  home try was soon to arrive though and again it was to be run in from distance. Seven tried to run the ball back at the home side and centre Nathanial Llewellyn had his opposite centre well covered and with a bit of slight of hand and smash and grab he emerged ball in hand and out did the Cox 30 yarder with his own 45 yarder  converted by Matthew Edwards 12 – 0.

Birch were  now looking the more accomplished side with Rob Scrine and the returning  Adam Rowlands ,  slowly settling back in to the side, exercising greater control  and a further score from an Edwards penalty put them in a good position going in to the second half 15 – 0.

The early exchanges of the second half were going comfortably in favour of the home side with the scrum continuing to do well and the loose forwards and backs combining well to gain territorial advantage. Josh key was having his usual influential game at the base of the scrum and Rowlands, Adam Percival and Nathan Llewellyn were starting to create some neat midfield movement.

The third home try as a result was a much more orchestrated effort than the two earlier long range efforts and following some well structured phases Nathanial Llewellyn was on hand to collect his second try of the game converted again by Matthew Edwards  22 – 0.

Seven Sisters though were not beaten and once again they tried to press near the home line but as is the way when chasing a game the “Gods “ are sometimes not with you and a forced pass was plucked out of the air by Matthew Edwards who took the sprint of the day award with a 70 yard interception bonus point try under the posts which he duly converted 29 – 0.

With the home side now flying the thought was only of more scores but disappointingly the game reverted to the attrition mode of the first twenty minutes and Seven were rewarded with a consolation try by back rower  John Hopgood converted by Dan Short which was to be the last score of the day. Final score 29 - 7

Another good day at the office though and another solid plank in the build up to Promotion assisted this week by an unexpected Ystradgynlais win over our rivals Resolven. So it’s onwards and upwards but the Mathematics are not fool proof yet so let’s keep this run going.

A Tovali Cup interlude is next against Penclawdd at Dunvant RFC next Thursday 21^st February kick off 7.30.

Good Luck lads and well done for a great season so far.