Fixture

Birchgrove once again ravaged by injuries went down to the Kenfig Hill Mules at Parc Bedw 11 - 15 today in a close run game in heavy strength sapping conditions.

The early exchanges were evenly spread before the home side made the first breakthrough. Some tooing and frowing between the two 22’s saw Kenfig Hill take their turn on the attack. A dropped ball though provided Birch with the opportunity to hack through and a comedy of defensive errors from the visitors eventually saw the ball drop in to  wing Alex Mcnamara’s hands who with still a bit to do went over for the first try of the day , unconverted 5 – 0

Birchgrove being temporarily reduced to 14 gave the visiting side the impetus to bounce back but a combination of stern defence, with the usual culprits of Adam Percival, Liam Richards and Lewis Cox to the fore ,and some poor handling from the visitors kept them at bay. Their breakthrough did come though as a very deft! offload from centre Owen Davies put his partner Michael Kennedy in under the home posts, the conversion unexplainably missed left the scores level at 5 -5.

The game continued in a stop start fashion and  with Birch missing an opportunity to go ahead with a long range Fender penalty but now looking to build some phases with Hawkins and stand in 10 Leigh Di-iulio trying to engage the back division at every opportunity. It was no real surprise though that the half was to bring only one more score a splendid long range penalty effort from Ross Fender which saw the home side go in with a slender 8 – 5 advantage.

It was Kenfig Hill who looked to start the second session in more dynamic fashion and they were soon in the lead for the first time. Having probed the home defence looking for an opening a wide move presented them with a golden 4 to 1 overlap which centre Michael Kennedy took advantage of to go over for his second try of the game converted by Calum Lewis 8 – 12.

This set back seemed to stir the home side who were now dominating territory and asking searching questions of the visiting defence Cox, Downing Fender and Jarrett all looking to make inroads . Another penalty from the boot of Fender was to reduce the deficit to only one point and you felt that the game was once again within the grasp of Birchgrove.

The introduction of fresh legs for the visitors though was to place the advantage back with them as a penalty sailed over to increase their lead but only to a still catchable four points at 11 – 15.

Birch were now digging deep and with the clock running away from them they staged a herculean onslaught on the away line with wave after wave of drives at the line being repelled by the Mules stubborn defence bringing a succession of penalties.  It was not to be our day though as a conceded penalty allowed Kenfig Hill to clear their lines and even though we were temporarily able to regain control of the ball  it was a relieved Kenfig that were to take the spoils.

We keep going lads and with a bit more luck and returning injured players we can go to Dunvant on the 19^th February with confidence.