Fixture

A first league visit to Amman valley side Brynamman since season 1999/2000 resulted in a well deserved 15 -31 away victory.

In driving rain and a heavy underfoot pitch Birchgrove quickly got in to their stride and showed the home pack thet they were up for the fight with some resolute scrummaging and loose forward exchanges. Reward came in the form of a penalty as Matthew Edwards snaked home a long range kick for the  first score 0 – 3.

The visitors continued to show their aggressive side with some heavy midfield hits led by the usual culprits,  Adam Percival, Josh Key and Liam Richards and Leigh Di’lulio particularly sharp around the base of the scrum looking to disrupt any attacking platform gained by the equally robust home team.

Brynamman though were next on the score board when an unusual Birchgrove defensive lapse allowed home tight head Dafydd Hopkins a relatively easy 25 yard run to the line for a converted try  7 – 3.

From the well weighted Adam Rowlands restart though Birchgrove were once again in the faces of the home side as Di’lulio made a nuisance of himself and a number of front foot phases resulted in Edwards stepping up for penalty number two  7 -6.

Birchgrove continued to press and with the home side reduced temporarily to 14 men as a result of a defender being taken in the air set about their task of building upon their lead. A solid forward platform quickly had the visitors going forward and No 10 Owen Evans  spotted a defensive gap and slotted a neat kick in to the wing space where an ever alert Matthew Edwards gathered safely and shrugged off a grasping defender to go over for our first try which he also converted 7 – 13.

As conditions deteriorated the first half was brought to a close with Brynamman gaining a life line from a number of mysterious referee decisions allowing the home side to narrow the points gap to 10 -13 from a penalty kick.

From the restart Brynamman looked as if they may be looking to re assert themselves and showed plenty of energy varying their ball carrying options but the visiting defence was standing firm and the home effort was producing little in the way of territorial advantage. Frustration eventually led to another Birchgrove penalty and Edwards was on target again 10 -16.

Birch were now looking the brighter team but were lacking the finishing touch and gave ground away with a defensive ball catching mix up and failed to capitalise on an awesome 30 yard driving maul. But patience was to prevail and a poor Brynamman clearance presented makeshift wing Rob Scrine with the opportunity to showcase his previously well hidden soccer skills. As the ball fell to his feet he cleverly resisted the option to hack on chosing instead a deft sidefoot which gave him the opportunity to speedily outstrip a turning defence and dot down try number 2 , unconverted 10 -21.

With a healthy points advantage and a spring in their step Birch were now pinging the ball in to the opposition half at regular intervals and were again rewarded for their efforts with an Edwards penalty and at 10 -24 the game was looking to be in the bag.

It was not all done though as more forward pressure took the visiting side to the shadow of the home posts. A well rehearsed back of the scrum move was on and Josh Key picked up and sweetly offloaded to the eagerly waiting Rob Scrine who waltzed over for his second and the third try of the day for Birch , comfortably converted by Edwards and at 10 – 31 job done.

Brynamman were to have their moment with a consolation try  15 – 31 but this was a comprehensive win for the visitors with an excellent all round performance which showed once again the quality and pluck of this side who performed with the effort, endeavour and today the guile that will make other teams in this division look at them as opponents to be fully respected.

Well done lads, keep it going.

 A break next week from league action and a visit from Division 1 North opponents Bethesda to look forward to. They come to us sitting second in their league and having beaten third placed Pwllheli ( who ended our interest in the Cup last year) 11 -15 in the league today.

Looks like a good challenge don’t miss it.