Fixture

Waunarlwydd RFC | 1st Team 30 - 35 Birchgrove RFC | 1st Team
Jack Perkins
1 Try
Adam Percival
1 Try
Curtis Davies
1 Try
Mathew Edwards
3 Conversion
3 Penalty
Josh Key
1 Try

Match Report
22 September 2019 / Team News

BIRCHGROVE THROUGH IN NINE TRY CUP ENCOUNTER

Birchgrove reprised last year’s first round Cup visit to Waunarlwydd today but on this occasion not as junior Division 2 underdogs but as if anything, favourites ,to overcome the illustrious Swansea neighbours.

And for twenty minutes the game went exactly according to script. Birchgrove were quick off the mark showing more guile, initiative and energy than their opponents. An aggressive break from busy scrum half Leigh Di’luilio followed by some quick handling  was to lead to the opening try from Adam Percival and a conversion from Matthew Edwards 0 – 7.

Despite a retaliatory penalty from the home 10 , Birchgrove stayed in the ascendancy and a silky move involving Percival, Edwards and Josh Key culminated in flanker Jack Perkins going over for try number 2 converted again by Edwards 3 – 14.

The home side though were not to be outdone and from a well coordinated forward drive they stole an unconverted try 8 -14 and there were the first signs that perhaps the script was about to be thrown in to the bin ! Birch got stick in to the task again though and reliable No. 8 Josh Key was on hand when required to pounce on a loose ball and surge over the line in his customary energetic fashion to increase the lead to 8 – 19.

Back came the home side and when their No. 7 saw the “Red Sea” open up in front of him as he emerged with the ball, virtually untouched, by the usually water tight away defence the writing was on the wall again. Adam Rowlands bravely but only  temporarily stemmed the race to the line as quick support provided the platform for the home team’s second try, converted and a much closer 15 – 19 half time score.

With Josh Key off injured replacement Lewis Cox came on for his first run out of the season and Birch strived to get back on the front foot and were soon to benefit from a high tackle penalty in their favour. Matthew Edwards showed great command and control of the wind at his back as he lofted over a 40 yard score  15 – 22.

The game was now descending in to a bit of a scruffy affair as both sides were guilty of handling and particularly out of hand kicking a errors and it was Waunarlwydd who managed to take advantage to get the next score. Having created a foothold near the visitors line a bit of a “comedy of handling errors “ saw the ball bounce back and forth between the two sides before Waun managed some element of control and went over for their third try to bring the score to a bit of a nail biting 20 – 22.

Worse was to come when the home team took the lead for the first time when with renewed confidence they chose to move the ball along their back line to outwit the visiting defence and take a 25 – 22 lead with less than 15 minutes to full time.

Matthew Edwards’ steady boot calmed nerves a little though as his second penalty sailed over to even the scores 25 - 25 . And as supporters were engaging themselves in questions of Will it be extra time ? or is it try Count etc etc .... ? Jack Perkins saw an opportunity pick up yet another loose ball and get the visiting attack going and with relief the travelling supporters were able to cheer the power of Centre cum wing Curtis Davies plunder our fourth and what should be winning try .The Edwards boot was true again and a 25 -32 lead looked enough.

Time still though for more action Edwards, who else ?  first  with a galvanising score and third penalty to make it 25 - 35 followed by a consolation and unbelievably fifth try for the losing home side to bring matters to a close 30 - 35

Speaking to some of the players later I would say that most agreed it was not a perfect day at the office but the old adage holds true “A win is win “ and  we  preserved the 100% start so bring on the Draw !!!!

A return vist to Waunarlwydd next week, this time in the league -  should be interesting

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