Fixture

With the end of a long and successful season approaching the frustration of seeing rivals Porthcawl and Swansea Uplands eating away at our points advantage as they completed their games in hand could possibly have left Birchgrove with nothing to show for a season full of positives.

The mood and rousing team talk I witnessed on the bus to Bridgend Sports to secure at the very least the one point needed to seal Promotion to Division 2 gave me nothing but optimism though that this group of players was not going to fall at the last hurdle.

As the game kicked off the effort and energy was plain to see but it was unfortunate that maybe through over enthusiasm or bad luck or dare I say an official who seemed to be looking only one way it was Bridgend Sports who took the lead through a long range penalty 3.-0.

Birchgrove though were straight back on the case  and a number of good forward dominated phases saw the usual culprits Key, Beard, Downing, Llewellyn,  Evans et al make the hard yards to make way for the more subtle skills of Tom Lewis and R J D’iulio (Did I say subtle !) to link with the aggressive half backs and backs to knock a hole in the home defence for their opening try scored by on permit  full back Richard Brunton, converted by Nick Fisher 3 – 7.

Bridgend as we know have a decent skill set of their own and they showed that they were not going to be bit part players in this late season drama as they challenged the visiting line with some vigour and it was only a magnificent try saving tackle from Brunton that was to keep them at bay.

Birch weathered the storm though and looked the more composed side as they won another penalty converted by Fisher to take them to half time with a 3. 10 advantage.

Playing with the benefit of the  wind  in the second half Nick Fisher was short with a long range penalty but with the forwards looking solid and some astute kicking from the most unlikely source of Adam Percival it was pleasing to see that the visitors were looking to play the game primarily in the home side’s half.

The next score for Birchgrove came from the sometimes less seen facet of their game as instead of  looking for the fast offload a number of Yard swallowing drives took them closer and closer to the opposition line. The forward drive allied to the strength of Leigh D’iulio, Adam Percival and Luke Beynon behind was too much for the beleaguered home defence and a second successful penalty from Nick Fisher gave the visitors an all important two score cushion 3. 13.

The rest as they say is history........................

To a man the team with the hallowed prize of promotion in their grasp showed the grit, skill and determination that has been evident all season ,with only rare lapses, to steer the ship home and take  the spoils with a 4 point win that ensures only Porthcawl can now overtake us  for the championship and Swansea Uplands will miss out.

It will take a major upset from Porthcawl for us to win the league but a job well done I’d say and congratulations to all the Players , Coaches and Back Room staff for an exciting season.

 Only the away visit to  Porthcawl awaits but as I am away for that game this will be my last report of the Season but I will fill in the Stat blanks on my return from what I am sure will be a hard fought top of the Table finale .

 Thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to read my weekly babblings and it is heartening to see that so many, especially through the Facebook page this year, have joined in the Promotion Journey. Thanks also to Jeff Miles for the tremendous Camera action work this year.

See you next year or Presentation night (Watch this space), have a good Summer.