Fixture

Birchgrove kicked off the new season with the short Journey to Skewen’s Tennant Park and were unlucky to lose a closely contested game 11-14.

With a new coaching set up and some familiar old faces back in the Birch set up the early season sunshine was the perfect background for the travelling side to repeat their last season’s 13 -23  victory over their near neighbours.

Early exchanges of territory and possession were equally contested before the home side  took the lead with a simple penalty 3- 0. Birch bounced back with an energetic response from scrum half Scott Gibson and Lewis Cox and were soon on a par with a Shane Davies penalty 3 – 3.

Parity prevailed as both sides looked to test the respective defences but a great breakout from Tristan James carried on by returning centre Adam Percival and Scott Gibson put the away side in the attacking ascendancy and a second penalty from the boot of Shane Davies put them in a deserved lead 3 – 6.

Skewen bounced back but found sound defence hampering their efforts and it was Birch who were unlucky not to extend their lead just before half time when a typical bullocking charge over the line from Lewis Cox was ruled out for a second movement as the first half drew to a close.

The second half kicked off with more of the same as the home side squandered a kickable penalty but continued to press for a further score only to find resolute defence and animated counter attacking from the visiting side with Josh Jarrett, Tristan James and Ashley Evans to the fore.

It was Skewen though who were next on the score sheet and a second penalty brought the scores to 6 – 6 with the visitors temporarily reduced to 14 men. With the game possibly going either way and both sides looking for a decisive breakthrough it was the travelling support who were to be rewarded with a typical cheeky score form live wire Scott Gibson as he resisted a home defender to sneak in for a trade mark unconverted try and a 6 – 11 lead.

The wounded home side were not about to roll over though and some solid counter attacking led by their busy left wing Kahan Erturk aided and abetted by some unfortunate defending once again equalised the score at 11 – 11.

With some 10 minutes or so on the clock a draw seemed a reasonable and just result for both sides and with Birch once again a man down something the travelling faithful would have accepted. It was not to be though as Birch fell foul of the new high tackle laws and  the Skewen 10 was given a relatively simple chance to secure the victory and popped the penalty kick over for an 11 -14 lead.

What seemed to be a never ending 10 minutes ensued in which the visitors tried hard to turn the tide but were unlucky in their efforts and had to accept a narrow defeat and a losing bonus point for their efforts.

A creditable performance from a new Coaching set up and changed side from last year especially as  this was our first game together having been unable to secure any pre season friendly action. Some fine individual performances and  a marked improvement in the basics of lineout, scrum and attacking and defending structure. Definitely something to build on.

Candidates for  Man of the Match were :-

Skipper Leigh Di’ulio for an all-action display.

Tristan James always a threat on the Counter

Lewis Cox his usual go forward approach

Scott Gibson forever alert and looking for the break

MOM is Scott Gibson.

Next game at home Glynneath next Saturday 9^th September ko 2.30 see you there.