Fixture

As I return from a long but satisfying journey to Builth Wells today I am keen to chronicle the details of one of the best and most competitive games of Rugby I have certainly seen this Season as Birch almost turned the form book upside down and although losing 34 -30 came away with a well deserved 2 bonus points and a credibility endorsed by every home and away supporter I spoke to..

Builth flying high and having beaten our cup victors Porth in Rhondda last week started the game well and very quickly were over for a first try 5-0. Worse was to come as a charged down defensive clearance presented the home side with a second touch down and at 10-0 adrift this was looking ominous.

A Steff Gibson penalty steadied the ship though and a second penalty brought us back in to contention 10-6. The home side though knew the way to the line and quickly increased their lead with a forward orchestrated try  15 – 6. Birch were actually playing well despite the scoreline and giving as good as they got in the close encounters with Leigh Duilio, Liam Richards, Lewis Cox and the well performing second row duo of Tom Wright and Chris Gorvett showing up well.

It was disappointing then to see us go further behind from a quickly taken penalty and at 22-6 you thought OMG this is not going to be a good day but there was still an air of optimism because we were playing good Rugby and defending well and a backs movement was to let Steff Gibson in for our first try and a well-deserved half time score of 22-11.

The second half kick off gives us territory and what do you know the ebullience of Rob Green pays off and we are within striking distance 22-16 a great touchline conversion from Steff Gibson makes it 22 – 18 and some blind side sniping puts us in the leads 22 -23 and this could be our day.

But Builth are a competent side and back they come nothing flash, forward orientated but another try and back in the lead 27 -23 and an usual defensive lapse lets them in for another, this time converted 34 -23.

Are we finished ? Not likely everyone is going forward almost the whole team touching the ball and the strength of Josh Jarrett and another successful kick from Steff Gibson brings us up to 34 -30. Nail biting now and even the partisan home crowd are admitting that this could go either way and scratching their heads to understand why on this performance we are holding up the rest of the league.

A great game and the whistle goes 34 – 30 a 5 point win for the home side but 2 bonus points for the visitors well deserved. Keep this up and it won’t be long before we are climbing the league.

What an advert for Community Rugby,two teams giving their all, a good crowd, plenty of friendly banter and a graet welcome in the Club afterwards. Well done to everyone concerned.

Plenty of candidates for Man of the Match in an all-action display.

Steff Gibson

Chris Gorvett

Rob Green

Tom Wright

Leigh Di’ulio

The award goes to Captain Leigh D’uilio. Congratulations