Fixture

A disappointing day today at the Million Pound home of league rivals Swansea Uplands as they ran out deserved winners 39. 14

From the outset it was the Uplands who seemed to be pressing and quickly gained both territorial and possession dominance. The first score , a penalty, for the home team could quite easily have been a try but the referee in his wisdom chose to ignore the fact that the home side had crossed the line and the first score resulted from an easy kick 3. 0

Uplands continued to dominate though and Birchgrove were finding it difficult to put together any resistance as they were denied ball from both scrum and lineout. It came as no surprise therefore that following concerted pressure and despite valiant defence a Penalty Try was awarded to the home side 10.0.

Birchgrove tried desperately to get back in to the game but it was proving difficult against a young , fast and fit opposition who were quick to close down every attacking avenue from the visitors and capitalise on any mistake. It was a Birchgrove mistake that was in fact to lead to the next score as a loose ball was quickly pounced upon by the home side and a smart three quarter movement put them in for try number two easily converted 17. 0

The pattern was to continue and you got the impression that this was not to be our day as Ricky Rosser, a replacement for the dazed Leigh Di’iulio threw a pass out which in a flash was gobbled up by an opposition player standing in a very dubious position leaving a relatively clear run in for try number three and a half time 27.0 deficit.  

The hope of a second half revival was unfortunately short lived as once again a loose ball gave the Uplands another attacking opportunity and the bonus point try unconverted 32.0. Birchgrove steadfastly stuck to the game plan but it seemed that although some territorial gains were being made the final pass was either going astray or knocked on and Uplands were again able to capitalise with try number five converted and at 39.0 the game was in effect lost.

Changes in personnel brought the experienced trio of James Evans, last year’s captain Luke Williams and Coach Darren Poland in to the fray and looking to salvage some pride from the game the visitors started to put some meaningful attacking forays together. Reward was not long coming as Nick Fisher broke from fielding a defensive clearance  and well supported by Jordan Williams made a gain towards the opposition line. A quickly recycled ball brought Fisher in to the game again and an offload to Luke Beynon put him over for the visiting sides first score converted by Fisher  39.7

Playing now with far more purpose Birchgrove looked a revitalised outfit as Josh Key, Scott Beard and R J Di’iulio looked to batter a way through the home defence.  A second try looked there for the taking and some deft short passing placed Leigh Di’iulio with the line in his sights and a gutsy race to the line provided a second score with Fisher converting to make it look a far more respectable  39.14 at the final whistle.

Make no mistake this was a comprehensive victory for the home side but their try count was aided and abetted by some loose Birchgrove play which was eagerly and clinically punished by the opposition and the rub of the green was not with us today !

Promotion and the Championship remains in our own hands though so let’s re group and start the run in with a victory at Bryncoch next week.