Fixture

With the rain abating at last it was good to see what was a hard-fought game at Kenfig Hill, even though Birch were on the wrong end of a 28 – 8 defeat by a well organised home side sitting neatly at third place in the Division 1 table.

The game started as you would expect with both sets of forwards testing each other at close quarters and defences dominated with the bulk of the game being centred around the midfield area.

The first scoring opportunity fell to the visitors but Rhys Herbert was just wide with a penalty attempt before the Mules were the first side after about 20 minutes to bring real pressure to bear on the opposition 22. A penalty to touch gave them the chance of a catch and drive manoeuvre and it was executed perfectly to place them 7.0 in front.

Birch though bounced back and exerted good forward pressure with Lewis Cox, Chris Gorvett and Liam Richards all looking to take on the home defence but they stood firm until a Rhys Herbert penalty narrowed the gap to 7 – 3 at half time.

The second half commenced with more of the same, both sets of forwards battling it out in a keen contest with defences ruling the roost as neither team were able to ignite the spark to create clear water between the sides.

A silly penalty though was to turn things as the home side took a grip firstly with a speculative cross kick setting up a foot race won by their right wing for a 14 – 3 lead followed by an equally speculative grubber kick move being gratefully accepted this time on the left to increase the lead to a significant 21 – 3.

The game now looked beyond the visitors as the home side grew in confidence and started to dominate the tight areas but still the same level of loose forward aggression was evident and the travelling support was not over despondent. But as is the way when you are chasing a game and the bounce is not in your favour a loose ball fell to the opposition and the Birch defence was left wanting as it failed to stop a hard run to the line and with a neat offload the bonus try was registered and at 28 – 3 the game was to all but lost.

Birch though showing some grit were still intent on making a game of the last 10 minutes or so and they did so in some style with Josh Key on his long awaited return to the side turning pressure into points with an unconverted consolation try 28 -8 . The game was to finish with the visitors in the ascendency when a Dirkson/Jarret move could well have reduced the arrears but on the day, it was not to be.

The Mules will be there or thereabouts at the end of the Season and no disgrace to lose to a well organised side who on this performance will always be difficult to beat. We go again next week away to Nantyfyllon and with the rub of the green and a bit more enterprise could well shock the Maesteg faithful.

Man of the Match Candidates this week from the Independent Panel.

Aled Thomas dogged as ever

Lewis Cox a great lineout performance and his usual bullocking self in the loose

Josh Key great return game, full of energy and a try.

Liam Richards usual 100% effort

Greeno- no cards ! (only joking) a willing horse and total involvement.

Liam Richards gets the nod

Nantyfyllon next week – see you there