Fixture

This will probably be the most difficult and shortest report of the season as the first half of the 20- 7 win over visitors Nantymoel was a veritable nil-nil “Thriller” and I was mostly unsighted for the second half having sought sanctuary and protection for my aged limbs in the Press Box (Smoking Shelter ) from the horrendous  almost hypothermic weather.

The game kicked off with the home side facing only 14 men, all that Nanytmoel could muster on the day, and with Passive scrums already having been agreed between the both sides. As if the spectre of uncontested scrums was not enough to endure the weather with driving, freezing rain and a howling gale circling Parc Bedw did not give the on looking faithfull the idea that they were about to witness a feast of sparkling Rugby.

And so it was as time after time in the opening 10 minutes or so Birchgrove looked as if they would swamp the understrength visitors. Rob Green relishing his role as a free running Prop ! supported by the more traditional bulk of loose head Kyl Thompson and second rows Beard and Downing continuously tore in to the heart of the valiant 14 to make way for the second wave attacking backs.

Sad to say however on each occasion , the bar of soap, now masquerading as a Rugby Ball seemed to squirt in all directions other than a safe pair of home hands and after the initial onslaught Nantymoel were to earn a breather by clearing their lines and entering Birchgrove territory for the first time.

It was not long though before home pressure and the sure boot of full back Lee Harris had the home side back on the attack and again with a combination of poor handling , the occasional poor judgement and the continued resolve of the visiting defence the Nanymoel line remained unbreached even when reduced to 13 men for a 10 minute period.

With the weather showing no improvement and little change in the pattern of play both sides looked relieved as they retired to the relative comfort of their respective dressing rooms with the half time  score locked at 0 – 0.

The second half must surely be more eventful and it was but not as expected for the home side. A Nantymoel wind assisted kick placed them on the attack just outside the home 22 and another loose ball benefitted from a hopeful hack on towards the home line. A race between full back Harris and the visitor’s Ethan Davies resulted in the latter getting there first for a try converted by Sean Webber and an unlikely lead 0 – 7 against the league leaders.

Drastic action was needed to save the day and it came in the shape of yet another forward onslaught on the away line providing an opportunity for Rob Green to link up with Jordan Williams and put Lewis Cox over for try number one, unconverted 5 – 7.

Having found the way to the line, the home side were now looking to galvanise their position and became encamped in the visiting 22. A number of more controlled attacks brought three or four short phases and recycled ball saw Adam Percival, Ritchie Beynon and busy Leigh Di’ilulio make charges for the line. It was the industrious Tom Downing though who eventually made the breakthrough and a second try brought some relief at 10 -7.

Birch now scented the victory and the pack urged on by Rob Scrine, who is having a purple patch of games with his drive at the base of the scrum, was rewarded for his efforts with touch down number three 15 – 7. The bonus point try was not long coming, same MO and this time it was flanker Lewis Cox on hand to sniff the white line for his  5^th (top try scorer) try of the season 20- 7

  Job done and everyone was happy to hear the whistle bring things to a satisfactory conclusion to the home team but not forgetting the contribution of a brave, combative and resilient  Nantymoel side who at various stages of the game had played with 14, 13, 12 and even 11 men !

Next game Morriston away Sat 29^th December so a nice Christmas Break and a Merry Christmas to all our readers from myself and the intrepid photographer Mr. Jeff Miles who must have gone through a couple of layers of waterproofs yesterday.