Fixture

Before suffering the disappointment of a Welsh World Cup defeat we were treated to the best of grass roots Rugby with a 7 Try 66 point feast as Birchgrove ran out 35 – 31 winners against previously unbeaten Nantyffyllon.

Rhys Herbert was first on the score board with a well taken penalty 3 – 0 but Nanty quickly showed they also meant business and were prepared to throw the ball about and Nathan Smith crossed over for their first try 3 – 5.

With the game looking evenly matched the Nanty 10 and Herbert exchanged penalties giving the visitors a marginal lead 6 -8. Little did we know though that the game was to burst in to breathtaking action. Cole Short the visiting 14 had already shown he was fleet of foot with a couple of excursions in to home territory along his wing and when he was presented with a ball in hand opportunity in his own 22 he went for it. Dancing through the mesmerised close defence he outstretched the home cover making 70/80 lung bursting yards before offloading to a supporting Ben Davies to go over for a converted try 6 – 15.

Birch were quick to respond though with their own bit of magic. Steff Gibson glided out of defence swallowing up the yards untouched, Adam Rowlands back in Birch colours was on hand to help before he handed on to Scott Gibson and with the line now in sight Aled Thomas was on hand to take and touch down for the second “worldy”of the day , 13 – 15 Game On !!

Nanty, playing their part, were desperate to get back in to the game but a solid supply of ball from a good tight scrum and tidy lineout with supporting forward bursts from Chris Gorvett and Lewis Cox gave the home side a dominant purple patch. Josh Jarrett was on the end of a monstrous Gibson long pass to battle over for a converted try and Steff Gibson was rewarded for his enterprise with a further touch down to bring a pulsating half to a close 25 -21 in the lead.

There was determination though in the eyes of Nanty as they kicked off the second half and it soon turned to points. A succession of penalties awarded by the fastidious referee against the home side were gobbled up by the Nanty 10 Mc Guckin and it seemed that only in a blink of an eye they were back in contention at 25 -21.

Master Orchestrator, Scott Gibson was not prepared to stand back though and with the busy forward effort securing a healthy position in front of the posts about 25 yards out he took it upon himself to bob and weave his way in untouched for the third “worldy” try of the day and a bonus point for the home side. Herbert converted 32 – 21

Back come the visitors whose contribution to this game can not be underestimated and a try, conversion and penalty put them back within distance at 35 – 31. The scene was set, the visiting fans baying for a final push to get their unbeaten side over the line. This was the time for rolled up sleeves determined defence not pretty boy waltzing and the other side of this accomplished Birchgrove side came out to play by withstanding a 10-minute onslaught with determination and aplomb. They would not pass and they didn’t

What a game what a win 35 -31.Congratulations to all involved.

So many candidates for MOM this week

Up front young Prop Conrad Delfosse is developing well and  put his hand up, big second row Tom Wright gave one of his best performances along with usual culprits Gorvett. Cox and Richards.

Behind with some dazzling work Steff Gibson, brother Scott, try scorer Josh Jarrett and before retiring with a nasty shoulder injury the returning Adam Rowlands.

Difficult one for this week’s experienced panel but the award goes to the Master Conductor of Operations Scott Gibson.

Away next week to Bridgend Athletic- See you there.