Fixture

Birchgrove having already secured Promotion to Division 1, the highest level the club will have ever played at, travelled to Taibach for their last game of the Season knowing that the Championship would be theirs with a victory. Well they coasted to a 12 – 50 victory against a gutsy Taibach with a performance that exuded style, quality and exhilarance.

Birch were out of the blocks like a marauding steam train and within 15 minutes could quite easily have been three tries to the good as Lewis Cox went over but lost control of the ball and two marginal forward passes arrested progress. To settle things down Matthew Edwards slotted a penalty over for the first points of the game. 0 – 3.

The first try was not long coming though as the familiar sight of prop Liam Richards breaking from a ruck and building up a healthy head of steam before offloading to the ever supportive No 8 Josh Key to go over. Matthew Edwards converted  0 -10.

The visitors continued to dominate possession and territory but a plucky Taibach Tight scrum, a busy bee No 9 and some hard as nails defensive tackling was holding up further progress. It was in fact Taibach who were next to score having secured a rare forward position against the run of play an innocuous chip over the Birchgrove line was followed up to give the home side an unexpected unconverted try 5 – 10.

It was not long though before Birchgrove pressure and a front row conspiracy saw first Kyl Thompson make ground towards the line followed by livewire Rob Green before Liam Richards got over the line for try number two  5 – 15. Birch were now on a roll and were starting to make runs in all directions and at acute  angles, Adam Rowlands from 10 was constantly looking for the half break, Adam Percival anxious to keep the momentum going and Rob Scrine orchestrating things from the base of the Scrums and Rucks and it was this energy which resulted in Matthew Edwards going over for try number 3 also converted by him to give Birch  a 5 – 22 half time lead.

With  Birchgrove having the benefit of the wind in the second half it was always going to be hard going for the home side and two quick tries from Lee Harris and Nathaniel Llewellyn, both converted by Edwards really finished the game off as a contest as Birchgrove stormed ahead 5 – 36 and barring a catastrophe placing  both hands firmly on the Championship Trophy.

A Lee Harris 60 yard break was the next trick out of the Birchgrove hat and an unselfish  off load to Adam  Rowlands gave him try number six, he also converted 5 -43. Taibach did rally for a while and got a deserved consolation converted try  12 – 43 but Player Coach Chris Weightman finished off the rout with try number seven converted by Rowlands  as some old stalwarts in the shape of Conor Gallivan, Jordan Williams and a cameo role from young Darren Poland  were given the opportunity to join in the party. Final Score 12 – 50 and let the Celebrations begin !

Well what a season and this group of players can be extremely proud of taking the Club into the previously uncharted territory and heady heights of Division 1. Not forgetting the part played in the successful coaching team of R J  D’iluilio, Chris Weightman and latterly Liam Gadd. Colin Kirkhouse is a man who needs no introduction and his role as Team Manager and Fixture Sec has been vital to the cause along with the workhorses Martin Evans (Fruity) and Carl Woodward. Apologies to any when I have omitted but to suffice to say the Season and honours has been the result of  a great Team Effort.

So that’s it for from me for this year folks and my thanks to everyone who has taken the trouble to read my ramblings over the season. I will keep you informed about a date for Presentation Night and finally on that point I did canvas a good proportion of the regular Supporters for a Supporters Player of the Year nomination yesterday but if I did miss anyone and they wish to make a nomination they can do so through Carl Woodward who has the figures to date.