Fixture

Bryncethin travelled to Tonmawr for the opening league fixture and, although they only managed to come away with a loosing bonus point, they gave a good account of themselves against an experienced home side.
The first quarter of the match was a fairly even affair before Bryncethin scrum half Liam Morgan put in a clever box kick that was gathered by outside half and captain Lloyd Jenkins who passed on to wing Cai Bradley who crossed wide out.
The home side closed the gap to two points with a penalty and, when the referee reversed a penalty decision because of indiscipline by a Bryncethin player, they took full advantage scoring a converted try to take the lead at 10-5. They followed this with another try shortly after and, although Liam Morgan reduced their lead with a penalty for the visitors, it was the home side who rounded off the first half scoring with a superb individual try from their outside half, who ran in from 30 metres, to leave the score at 20-8.
Bryncethin drew first blood in the second half, when Morgan kicked converted another penalty, but the home side once again crossed for a try to move 14 points ahead with 25 minutes left to play.
With ten minutes remaining the visitors stole a home side line out on the half way line and a neat break from outside half Jenkins and good interplay between Steve James and centre Dai Povey  resulted in Povey crashing over for a converted try to close the gap to 7 points.
The last few minutes proved to be a tense affair and, when Jenkins stole the ball from the home scrum half and headed towards the home line, it looked as if the visitors may yet share the spoils but the home defence managed to scramble back and save the day.
Coaches Peter Bradley and Leighton Jenkins, whilst identifying areas that need improving, will be reasonably happy with the overall performance and will know that they have something to build upon.
Whilst the team overall are young, the return of Jimmy Smith, Gavin Parsons and Mark Thomas and the regular availability of skipper Lloyd Jenkins and Gareth Pearce will provide experience and help to develop those younger players.
There were good performances from Will Thomas and Ellis Andrews in the second row whist Parsons and Povey combined well in the centre. Bryncethin Man-of-the-Match was given to Lloyd Jenkins.