Bryncethin RFC visited Banwen on Saturday, knowing that they had lost to them earlier in the season and that they had to play to their full potential in order to stay in the promotion battle. For Banwen, the stakes were higher, a loss would almost certainly mean they were out of the race. And so, first took on fourth in the league.
Almost straight from the restart, Banwen transgressed and allowed Bryncethin centre Lloyd Bradley to level the scores.
The second half took up, where the first half had ended, with the Banwen pack causing some difficulties at scrum time and gaining momentum. Such were the difficulties that Bryncethin were getting, Banwen levelled the scores with two penalties with 12 minutes and were then gifted a further 3 points from a transgression at a ruck, deep into the Bryncethin half.
With scrums more even and the Bryncethin side in ascendancy, the Cherry and Whites started to put some great handling together and pressed hard at the Black Dragon's line. Young prop Ieuan Davies got over the whitewash, to be called back as the lineout throw in was not deemed to have travelled 5m.
Bryn regatherd the restart and used some great forward interplay and driving to gain 50 metres and after a kick through was knocked on by Banwen, Bryncethin's superiority was confirmed when they received a penalty of their own in front of the posts. With only 2 points in the game, Bradley slotted the kick, meaning Banwen would need to go all out for a try if they were to win the game.
There were very good performances by all of the Bryncy players on the field, notably Captain Sam Jervis, Will Thomas, and Mark Thomas working hard for the cause. Behind the ball was moved well and the defence outstanding, Shane Howells at full back working hard to turn defence into attack. But the display of the day came from hard working flanker Steve James for an absolutely tireless performance whether in support of runner or putting his body on the line in defence.
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