Fixture

Mountain Ash RFC | Youth Team Under 18 20 - 19 Bridgend Athletic RFC | Youth Team Under 18

Match Report
06 September 2021 / Team News

Young Firm Fight Back Clinches Win

To their great credit, Mountain Ash Youth showed true grit to fight their way back from 19-7 down early in the second half to edge home against a capable Bridgend Athletic Youth team which came to the Rec with a very good reputation. With the game in its latter stages, Bridgend laid seige to the Young Firm's line, 19-17 up, and looking for the try which would probably seal the win. From one touchline to the other, just a metre or so out, they tried to get over, but superb defence by the whole Mount team kept them out and won a penalty, which ultimately won the game for the Young Firm as they cleared the ball, and minutes later, after taking play up to the Bridgend 22, were awarded a penalty which was coolly slotted over by Jayden Pugh to put Mount 20-19 up and win the game for his side. The game was cut and thrust from the first minute to the last, with both sides attacking each other and showing great determination and commitment. 

Mount made a strong start and took the lead after 5 minutes with a try by captain Steffan Calderbank, but an uncharacteristic lapse in defence shortly after saw Bridgend score their first try to reduce the Mount lead to 7-5. Bridgend continued to attack with some slick handling by the backs and scored again, to lead 12-7 at half time. The second half continued as the first finished with Bridgend on the attack. Pressure on the Mount line was rewarded when a kick through rebounded from a post into a Bridgend player's hands for a try, the conversion of which made it 19-7 to the visitors. As the Young Firm did in their last game, the players lifted their heads and fought back. A try by Mcginley Price got Mount back to 19-12, and then from the restart, the Young Firm scored one of the tries of the season when they moved the ball into midfield where centre Cole Nash cut through the Bridgend defence and showed tremendous pace to draw the last defender and give a lovely pass to winger Iestyn Robins who burned down the touchline to score a superb try in the corner to make it 19-17. With a Mount penalty clipping the outside of the post and drifting wide, the game was almost lost, but superb defence and another penalty in front of the posts, this time converted by Jayden Pugh, with just a few minutes to go, saw the Young Firm go into a 20-19 lead with a minute or so left. Although Bridgend were awarded a penalty and kicked up to the Mount 22, the Young Firm disrupted the lineout and referee Cordle, who had an excellent game and looks destined for higher things, called time to end a fine game and give Mount an excellent victory against strong opposition. 

Tries: Steffan Calderbank, Mcginley Price, Iestyn Robins. Conversion: Iestyn Robins, Penalty: Jayden Pugh.

This week, Saturday 11 September, the Young Firm travel to mid Wales to play Gwernyfed Youth in the 1st round of the Cardiff Rugby Regional Cup.

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