Fixture

Saturday 11^th April 2015

Resolven 5 Brynaman 30

Bryn recorded their seventh consecutive league victory on Saturday in a match that will be remembered for one of the fastest tries seen for many years. Outside half Craig Jones’ opening kick-off looked certain to be safely gathered by the homesters, but a handling error by the receiving Resolven defender diverted the ball straight into the path of Greens skipper Sion Slyman. Within a matter of possibly ten seconds Bryn’s inspirational flanker had snapped up the loose possession and sprinted under the posts for a remarkable try. Scrum half Dafydd Jones landed the straightforward conversion giving Bryn an instant 7-0 lead. Bryn continued to keep up the early pressure and Dafydd Jones added two further penalties for a 13-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Much to their credit the home side were extremely determined and disciplined in defence and as a result there were few clear cut try scoring opportunities for Bryn despite playing with wind advantage during the first half. Eventually another trademark bone crunching tackle by Greens’ centre Kevin Jones forced a crucial turnover just as Resolven appeared to building up a concerted attack. This time it was Bryn’s dynamic young full back Josh Ferriman who capitalised ruthlessly, slicing through several would be defenders before touching down between the uprights. Dafydd Jones added the conversion as Bryn secured a more than satisfactory 20-0 half time lead.

Half time – Resolven 0  Brynaman 20

After the turnaround it was the visitors who drew first blood crossing for a well-deserved try as the Greens’ tackling for once let them down at 20-5. A swift response from Bryn looked certain but despite a series of three five yard scrummages putting the home side under severe pressure, somehow or other the home defence managed to disrupt the Greens’ set piece and secure a relieving penalty. Undeterred Bryn once again drove back up field and with experienced number eight Clive Llewelyn and second row Chris Bartholomew leading the charge, Resolven were once again penalised for an offside infringement. This time rather than opt for a speculative scrummage Bryn opted for the points, and with Dafydd Jones continuing his rich vein of form a successful penalty goal was the inevitable result as Bryn edged further ahead at 23-5.  With ten minutes to go Bryn surged forward with renewed purpose deep into Resolven territory, but just as another try score beckoned, an uncharacteristic knock on gifted the homesters a defending scrum. As the scrummage formed first -time without incident, it seemed inevitable that a clearance kick would surely seal the homesters escape. However Bryn’s front row union had other ideas and having manufactured a perfectly timed drive, a lethal strike against the head was secured. With the home defence now scrambling desperately to get back into position, Greens outside half Craig Jones cleverly switched the attack from open to blind and with a perfectly weighted pass found Steffan Duggan hitting the line at full tilt. Despite the attentions of a despairing drift defence Bryn’s influential centre scorched home for an excellent try increasing Bryn’s lead to 28-5.  Impeccable Dafydd Jones rounded off proceedings with another neat conversion for a final score of 30-5.

Full Time: Resolven 5 Brynaman 30

Brynaman scorers:

Tries: Sion Slyman , Josh Ferriman, Steffan Duggan

Cons: Dafydd Jones (3)

Pens: Dafydd Jones (3)

Brynaman Team

15 Josh Ferriman 14 Trystan Lewis 13 Steffan Duggan 12 Kevin Jones 11 Owain Sullivan 10 Craig Jones 9 Dafydd Jones 1 Dewi Slyman 2 Rhodri Dennard 3 Dafydd Hopkins  4 Chris Bartholomew 5 Grant Milne 6 Richard Davies 7 Sion Slyman (Capt) 8 Clive Llewelyn   - Subs: Gareth H Williams  Alun Morgan Dafydd Moses Steff Weaver-Davies Paul Taylor