SPORT: Pencoed 20, Bridgend Sports 10:
This was a well contested derby with very little between Pencoed and Bridgend Sports.
The ‘Sports’ opened the match scoring with a close range penalty goal from centre Scott Callicott.
Pencoed responded from a scrum close to the visitors’ line. Home second row Callum Duckett charged down the attempted clearance before diving on the loose ball to score. Home left wing Llew Gibbons then put in a searing run, veering infield before, unfortunately for the home side, the move broke down.
Pencoed back row forward Luke Hall then caught the eye, completing two tackles in quick succession to thwart a Sports attack. Jack Bevan then increased the Pencoed lead with a 35-metre penalty goal.
The Sports responded well and pressured the home line but the Pencoed defence held firm, centre Morgan Jones winning a vital turnover deep in his own 22. Pencoed led 8-3 at the interval. The visitors started the second half as they had finished the first, and got an early score, centre Liam Bevans slanting run taking him over under the posts. Callicott added the conversion.
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Pencoed’s handling was letting them down at crucial times with continuity through the phases proving difficult. However, sustained pressure from the home side got its reward. Ashley Bissett, Zac Taylor, and Rhys Clarke all went close before good ball retention saw Clarke reappear in the move to dive over.
Pencoed were finishing the match strongly, Jones splitting the visitors’ defence on two occasions to no avail. In the dying moments, Clarke put the ball into the Sports’ 22 and sustained pressure saw outside half Bevan force his way over, adding a fine conversion from wide out for a hard earned 20 – 10 victory.
For Pencoed Bissett, Clarke, and Jones were prominent, but it was young forward Luke Hall who was deservedly chosen as the home Man of the Match. For the Sports, their scrummage posed problems for Pencoed throughout.
Match Report: TR
Photos: Julie Hancock https://juliehancock.org
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