Sully Sports battle to a good win at Bridgend (From Barry And District News)

Sully Sports battle to a good win at Bridgend

BRIDGEND SPORTS 32 Sully Sports 39

In a scintillating game in which the lead changed hands eight times, Sully Sports emerged victors by virtue of their better teamwork and commitment.

Bridgend took the lead with a converted try after 7 minutes, taking a quick tap penalty in the visitors' 22 to catch the defence napping.

Within 10 minutes the Sully side had hit back to take the lead. They first scored a carbon copy try, with a quickly-taken tap penalty deep in the Bridgend 22 and centre John THOMAS finished of the move under the posts. Outside half Mike MEES adding the extra points. From the restart Sully replied with a good touch finder on halfway, and then won the home throw-in, from which scrum-half Martin Young made a 30m break down the touchline, passed inside to J Thomas who in turn found No 8 Graham BURKE in support to score wide out.

Within another 10 minutes, the home team had retaken the lead with 2 unconverted tries. The first well worked from a scrum on the Sully 22, and the 2nd from a poor defensive clearance kick which did not find touch.

Just minutes later, M Young took a quick penalty in midfield, and from his initial break, the ball was worked out to fullback Lee WALTERS, who burst through several would-be tackles to score at the posts - M Mees added the conversion.

Right on the 40-minute mark, the visitors were slow to field a long clearance kick and were caught in possession, then turned over and got a try for the lead again, which only lasted 3 minutes as deep into injury time, lock Ritchie FRANKS scored his debut try for Sully Sports making a front peel at a lineout on the home 5 metre line.

The pace of the game never slackened off in the second period, which was as exciting as the first although the frequency of scoring lessened. Bridgend retook the lead 5 minutes into the period, when from a penalty 30 metres out they quickly broke down the touchline to score an unconverted try.

Back came Sully Sports 5 minutes later, stopping a home attack and turning the ball over, and from 70 metres out L Walters launched a counterattack, carried on by M Young, M Mees and finally making his club debut, replacement centre Stuart MORGAN ran through the remnants of the home defence for a contender for "try of the season."

With 20 minutes left, the Sully Sports spurned an easy 3 points having been awarded a penalty 10 metres in front of the home posts, and the tap penalty move brought its reward as lock Dean RUSSELL crashed over for his 1st try for the club. M Young added the conversion and at last there was a little day light in the scores.

Play continued from end to end , and with 10 minutes left, the visitors were awarded a penalty nearly 40 metres out, and for the first time in the game, by either side, it was not taken quickly or used to gain field advantage downfield. Instead captain M YOUNG calmed things down and elected to kick for goal which he did to perfection.

Both sides still somehow kept the pace of the game up and the ball alive if at all possible - Bridgend desperate get back into it and Sully Sports looking to put the game out of reach.

In the gathering darkness, deep into injury time, some good interpassing opened up the Sully defence for what turned out to be a consolation try for the home team, and deservedly the spoils went to the visitors.

This Saturday, 4 December, Sully Sports will be seeking a double over St Peters as they travel to the Cardiff outfit for a 2.30 pm ko.