Fixture

New season, new coach, new kit, new programme, some new players but we could not get the season going with a new win over a very strong and experienced Baglan side that just missed out on promotion last season.

Though we could not deliver a win for Emori to match his hard work and strong commitment ( he drove down from London to be present at the game and drove straight back up to London immediately after "No-Side" we made very positive progress compared to last season's results against Baglan. They beat us 25 to Nil in Rhigos and followed that up by giving us a 59 poit licking down on their patch.

There were excellent performances from "Don.t Call Me Jon" Pionteki, Davey Twin, Darren, Duane and Jon Smith whose experience held the young team together while Joss Pope reinvented himself yet again. This season he is a Loose head prop.

However Baglan were just a bit too big, too heavy and too well organised and pressurised us into early mistakes that kept us down in our 22 for long periods. They scored first after a series of driving mauls and the try was converted for 7 points. To our credit we went down field and counter attacked to win a penalty that Dean converted. But it proved to be a rare break out and play went back down into the Rhigos red zone where Baglan first converted a penalty and then their number 8 picked up from a nicely judged wheel of a scrum 5 yards out to score close to the posts. The full back converted and Baglan went in at Half time 17 points to 3 in front.

We had worked really hard in this half knocking down the big men and thanks to a steady scrum were clinging on and after half time for the first 20 minutes we did make some impression on the Baglan defence with some clever footwork from Lewis and Dean and strong running from Cam, Jon, Josh and Tecky and mid way through the second half the hard work paid off when Smithy was worked clear and beat 2 tacklers to croos near the posts for Dean to convert. 17 points to 10 and Baglan were starting to blow a bit. But unfortunately they steadied up and they settled down and in the last 5 minutes scored the try of the match with a sweeping move across the backline for the left wing to touch down in the corner.

That was the end of the scoring and captain Duane and coach Emori were both a little bit disappointed to lose but really proud of the team's performance. Next week old friends Banwen away and then Brycethin in the cup.