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On a great afternoon for running Rugby, unbeaten and second-placed Crynant, with an experienced and very capable side, arrived at South Road for this top of the division clash but ultimately it was an outstanding first half from the home side that would sort matters.

Porthcawl were bolstered by the return from injury of influential scrum half Ross Parsons and it was his service that got the home side’s backs running at the opposition with relish.

Porthcawl’s pack were up against a huge Crynant eight and from the first whistle, both teams went hard at it, with not an inch given either way. With the rampaging Tom Butcher at No 8 and James Burge-Davies at blind side leading the charge, it was Parsons that inspired the first score of the match.

From a quick tap penalty, he made a searing 40 metre break into the Crynant 22 and at the ensuing ruck, Crynant transgressed, allowing Josh White to  bang over the 20 metre penalty for 3-nil.

With Porthcawl’s front row of Tim Lunn, Jack Williams and Anthony Griffiths setting an ample platform in the tight, the home pack had parity and more and on 20 minutes, from a line-out 15 metres out, an enormous driving maul ended with Burge-Davies being driven over for the try, with White’s conversion being held up just short by the wind, for 8-nil.

Make no mistake, Crynant themselves were fully contributing to an absorbing match but couldn’t quite hit top gear as Porthcawl’s combative approach allowed them little, with some great defence at times.

With the half drawing to a close, a moment of magic from Seaweeds hooker Jack Williams saw him break clear from a ruck, covering 30 metres into Crynant’s 22 before the ball was moved left.                     Superb transfer of the ball and the softest of hands from centre Tom Bluck, put a beautiful pass into the arms of wing Jake Thomas who raced in at the corner for a quite outstanding try. White’s most difficult kick of the day from right on touch, clipped the inside of the upright, falling the right way for the extras and at 15-nil, Porthcawl were deservedly in control, at the break.

The half time team talk certainly galvanised Crynant and they up their game in the second half to cause Porthcawl problems, with the home defence being called on several times to thwart promising positions for the visitors. That said, Porthcawl could have a couple more tries as full back Gareth Rees and centre Sean Wilcox were both called back for marginal forward passes with scores on the cards and this seemed to inspire Crynant, who could still snatch the match.

Indeed, as the visitors started to create pressure of their own on the home side, their efforts finally paid dividends.

No.8 Iwan Hopkins, one of three sons of former Neath great Hywel Hopkins playing on the day, and who had a fine match throughout for Crynant, drove over for a deserved try, converted by centre Joel Healey and suddenly it was game on at 15-7.

Both sides lost front row players to injury in the final stages and the match went to uncontested scrums, which seemed to take the steam out of the Crynant charge, and with Porthcawl’s backs having the better of matters behind the scrum.

Porthcawl had a chance to grab a final try when White’s touch-finder from a penalty brought a useful line-out 10 metres out. However the Seasweeds couldn’t take full advantage and when the final whistle sounded, the home side had emerged with a very well-earned victory, leaving coach Rhys James elated with his side’s efforts.

Porthcawl visit Cilfynydd in the WRU Bowl on Saturday, whilst on Friday 11 November, the Club holds a lunch with Lions Great DAVID DUCKHAM M.B.E., who is in South Wales for the day, commencing at 12-30. All are welcome, ladies and gents, and for tickets, call the Club on 784242.