Porthcawl Youth travelled to Nantyffyllon, for the final away game of the preseason before the first Ospreys Cup game against Cwmafan home on September 11th
The young youth team started strong from the offset with encouraging play from the newly formed back row partnership of Will Jarman, Sol Kembrey and Josh Woodbridge.
Nantyffyllon were troublesome throughout frustrating Porthcawl after multiple phases of play Porthcawl failed to make hardly any ground early on.
The referee was sympathetic awarding a flow of penalties to Porthcawl just inside the Nantyffyllon half where Captain Elliot Bennett took it upon himself to have a shot at goal three meters inside the Nanty half five meters from the touchline.
Bennett struck it superbly bang centre of the sticks, Porthcawl took the lead after twenty minutes of frustrating and disruptive play 3-0 to Porthcawl.
Nantyffyllon took the restart with a kick deep in to the Porthcawl 22, covered well by Jay Sheen stepping in as fullback who turned the ball over to allow Bennett to pull off another superb Crossfield kick taking Porthcawl deep back into Nantyffyllon own half just outside their own 22, only to be taken out by Nantyffyllon lineout to Porthcawl.
The universal Dom Manaseitava stepping in as hooker for the first half of the game, threw a good ball taken by Josh Woodbridge saw the powerful Porthcawl pack drive Nantyffyllon back several meters, again Nantyffyllon upset the flow of play for Porthcawl.
A scrum was dubiously awarded to Nantyffyllon, which baffled forwards coach Paul Matthews Ex Bridgend, Neath and Aberavon second row.
Natyffyllon scrum Porthcawl upped the pressure with a powerful drive forcing the loosehead to lose the bind free kick awarded to Porthcawl.
Complying with the new covid laws Connor Mundy took the quick tap and pass, picked up by Jack Olding who had another outstanding game failed to gain any momentum, only having the ball turned over by Nantyffyllon who continued several phases of quick and aggressive attacking play.
Only to be awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck just to the right of the posts, with a successful shot at goal took the score to 3-3 at halftime.
Nantyffyllon came out all guns blazing in the second half Porthcawl struggled to get any momentum flowing in attack, the centre partnership of CJ Barrett and Elliot Bennett working closely with Luke Roberts tirelessly clearing midfield kicks couldn’t break the back line of Nanty.
Nantyffyllon continued to pile on the pressure, however their ill-discipline reduced them down to 14 men midway into the second half.
Nanty opted for the quick tap and run with an aggressive flow of attacking play put Porthcawl under a huge amount of pressure, the replacement scrum half Alex Williams collecting a spillage at the breakdown made a dash for the open field only to be faced by the strong defensive line of Nantyffyllon Nanty were awarded a penalty for not rolling away at the breakdown who opted for a shot at goal successfully taken putting Nantyffyllon in the lead for the first time in the game 6-3 with ten minutes to go.
The Porthcawl squad mainly made up of U17 players showed guts and passion throughout the game and the last few minutes, really asked everything from them.
With a barrage of penalties awarded to Porthcawl they threw everything at Nantyffyllon fresh legs of Taylor Gape, and Ollie Sadd, and the long-awaited return of Bud Morgan who I’ve been informed will turn up for training on Thursday 😊 made a huge impact during the closing minutes of the game.
Porthcawl continued with some outstanding forward orientated play were now camped on the Nantyffyllon 5 Meter line, with less than a minute to go until fulltime.
Alex Williams went for a cheeky tap and run with another attempt at the very physical Nantyffyllon defence and failed to gain ground.
The determined pack of Porthcawl who really did give everything pushed Nanty back over their own line, putting them under immense pressure forcing the referee to award Porthcawl with another penalty for Hands in the ruck. Nanty’s discipline starting to crack with a challenge towards the referee resulted in another sending off, putting them back to 14 men in the fading seconds of the game.
Porthcawl could have quite easily taken the option of the three points to draw the game at 6-6 the hunger was clearly oozing out of the well-organized squad they wanted the win away.
Alex Williams with the tap and pass to Dom Manaseitava gaining several meters followed by a wall of Porthcawl forwards allowed the backline to go wide closed down too quickly again by Nantyffyllon, who were pinged by the referee for offside. The determination of pack leader Josh Woodbridge directly in front of the referee went quickly taking on several Nantyffyllon players alone crossed the whitewash grasping the win away at Nantyffyllon successfully converted by captain Elliot Bennett. Backs coach Mathew Roberts said it was an outstanding defensive game, but we were frustrated in attack. Team Manager Steve Knipe commented it was a battle until the end and the boys gave it everything and we are thrilled for them. Player Of The Match Josh Woodbridge Final Score Nantyffyllon 6 Porthcawl 10 Match Report By Ryan Woodbridge Technical Coach Porthcawl Youth.
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