BLUES WIN AMATEUR BATTLE

AMATEUR OSPREYS 15 AMATEUR BLUES 22
 Dunvant RFC, Tuesday the 22nd of November 05

 
The Amateur Ospreys kicked off their existence in the new WRU Regional Community Championship against the Amateur Blues at Dunvant.  After dominating the opening period of the match, the Ospreys opened the scoring after 15 minutes when the Penclawdd duo of number eight Stuart Barrow and scrum half Philip Tucker combined from a scrum 40 metres out for Tucker to touch down in the corner.  The try was converted from the touch line by Waunarlwydd outside half Alan Richards.  The Ospreys continued to press and when the Blues were offside on the 22, Richards was successful from in front of the posts for a 10 – 0 lead.

The heavier Blues pack began to exert pressure and following a succession of scrums near the line, number eight Geraint Turner (Abercynon) drove over for an unconverted try.  Five minutes later the Blues went ahead when following more forward pressure, scrum half Rhys McCarthy (Fairwater) dummied his way over near the posts.  Full back Matthew Turner (Abercynon) converted for a half time score of 10 -12.

Within minutes of  the restart the Ospreys were reduced to 14 men following a yellow card to replacement prop Tom Gronow (Waunarlwydd) and Turner extended the lead with the resultant penalty.  Despite the numeric disadvantage, the Ospreys drew level when after Turner failed to gather a kick, replacement centre Andrew Banfield of Loughor ran in for an unconverted try from 20 metres.

With the Ospreys’ forwards winning a better share of possession in the second half, the match was evenly balanced, but it was the Blues who got the decisive score when with 15 minutes left following a good break from midfield they won second phase ball on the line and John Campbell (Barry) drove over at the posts with Turner adding the conversion.  The Ospreys pushed hard for the equalizing score in the closing stages, but without success. Final score Ospreys 15 , Blues 22.