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A Maesteg Celtic XV entertained a Division 1 Heol y Cyw XV in a friendly match at Garth Park on a sunny Wednesday evening. The game was a hard, fiercely contested, physical, encounter right to the end.

Celtic pack were on top for the first twenty minutes with number 8 Rhys Jones and second rows Oliver Petty and Mathew Jones carrying the ball well. Celtic took the lead after a series of forward rushes took the ball deep into the Heol y Cyw half before scrum half Morgan Lloyd put outside half Mathew Harris clear for a thirty yard break to score in the corner. The remainder of the half was spent in the Celtic 22. Heol y Cyw tried repeatedly to break the Celtic defence but great tackling by forwards, Jay Whelan, Daniel Miller, Nathan Adams and backs Rhys Fisher, Ben Poole kept them out until the final minute when Heol y Cyw scored in the corner.

The second half began with Celtic pressing in the Heol y Cyw 22. The visitors won a lineout and ran the ball the length of the field to score a converted try. Celtic responded with a number of forward rushes before Oliver Petty put substitute flanker Callum Bowen over for a try.  The visitors pressured the home side and forced a relieving kick which was run back for a converted try.  Heol y Cyw went further ahead when Celtic threequarters dropped the ball while attacking their opponent’s line. The ball was gathered and quick passing allowed them to run the length of the field to score.

Celtic won the ball from the kick off and Petty charged forward before giving the ball to Rhys Jones who put Callum Bowen over for his second try. The final try of the game was typical of the Celtic. Harris kicked a penalty to the corner, hooker Morgan Reeves found Mark Hillier-Rees from the lineout and the pack drove him over for a try. Celtic pressed hard for the final few minutes of the game but ferocious defence by the visitors gave them victory.