Fixture

Maesteg Celtic RFC 19 v 15 Tondu RFC.-

Maesteg Celtic due to the cancelation of 2 pre season trial matches and last week`s farcical opening league match postponement at Cwmgors, went into their first game of the new season with only one match under their belt. Visitors and old rivals Tondu RFC had begun their season with a close win over Brynamman.

On a glorious sunny day with Celtic fielding four sets of brothers namely ( the Arthur`s, Jones’, Bowen`s and Poole`s) started with great intent, putting Tondu under pressure from all aspects, with forwards Alex Jones, and Captain Ollie Petty doing superbly well at the line out and the front row of Keith Stone, Ashley Poole, and Sean Lambert providing a great platform.

Early pressure, following some excellent tackling from Lee Arthur, Lewis Jenkins and Ben Poole, led to the afternoons first penalty, expertly kicked by Matthew Harris to give Celtic an early lead. This was quickly followed by another, before Tondu hit back with one of their own from Paul Smithson.

Celtic were now really getting on top, with Matthew Jones constantly driving hard at the defence, and the outstanding back row of Callum and Garin Bowen working tirelessly in the loose, whist Full back Lloyd Jenkins was looking in great form with a fine all round performance. The constant sniping from young scrum half Morgan Lloyd and some astute positional kicking from Matthew Harris, helped keep the pressure on Tondu, and a further sustained period of good attacking support play led to a driving line out move which ended with an excellent team try scored by Neil Arthur (who had an fine game throughout whilst playing out of position). The difficult kick was superbly converted by Matthew Harris.

Half Time Celtic 13 – Tondu 3.

Tondu were first out of the blocks in the second half and scored an early try by winger Sam Grabham, which went un- converted, and they continued to put pressure on Celtic. Celtic rode the storm with some great intelligent defensive work from Alex Jones, Ollie Petty, and Shaun Lambert who tackled superbly all game, and won a relieving penalty on halfway which Matthew Harris duly converted. But Tondu fought back again and scored a further try from Josh Tatchell following some fine inter-passing, converted by Paul Smithson, which made it 16- -15, with an exciting last 10 minutes left, but Celtic fought through their lack of match fitness with great determination, and subs Chris Everett, Nathan Jenkins, Scott Lyons, Morgan Reeves and Lloyd Paget all making great contributions with a strong recovery and secured a well-deserved victory with Matthew Harris coolly kicking his last penalty to make it a 19-15 to Celtic.