News

Maesteg Celtic visited Heol y Cyw on a lovely dry day. It was nice to see some established players playing their first game of the season. Mathew Phillips returned to the front row, while Jonathan Davies played in the back row, Liam Healy played scrum half, Nathan Healey centre and Lee Arthur on the wing.

            The first half was evenly contested with the Celtic forwards having the upper hand but the Heol y Cyw backs counter attacking at pace. Celtic failed to dominate as a result of frequent Celtic errors and key turnovers by the home team.            Heol y Cyw took the lead by half time with a converted try and a penalty.

            The home team extended their lead early in the second half with a converted try. Celtic got more into the game and closed the gap when wing Luke Smith broke the defence and took the ball into the 22 before being stopped. Scrum half Liam Healy picked up the ball from the ruck and threw a long pass to Captain Oliver Petty, who crossed for a touchdown. Tom George converted. Celtic scored again when Tom George kicked a penalty to the corner. Celtic pack set up a forward drive and Ben Uphill touched down. George converted.

The home team opened up the gap when they caught Celtic sleeping at a penalty and their scrumhalf ran in unopposed for a try which was converted. Celtic responded when prop Ben Uphill broke the defensive line and put Morgan Lloyd clear to run to the line. Scrum half Lee Arthur arrived at the ruck and crossed for a touchdown.

Celtic then dominated the final minutes of the game and came close when flanker Nathan Adams broke the defence and crossed the try line but couldn’t get the ball down. With minutes left on the clock Celtic were awarded a scrum 5 metres from the try line but their forward dominance was cancelled out when the defending team were unable to field a full front row and asked for a passive scrum.

The Man of the Match award was shared between second row Rhys Bevan Jones and flanker Gethin Tremlett.