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Maesteg Celtic faced the realities of Division One when they visited an experienced Kenfig Hill side last Saturday. Celtic competed well in the set pieces and defended valiantly on the gain line but had difficulty in dealing with the pace of the home team in broken play.  Celtic front five of Ryan Shearan, Ashley Poole, Sean Lambert, Peter Kehoe and Nathan Jenkins held their own in the first half and began to dominate in the second period. The back row of Ryan Turner, Jonathan Davies and Captain Oliver Petty tackled manfully and successfully carried the ball at their opponents. The visitors half backs, Liam Healey and Harri Evans worked well together and used the ball well. The centres Lee Arthur and Kristian Jenkins closed down their opposite numbers in set play but had no answer to the quick long passes of home half backs Ton Briggs and Nicky Giles from turnovers. Celtic back three of Ryan Lovett, Morgan Harris and Matthew Harris had little attacking ball and had to defend against the pace of their confident opponents.

Kenfig Hill opened the scoring with a penalty in front of the posts for offside five minutes into the game. Celtic responded with a powerful break by flanker Jonathan Davies who took the ball into the 22. Scrum half Liam Healey passed quick ruck ball to wing Ryan Lovett who was stopped illegally short of the line. Oliver Petty took the ensuing penalty quickly and ran in a try. Outside half Harri Evans converted. Kenfig Hill regained the lead when Celtic lost the ball on halfway and the home team moved the ball swiftly to wing Lewis Morgan who ran around the defence to create a try which Giles converted. They went further ahead   when they found a gap in the Celtic defence and their three quarters interpassed at pace to touch down. Giles converted.

Celtic closed the gap when fullback Matthew Harris broke the home defence and made ground. He passed to flanker Ryan Turner who took the ball to the home red zone. The ruck was illegally killed and the penalty was kicked to touch. From the ensuing lineout Captain Oliver Petty crossed for a touchdown.

The home side began the second half with a push over try from a lineout and followed that with a 70 metre effort from a broken Celtic attack. Celtic did not give up and exerted periods of pressure on the Kenfig hill line only to turn over the ball and see their opponents three quarters run the length of the field to score their fifth try. The final score was Kenfig Hill 38 v 12 Maesteg Celtic. Captain Oliver Petty was awarded Celtic Man of the Match.