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The Dream Team Beat The Old Enemy

The Development XV were once again in action after a long lay off from the game. Meeting up the club before the game with a total of 15 players and 10 of them being forwards wasn't the exact start hoped for. HOWEVER, the whole squad were more than up to the task of taking on our old friends Dunvant. With numerous boys unavailable through injury and holidays the honour of Captain was left to Shaun Sturgess recently returning from a 4 and a half week retirement. The team took to the field with probably the heaviest pack ever known to our illustrious team & club, with Jordan Collins and his 30 stone frame in the boilerhouse the Dunvant pack didn't have much hope. The game kicked off and the weather was once again in our favour with gale force winds and sideways rain, Karl Newman playing Outside Half only had to tap the ball to cement our place in the Dunvant 22m. 

The first half was one for the rugby purists with around 873 scrums and 48 lineouts, Bony demolishing the Dunvant scrum in the process. Michael Fender & Ben Bailey mauling their opposite numbers going forward giving Andrew Yeates an easy base to run off at 8. As expected in the weather the ball rarely got past the 12 channel so it was a lot of up the jumper rugby. The forward domination resulted in a penalty straight in front of the posts for Bony but unfortunately Captain Fantastic Sturgess decided to go for a scrum instead of 3 points. Andrew Yeates carried off a powerful scrum to get over the line and dot the ball down only for the ref to call he was held up AFTER Yeates had walked away! In fairness to Dunvant they held firm in defence through several turnovers (some illegal..) and clearing their lines. 

Half Time Score - Bonymaen 0 - 0 Dunvant

The boys came out the Second Half to the prospect of playing into the wind, something that is never pleasing in Parc Mawr. From the kickoff the team really took the game by the scruff of the neck with some powerful carrying and off loading in dreadful conditions. Once again it became a scrummaging contest with Bonymaen taking the upper hand thanks to the heavy pack. After a yellow card to the Dunvant 6 for persistent infringing at the ruck it was now an even easier task for the pack. The referee had seen enough and trotted under the posts to award Bonymaen a penalty try with Outside Half Karl Newman converting easily. Then the game turned a bit for Bony, Dunvant began to sniff a bit of posession with their nippy 9 cutting around the corners of rucks and in behind the defensive line. Only a knock on stopping them from getting a try, in fairness to Dunvant they really stuck at it and kept coming but the Bonymaen Red & Black wall held firm. The Dunvant 10 then latched on to a pass from Scrum Half Tom Bevan to race over the line with Karl Newman just missing him but doing enough to keep him from taking the conversion. The resulting conversion was wide and Bonymaen held on to the lead. Outside Backs Freddie Derrick & Jon Voyzey decided to get in on the act and go on a few meandering runs through the Dunvant defence but unfortunately the last pass falling short.

Enter the Veteran Warriors James Bibby & Richard Scannell at 4 & 8 to steady the ship with their experience and Bibby's bald head to intimidate Dunvant. Unfortunately that experience didn't serve Scannell too well with after being told there was a minute left on the clock he decided to run the ball out in a rather nonchalant fashion only to be told there was 30 seconds left. Luckily the resulting lineout was tipped by Sturgess and dropped by the Dunvant player ensuring the win for Bonymaen.

All in all it was a great shift from the team especially with boys playing out of position and a few new faces coming in and really putting in outstanding performances. Next week we welcome Llangennech to Parc Mawr hoping to turn them over as well and climb the table.