BRIDGEND BLUE BULLS 28 SOUTH WALES SCORPIONS U20 24

By Karl Jones at Pyle RFC

Bridgend Blue Bulls’ first team snatched a win over a youthful South Wales Scorpions under 20s side who were missing a number of key players due to injury, Wales Students training or first team call up.

The Welsh Conference champions, recognised as the best community side in Wales over the last decade, came back from behind to win 28-24 in an exciting encounter at Pyle RFC on Sunday.

After a physical opening exchange, Ben Jones opened the scoring for Scorpions, from Shane Lee’s kick after good work from Macauley Harris. Jones was unable to convert against a tricky wind.

The Bulls hit back moments later, Joe Symons and Owen Thomas combining for Jack Dryden to dive over in the corner. Thomas then put his side in front on 20 minutes, forcing the ball down despite being initially held in the tackle. Gareth Howells converted to give the Bulls a 10-4 lead.

Jones quickly levelled things up for the Scorpions after converting Sam Buckthought’s try, Jones and Rhys Gant combining to create a platform, before Buckthought powered over from close range.

Jones, Gant and Lee’s link-up play again created the platform for another try. After going close down the right-hand-side, Lee’s kick on the last tackle forced a knock on. From the resulting play-the-ball, Lee’s looping pass found Lewis Hughes to score .

Both teams traded chances at the start of the second half, but the Scorpions made their pressure count. Lee cut back against the grain to find Paul Edwards – who drew his man to release Joe Symons into space to score.

Dale Wood barged his way over to reduce the deficit, and Howells broke a number of tackles to level the score at 20-20.

Nathan Hawkins scored to give the Bulls the lead for the first time in the match with 15 minutes to go, and Thomas got his second try in a similar fashion – forcing his way over in the far left corner.

Edwards scored with three minutes to go, but the reigning Welsh champions held on for victory.