To get a semi you need to have had a hard one

Having won a few weeks earlier in a league game Dunvant were under no illusions how hard a game they were due to have, Birchgrove had bought to the party a strong well disciplined pack and a solid defence, this week was no different, however they also bought with them a couple of players who would prove to be a handful, their scrumhalf who was outstanding in our previous encounter was joined by an openside flanker who was a right royal pain in the ass, though there this was no real surprise.
Dunvant were forced into a couple of changes before kick off, one player being punished for the lateness of his appearance on the ground to be rewarded with a place on the bench, the other change which bought Birchgrove more into the game was the need to play the game on the smaller 3rd team pitch as the 2nd team pitch was waterlogged, playing into the hands of a forward dominated team.
Dunvant made the worst possible start with a kick off spilled resulting in a scrum just outside our 22, the Birchgrove 8 picked up and caught our backrow turned and on the back foot, he ploughed through our first line of defence and over the gainline only for quick ball to relaese their backs for a try in the right hand corner only for the conversion to be missed.
The scoring did not finish there as Dunvant were penalised shortly afterwards and within 10 minutes were 8 points down, however it did not take us long to get back into the game, as we drove deep intgo their half a seemingly very kickable penalty was turned down, this luckily did not have any impact on the result, but a similar decision later in the game had a significant impact.
Dunvant continually pressed and from a resulting loose kick down the pitch, Sam Hawkes gathered on the run and with some neat footwork scythed through the broken field to score in the corner, the conversion being missed. Dunvant continued to press only for a good try scoring opportunity to be spurned when a donkey got in the way of the backs.
However another penalty extended Birchgroves lead to 11-5 at the break.
Half time came but only after a significant event Birchgroves scrumhalf injuring his arm,only to leave shortly after the break in discomfort.
A changed in the back row bought on a bit more weight, but did not diminish its potency and it started to dominate the game, for Dunvant Alistair Hewins and Antonio Lezzi were dominant througout the game, and with the Birchgroves openside now playing 9, were able to dominate further the breakdown, Antonio in particular was enjoying the freedom he had been given by playing at 8 and was very destructive.
A penalty early on in the half put Dunvant back within a score
As Dunvant pressed they scored a further try when Eeoyore (Callum Bradshaw) crashed over from short distance, again the conversion was missed.
Birchgrove however pressed again, and this is where Dunvants maturity and may be better decision making paid off, though our discipine did put a bit of pressure on ourselves.
Birchgrove inexplicably with a penalty to the left of the posts decided to kick for the corner, only for Dunvants defence to be exemplary, by this time Sam Taylor had been introduced into the fray and he played a cameo that proved decisive, twice latching onto the attacker holding them up and stealing the ball with the help of the very able back row.
Indeed a relieving kick from a turnover deep in our half led to the ball being kicked long, when their fullback kicked the ball the entire Birchgrove team were offside, although Dunvant recovered the ball when offered a penalty advantage Dunvant put the ball down and took it, a very mature decison by Sam Ley, up popped Sam Hawkes to kick a penalty in very difficult conditions.
Birchgrove however came back again and with 5 minutes left on the clock, were deep in Dunvants 22 being offered a penalty but played on and spurned an overlap on the left,they had failed to tacke the advantage given them, a decision that may have cost them the chance to press for a winning score in the last few minutes.
Dunvant held out and won a game that gives our season a very symettrical look, played 8 won 3 lost 3 drawn 2, though hopefully we can push on from here.
There are 3 games in December to look forward to all at home, a Friday night game against Penclawdd (hopefully), then a pre Xmas game against Morriston, and on the Friday between Xmas and New Year a 7 o clock kick off game against Waunarlwydd for the Rhodri Jones memorial cup.
So get down there and give us and the club your support