Away Loss to Neath Athletic Youth

On a Blustery, Windy, Wet and Grey afternoon we travelled away to Neath Athletic youth with a bare team. With in excess of thirty players in the squad it is not acceptable to be turning up with less than half our squad on the past two occasions that we have played away.

Thanks to the regular core of players who are with us week in week out as without you we would not be able to fulfil fixtures. Those who are with us week in week out must also be thanked for having to play out of position to enable our games to be played.

Arriving at Neath Athletic with sixteen players we managed to select a team covering all positions. We were then advised that Neath Athletic did not have a recognised front row so this disrupted our scrummaging pack further!!

We knew Neath Athletic were a strong team having played them in a pre-season friendly so we knew it wasn't going to be an easy day at the office.

With the conditions not favouring running rugby Neath athletic took the lead through an unconverted try 5 - 0, a further two tries were scored by the Athletic which were converted 19 - 0. Having travelled with sixteen players we were unfortunate to lose Joe Packer through a recurring knee injury meaning that our one substitution was enforced before half time. Cory Bennett got Dunvant on the scoresheet just before the half time whistle with a first try for the club since his return from Morriston. Half time score - 19 - 5 to Neath Athletic.

At the start of the second half Neath Athletic were again first on the scoresheet with an unconverted try, Dunvant next to respond with a well worked try from flanker (Hooker) Ethan Murphy - 24 -10. Neath Athletic were to take the next two scores with one converted and one unconverted try 36 - 10.

Dunvant Youth battled bravely with the next two tries coming from centre Daniel Muxworthy and flanker Ryan Davies 36 - 20, a bit of a deserved response for the grit shown by the players.

Sadly Neath Athletic took the final score of the game right at the death - Final score 43 - 20.

Defence let us down on the day giving our opponents space and many missed tackles. We also need to ensure that we secure ball at the breakdown and arrive in numbers not ones and two's.

First tries of the season for all of our scorers today - Cory Bennett, Ethan Murphy; Daniel Muxworthy and Ryan Davies.

Take heart from the performance boys the second half performance was spirited - You never gave up.