Waunarlwydd 31 Broadstreet 12 (5 tries to 2)

Broadstreet RFC travelled to Swansea on Saturday to take on Welsh Division 1 side Waunarlwydd RFC for a 3x30 mins pre-season practice match . Unfortunately, Street had a number of key players missing thanks to a scheduling conflict with former Broadstreet Club Comedian Paul Hurst's wedding (congratulations Hursty!) but this provided a perfect opportunity for our new signings and graduating colts to make a claim for the positions of some of our more established players

However, it could not have started much worse as Waun scored in the very first minute when a strike move from a scrum on the half way line broke the initial defensive line and the welsh attackers flooded through the gaps collecting a series of offloads as Broadstreet's covering tacklers struggled ineffectually to stop them.

Despite the terrible start, any fears that the game may have been a mis-match were allayed, when Broadstreet rallied and spent a large period of time in the home side's 22, which should have resulted in a try after former Broadstreet M&J and 1st XV debutant scrum half Will Owen re-collected the ball off Will Parkes and reached the try-line.  However, he must have spent too much time in the vicinity of Ciaran Price because, just as two-time dropper Ciaran did last season, Will spilled the ball at the crucial moment and a certain try went begging.

During the second period Waunarlwydd began to really show their class and they exhibited a fantastic brand of offload rugby that wouldn't have looked out of place in the Super 15, the young Broadstreet backline battled well but a few older heads in the pack probably should have helped by slowing the game down. Unfortunately Waun took advantage and extended the lead by another three tries.

Broadstreet responded with their own bit of brilliance when another snipe from scrum half Will Owen from his own 22 took them up to the half way line where he fed new winger Pete Bicknell who showed good strength and pace to fend off a would-be tackler and win the race to the try-line.

The third period was Broadstreet's best of the game and they actually came out winners of the session 7-0 thanks to a try from Will Owen after what seemed like 100% attacking territory for the whole 30 minutes, the try was converted by Scott Harman.

All in all, a successful day considering the young side that we took and the absence of a few influential senior players, (average age of the backline was 21 which included 32 year old Andrew Skene who was the only player over 23). Strong debuts from try-scoring winger Pete Bicknell, MoM Will Owen and new fly-half Scott Harman who distributed well but also constantly looks an attacking threat himself. Spectators from both sides were impressed by the positive attacking brand of rugby that both teams were pursuing and coach Tom Hoines is confident that Broadstreet will be a serious threat in the league this year, we are certainly going to be expecting a lot more tries.

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