Builth Wells joint coach David Jones knows his side face a “challenge” as they aim to follow up their opening day win over Pencoed with an away day triumph at Mumbles in the Welsh National League Division Two (West) tomorrow.
The Bulls earned the first-day win they so wanted after making the most of home advantage to see off Pencoed 17-7, with a Rob Mills try added to by four penalties from John Thurston.
Not that they had it all their own as they were forced to retrieve a 7-0 deficit at the halfway stage.
But Jones knows his side are likely to face a much sterner examination as they head to south Wales tomorrow.
“It took us a while to get going against Pencoed,” said Jones. “This was mainly due, I think, to our disrupted pre-season programme when Abercrave pulled out of a game the week before and left us without a game.
“However, the forwards came out on top in the second half and the backs’ play was excellent throughout the whole game.
“We now go to Mumbles, who were fourth in the table last year, and it will be a challenge to come home with a result.”
Last Friday’s torrential rain had a large impact on the Pencoed game but with flood waters receding, Wayne Williams and his ground staff did a fine job not to allow the weather to spoil the start of the rugby season.
The game started badly for the Bulls as they gave away a penalty in the opening minute and another two minutes later.
Pencoed full-back Ken Morris missed both but made amends when he burst through the Builth defence for a try, which he converted.
The team from Bridgend continued to dominate the first half, containing the Bulls who rarely managed to break out.
Another missed penalty by Pencoed brought the half to an end with Builth grateful to be just 7-0 adrift.
The second half was completely different as the Bulls battled back to earn victory. Pencoed’s forwards seemed to have had the energy sapped from their legs by the heavy going and failed to make the impact they had earlier.
Builth coaches Jones and Lyndon Hammonds were adamant that the Bulls were going to start the season as a fitter outfit and the hard work put in during the summer paid off.
It was Builth’s turn to dominate territory and a tiring Pencoed started to give away penalties, with four in 20 minutes – all of them converted by John Thurston.
A try from prop Rob Mills shortly afterwards made the game safe although a desperate Pencoed had two more penalties, but failed to alter the scoreline.
Thurston was voted the Andrew Mills man of the match for his role but all the players deserve credit for not lying down when at, one stage, it had looked like an ominous start to the new campaign.
Builth (v Pencoed): Rob Mills, Shaun Hughes, Johnathan Taylor (Tom Price), Luke DeWinton, Chris Davies (Dan Davies), Andrew Duggan, Jamie Bain, Wayne Morris (captain), Geraint Jones, Dorian Davies, Mathew Lewis, John Thurston, Gethin Davies, Ed Jenkins, Mike Davies, Mark Thomas. .
