Fixture

Gorseinon 31pts Aberystwyth 29pts.

After a relatively gentle introduction to Division 1 against Penclawdd at home the previous week, Aber faced stronger opposition on Saturday. Gorseinon have been in Div 1 West for three seasons and last season finished in mid-table. But in ideal conditions for running rugby Aber showed class and determination to run the opposition very close indeed in a thrilling, high-scoring game.

Aber were two tries up in only fifteen minutes. For the first, from a ruck 10 metres out, the ball was passed to Plumridge who charged over for an unconverted try. Gorseinon stormed back taking play into Aber’s 22m; but from a winning ruck the ball was fed along the line to Slinger who made a brilliant 50-metre run downfield to score a second try. Gorseinon clawed back three points from a penalty before scoring an unconverted try. Poor tackling in mid-field allowed the opposition to launch another attack which resulted in a further unconverted try followed by a second penalty to leave Aber 18-10 in arrears.

They drove back downfield and from a catch and drive line-out the ball was fed to Tom Evans who scored near the posts allowing Hughes to convert comfortably bringing the score to 18-17. Gorseinon immediately hit back and after sustained pressure a break by full-back Callum saw the ball passed to fly-half Popham to score an unconverted try. Aber were now being stretched wide by the Gorseinon backs but held out for a 23-17 half- time score.

 Strangely the opposition had not made use of the wind advantage at all in the first half, and Aber seemed equally reluctant to do so for most of the second half. Both sides battled hard for supremacy for the opening ten minutes of this half until an excellent tackle-breaking run by No 10 Hughes took play downfield. He was stopped eventually but managed to offload to the ever-supportive Stubbs who scored under the posts. Hughes converted to bring the score to 23-24 and secured Aber’s four-try bonus point. Gorseinon hit back once more and were awarded a penalty in the Aber 22 metre area which they duly kicked.

Then came the turning point in the match. The ball was fed along the line to Aber’s right wing who rounded his opposite number to cover over 40 metres to score an excellent try. At that point the Gorseinon touch- judge decided that the winger had stepped on the touchline and belatedly raised his flag.  Although that try was disallowed Aber soon hit back with a fine try by full-back Coleman to regain the lead at 26-29. However, with only five minutes remaining, more pressure from a determined Gorseinon side and some weak Aber tackling, saw their left winger score to take the score to 31-29.

Aber’s players and coaches can feel proud of this performance but they would also concede that, although there is considerable potential, the squad’s development is still a ‘work in progress’. The Aber scrum was solid and their lineout efficient. Robby Parry was outstanding. However, there was some naivety in the use of the elements as insufficient use was made of the wind in the second half. Also, more determined tackling in mid-field could have turned the tide in Aber’s favour. But, with this result, they will have made other clubs in Div 1 West sit up and realise that Aber were not just promoted to make up the numbers.