Fixture

ABERYSTWYTH 13 – 17 LLANELLI WANDERERS

On a bright sunny afternoon with the pitch looking in immaculate condition both teams deserve credit for serving up a hard-fought encounter with the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

Llanelli Wanderers started the game full of intent and forced the Aber front row to stand up in the first scrum and No 10 Jonny George kicked the penalty to open the scoring. Aber had to defend manfully during this opening period with their first-up tackling being far more effective than in the previous game. Llanelli Wanderers extended their lead when after a series of disciplined drives the ball was passed through the backs to right winger Jonny Jenkins to score their first try. This was converted by Jonny George to make the score 0 – 10.Aber’s line-out was not fully-functioning and combined with some lax refereeing of the scrums they were unable to secure any meaningful possession to force their way back into the game. However Aber against the run of play managed to score next when during another Llanelli Wanderers attack a speculative inside pass was picked up by centre Carwyn Evans who sprinted over from his own 10m line to score a fine try. This went unconverted. During a rare Aber attack Adam Carvell had a lovely mazy run   down the left wing but unfortunately Aber could not maintain any continuity of possession when they were penalised at the ruck. Just before half time the Wanderers No8 was penalised for a high tackle and No 10 Llyr Thomas kicked the goal to make the half time score 8-10. The well-organised visitors dictated the pace and tempo of the game during the first half but Aberystwyth’s committed defensive efforts kept them in the game with the neutral supporters saying that Llanelli deserved more than a 2 point lead going into the second half. Aberystwyth began to win more possession and created some attacking opportunities and following a ruck their open-side was penalised and yellow-carded for not rolling away from the tackle area. The ensuing penalty was kicked deep inti the visitors 22m area by Mathew Hughes but unfortunately the catch and drive from the line-out was repelled. Both sides then missed a kickable penalty each. Aber were by now exerting pressure of their own and eventually scored a fine try to take the lead at 13-10. Quick thinking by scrum-half Gruff Jones who took a tap penalty and fed Adam Carvell who with a classic in-out swerve he beat the last defender to score a very well-worked try in the corner. Llanelli Wanderers reacted very positively to this set-back and eventually after a series of drives by their forwards which stretched the Aber defence the ball was released for the backs to free centre Rhydian Morgan to score. The try was converted by Jonny George to make the score 13-17. Aberystwyth spent the remainder of the game putting real pressure in the Wanderers 22 but could not score the try that was needed to win the game. The referee did not allow any injury time at all and brought to an end a very competitive hard fought game which was a credit to both teams. Centre Mathew Hughes won the Man of the match award for some elusive strong runs and his line kicking which set up some very promising attacking positions.

Mwynhaodd y dyrfa gem galed cystadleuol iawn yn erbyn tim yn ol y gwybodolion fydd yn cystadlu yn galed I ennill y gynghrair. Dylai tim ifanc Aber dderbyn clod mawr am eu dygnwch pan yn amddiffyn ac hefyd eu hagwedd positif iawn trwy gydol y gem.