Fixture

Penclawdd 17 – Aberystwyth 13

Aber’s coaches and players will be disappointed with this narrow defeat by their close rivals from the Gower. But overall the result reflected Penclawdd’s superiority in most phases of play. Their strategy was built on pressure in every area of the game and they applied this clinically and relentlessly. It was only Aber’s tenacious tackling that restricted the home side’s scoring.

Field conditions were good but a steady, light drizzle fell throughout the first half as the home team showed their intention from the kick-off using their fast, skilful backs to attack. But the visitors dealt with these with their usual efficient covering and, although they held their own in the scrummages early on, they were second best in the lineouts throughout the game. Aber were first to score as Steffan Rees (No 10) kicked a penalty from 40 metres when the home side were caught offside at a ruck. Again the home side attacked and were stopped only when Rees (No 10) high tackled and was yellow carded. Tom Howell put the penalty kick over from 30 metres to enable the home side to draw level.

The visitors were unlucky not to score from a lineout on the half way line mid-way through the first half, after interpassing between Llyr Thomas and Matthew Hughes put the latter away to score wide out, only to be brought back for a foot in touch. On the half hour mark the home side were penalised 50 metres out and Aber found an excellent touch within five metres of the home line. A catch and drive by the forwards saw prop Billy Thomas go over for a try which full back Rees converted to put Aber 3 – 10 ahead. Penclawdd again came back strongly and, on the stroke of half-time, Howell kicked a second penalty to make it 6 – 10 at the interval.

Within five minutes of the restart Aber increased their lead to 6 – 13 when full-back Rees kicked another penalty for offside. The game was now being very hotly contested and the exchanges were fierce. As a result of one clash Aber’s Carwyn Evans and Penclawdd’s Matthew Stonham were red-carded. Howell missed the resulting penalty for the home side and was to miss three other kickable shots in this period. Their srummaging was getting stronger and Aber found it very difficult to channel their own ball cleanly as they were pushed back time and again. It was from a scrum near the Aber line that the home side drove over to score. The conversion was missed, but at 11 – 13 the home side were within striking distance and pressed even harder. They went ahead for the first time in the match when new kicker Tom Guarneri kicked a penalty from 30 metres to take the score to 14 – 13. He soon added a further penalty to complete the scoring at 17 – 13.

In the final ten minutes Aber pinned their opponents close to their line as they launched a number of drives. The ferocity of this pressure brought a desperate response from the home side and their No 10, Devonald was yellow carded for a ‘no-arms’ tackle and prop Whitnell was red carded for punching. But despite a number of drives that took them within inches of the Penclawdd line, they were unable to cross for that vital try and so the game ended at 17 – 13.

Although Aber came close to winning in the dying minutes of the game, the score was a fair reflection of the sides’ performance on the day. Penclawdd were well-drilled and determined. The visitors had difficulty in dealing with the way they contested possession and territory in every phase of the game.

For Aber, good clearance kicking saved them on many occasions, but elsewhere there was too much aimless kicking in attack. The home side fed off these to very good effect.  Also, too often, overlaps were wasted as the ball carrier cut back inside or needlessly chipped ahead. At times, Aber seemed to have more difficulty in their ball handling than did their opponents. As a result, the error count was higher than it has been in recent games.

After several matches where their scrummaging has been the strongest feature of their game, on Saturday the inability of the Aber pack to hold the opposition’s drive meant that they were in trouble on their own and the opposition’s put-in. Behind the scrum Aber’s defence was generally as sound as ever. In loose play the back row of Bryn Shepherd, Paul Stubbs and Lee Evans worked tirelessly, but it was Robbie Parry who stood out for the visitors.