Fixture

ABERYSTWYTH 29 – 10 LLANGENNECH

A very strong wind blowing directly down the pitch towards the clubhouse dictated the flow and conduct of the game. Aber fully deserved the win because they coped with the elements both with and against the wind better than Llangennech.

Aber kicked off with the wind at their backs and persistently drove Llangennech back into their own 22m are. They kept possession well with some effective drive. They moved the ball to the left quickly for right winger Ian Ellis to pop up and score a fine try in the corner. The try was converted by Steff Rees with a magnificent kick from the touchline. The Aber pack were well up for the challenge and showed their dominance in the early scrummages. Aber were quickly back on the attack and secured clean line-out ball on the Llangennech 22 and with a disciplined effort drive Llangennech back towards their line for Owain Bonsall to break off and score another good try wide out on the right touchline. With another prodigious effort Steff Rees converted to increase the lead to 14-0 Llangennech conceded a penalty by cynically knocking down an Aber pass and up stepped Steff Rees to convert and extend the lead to 17 – 0. Crucial to Aber winning the game was the next sequence of play where Llangennech camped on the Aber line and set up wave after wave of attacks but a very disciplined Aber defence repulsed them a eventually forced a Llangennech mistake. From the ensuing scrum Steff Rees cleared his lines with a magnificent kick deep into the Llangennech 22. They conceded another penalty where Aber opted for a scrum and were pushing Llangennech back over their line when they kicked the ball out of the scrum. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try for Aber to take a half-time lead of 24 – 0. Both teams were glad to gain the sanctuary of the dressing rooms for a well-earned break.

The second half closely followed the pattern of the first and Aber knew that they had a big defensive shift to perform in the second half. Llangennech had the early territorial advantage and form a scrum near the Aber 22 Llangennech centre Dale Watts broke through to score their opening points. The Aber defence showed that they were up to the task by turning Llangennech possession over on a few occasions thereby breaking up their flow. Llangennech scored their next points when following a clean line-out take on the Aber 22 they drove the Aber pack back over their line to score a good team try credited to James Cartwright. That Llangennech were unable to add to their total was due to Aber’s doggedness and resolve in defence. With kicking out of defence not being an option they had to run the ball out of defence and this they did with great relish No8 Dan Binks put in a prodigious shift with some dynamic runs from the base of the scrum which took two or three defenders to drag him down. Christmas came early for Aber who scored a bonus point try with the last move of the match when Roger Wilkinson intercepted a Llangennech pass on half way broke through turned the full back inside out and with a burst of pace sped away to score a fine individual try and complete the scoring at 29-10.

Aber fully deserved to win the game because of their superior use of the elements in the first half and their dogged and determined defence in the second half. This was a much needed win for Aber which sees them edging closer to the mud table melee.