Fixture

Aberystwyth travelled down to Tenby in this Division 1 West encounter, hoping to build on their confidence after their win against Gorseinon last Saturday and to improve on their league position. With four of the six Div. 1 fixtures postponed due to the weather, it was a surprise to find a perfect, frost-free pitch in fine sunny conditions.

Some good possession by Aberystwyth in the first five minutes led to a full-back Llyr Thomas try on the wing; the conversion going wide. A good start. Following the kick-off, Tenby started to exert pressure on the Aberystwyth line, but the attack was countered by some intensive defensive tackling. Play passed from one side to the other through clearance kicking and attacking drives often ending in handling errors. At fifteen minutes, a clearance kick by Aberystwyth was passed along the Tenby backs for No. 12 Moritz Neumann to break through, converted by No. 10 Lloyd Thomas.

The play led to a clearance kick by Tenby to touch on the 22m line. The throw-in was skilfully passed along the backs to allow promising young winger Tommy Sandford to touch down in the corner, bringing the score to 7:10. At twenty five minutes, a penalty allowed Tenby to level the scores. Kicked by Lloyd Thomas. There were no scores for the rest of the half, but Tenby were seen to be gaining in confidence. Both sides made some good attacking moves only to finish with handling errors under pressure. Tenby looked dangerous at times with some good individual performances making one wonder at their lowly league position.

The start of the second half saw a cutting drive by Dan Binks leading to a nice run by Ian Ellis only to be tackled short of the line. The Aberystwyth pressure continued a few metres short of the Tenby line with a good carry by flanker Bryn Shepherd. The spilled ball led to a Tenby scrum which was poorly cleared and some nice gains by Ian Ellis and Matthew Hughes allowed Steff Rees in at the corner. This was unconverted. The next ten minutes saw possession changing, interrupted by handling errors and two penalties; first for Tenby, then for Aberystwyth, which saw the visitors gain good position to allow slick handling towards Mat Hughes to run in at the corner, the conversion bouncing off the post. Score 10:20.

Following Tenby pressure, which was held back by stout defence, the play moved into the Tenby half and a Mat Hughes drive saw play move across the width of the pitch to allow the forwards to drive through and allow captain Arwel Lloyd to reach the line. At 10:25, Aberystwyth were gaining momentum, and a wonderful solo drive by Lewis Ellis Jones was thwarted as he approached the Tenby line. The Tenby scrum was cleared into the Aberystwyth half. A number of Aberystwyth substitutions were made at this time which included the captain. Good defensive tackling saw off the Tenby onslaught with a powerful Tom Evans drive easing the pressure. However, the final minutes saw a Tenby play along the backs allow no. 11 Jack Tucker to cross the line. The conversion made the final score 17:25.

The five tries gives Aberystwyth a bonus point win and pushes them away from the relegation zone. We look forward to next Saturday's visit by Llanelli Wanderers at the Plas Crug ground, and due to the afternoon's 6 Nations fixtures, there will be an early kick-off at 1:30 pm.