Fixture

Aberystwyth 31pts  Pontyberem 9

It was a wet and wild Saturday afternoon but Plascrug withstood the ravages of Storm Abigail on Saturday, the venue of one of only two matches in the division to survive. The home team had suffered a blip in their impressive start to the season the previous week making it important for them to overcome the threat of a Pontyberem side that itself had had a very creditable start of term. In the end Aberystwyth achieved their mission in style, running in five tries and earning a bonus point into the bargain.

In the face of the conditions both sides should take a huge amount of credit for an exciting and entertaining afternoon of rugby played in good spirit. The first quarter saw each side in turn testing the other until the home side were penalised in the shadow of their stand; they had difficulty in understanding Llanelli referee Alun Emmanuel’s reasoning but their protestations gave the visitors ten metres, enough to bring the kick within range of Bont fly half Mike Sauro, and the skipper duly landed an excellent penalty from just inside the Aber half.  The home side had an immediate chance to redress the balance from the restart, but the wind blew up at the wrong time to take away skipper Jason Rees’s first attempt of the day. But within a couple of minutes his side went one better. A strong run by number eight Dan Binks took Aber to the Pontyberem 22 where he was brought down by the defence. The visitors unfortunately knocked on putting themselves under pressure from the ensuing scrum. Aber swung the ball out to the left and Adam Carvell took a half chance to break through the Pontyberem defence and sped with the ball into the 22.  The wing was stopped ten metres before the line but Carwyn Evans was there in support and the centre took the pass and rounded to touch down near the posts. Rees converted to set up a 7-3 lead. Aberystwyth were in full flow and came close to extending their lead immediately when scrum half Gruff Jones broke and kicked ahead forcing the visitors to carry the ball over their own tryline. Aber were penalised at the ensuing scrum but continued the pressure on their visitors. Within minutes they kicked ahead again and flanker Paul Stubbs won the race to the line to claim his tenth try of the season. Rees converted to put his side seemingly comfortably ahead at 14-3 on the half hour. But Aberystwyth fell foul to the referee’s decisions in the last ten minute of the first half and Sauro landed two more penalties to make the score 14-9 at the break.

The two sides (and the referee!) were grateful for uncharacteristically spending half time in their changing rooms and when they came out Aber got off to a cracking start. They added their third try just two minutes in when flanker Lee Evans touched down in the corner. A little later they were handed a yellow card by Mr Emmanuel but survived the ten minutes very well and in fact added to their score during that time. Following a penalty five metres out from the Bont line number eight Binks crossed over for a try that secured their bonus point and gave them a 24-9 lead  with 65 minutes on the clock. The conditions became progressively worse during the second half but it was commendable that both sides kept moving the ball and playing entertaining rugby. There was only one further score when centre Evans showed pace to reach the line and claim his brace. Rees converted to make it 31-9; there may have been a few minutes remaining but with no further issues to settle Mr Emmanuel brought proceedings to a close. This was an excellent display by the home side and Aber fielded their full complement of players and replacements to give them valuable game time. The squad on Saturday did have two new faces in the shape of the latest two players from New Zealand to join Aberystwyth ranks. The hosting of Kiwi players is now well established and the link has also seen several Aber players gain valuable experience down under. Aber welcome two 21-year olds for a six month stay this year in the form of centre Myles Hamilton and flanker Oakley Johnston. Despite it being just 48 hours after their arrival both took to the field on Saturday (Hamilton for the whole 80 minutes) and their presence from now to the end of the season is eagerly looked forward to.

With two matches left before the halfway point in the season Aberystwyth now face stern challenges from the two sides nearest to them in the League. That starts next Saturday when they travel to second placed Penclawdd. The cocklemen remain unbeaten and Aberystwyth will relish the task ahead of them. Meanwhile the Youth XV entertain Neyland at Plascrug whilst the Athletic XV travel to Whitland.