Fixture

Whitland 25 – 22 Aberystwyth

Despite the heavy rain that had fallen in the previous two days, ground conditions at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn were good and the game was played in the dry with bright sunshine throughout. A number of key Aber players were missing for this match against their mid-table rivals and some others were playing out of position, so the teamsheet had an unfamiliar look.

In the first period, the sides exchanged penalties. Outside half Nico Setaro put the home side ahead and Steff Rees replied for Aber. Territorial advantage and possession was shared fairly evenly between the two sides. Aber’s forwards held their own in the lineouts and in the scrummages, and honours were fairly even behind the scrums too.

Aber’s first try came from a good break down the middle by Steffan Bonsall. He was stopped on the hosts’ 22 metre line and from the ensuing ruck the ball was spread to the left. Full back Llyr Thomas came into the line to make the extra man and he put winger Dylan Evans over in the corner for a fine, unconverted try to put them 3 – 8 ahead.

Whitland hit back hard as their key playmaker, Nico Setaro, put them in good positions with long, precise kicks to set up opportunities. The home side varied their approach between their pack’s favoured tactic of pick-up-and-drive and their backs’ spreading of the ball wide as Setaro again dictated play. Despite these threats they were unable to penetrate Aber’s defence as the visitors tackled and covered very well. Matthew Hughes, Rhodri Richards and centre Steff Rees counter attacked but Whitland’s cover was good and the first half ended with the visitors 3 – 8 in front.

The hosts kicked off to start the second half and from a failed fielding of the kick they forced Aber to defend. They were awarded a penalty for their efforts as Aber failed to release the ball at a ruck and Setaro closed the gap to 6 – 8. Aber were quick to reply with their own pressure and forced the hosts into handling errors. Scrum half Gruff Jones seized on such a mistake 40 metres out. He scooped up a dropped pass and raced to score a fine, individual try under the posts. Steff Rees converted to extend Aber’s lead to 6 – 15.

Aber were reduced to fourteen men at this stage as Rhodri Richards was yellow carded. Whitland capitalised on their numerical advantage and Setaro’s kicking from hand again put his team in strong positions to attack. The hosts’ pack drove forward from a lineout 20 metres out and won a penalty for another lineout 5 metres out. Aber’s forwards kept out the driving maul at first but finally, Whitland prop Aaron Mayne was driven over for his side’s first try. Setaro converted and at 13 – 15 the home side were right back in the game.

Mayne scored his second try very soon after his first as Setaro had again put a superb penalty kick within 5 metres of the visitors’ try line. In an identical catch and drive the prop plunged over for an unconverted try and lead of 18 – 15.

Whitland’s tails were now up and when No 8 Jack Mason was allowed to gather the ball from broken play in mid field and sprint away towards the line, he found second row Ben Kirk on hand to score a well taken try. Setaro converted and Whitland were 25 – 15 ahead.

The visitors replied soon after when an excellent break down the right hand side of the field by Rhodri Richards led to a try in the corner by winger Dylan Evans. This was very well converted by Steff Rees and Aber had pulled back to 25 – 22. As the game went on, so Aber gained the upper hand in the scrums while Whitland gained more and more control of the lineouts and the loose. The final stage of the game was all Aber’s and they did everything but score. However, on the day, that final score reflected the teams’ performance.

 Aber has strong, mobile forwards but they seem reluctant to go over the ball at the breakdown to fight for turnovers. This is unfortunate because their tackling and mobility presents them with plenty of opportunities to dictate in these situations.