Fixture

Aberystwyth RFC put in a solid home performance to beat struggling Whitland RFC, running in six tries and gaining a winning bonus point. The visitors should be commended in fielding a side, but unfortunately the game was played throughout with uncontested scrums and Whitland playing the game a player short.

On a bright, sunny day at Cae Plascrug with a gusting, biting cross wind, Aber were quickly on the attack from their kick off, rucking the ball up to Whitland’s 22 metre line and a three quarter move by Aber was finished off by centre Carwyn Evans bursting through to score a try converted by Dylan Benjamin. A period of play then ensued with both sides unable to gain the upper-hand from penalties and lineouts. A yellow card for both teams should have opened up play with gaps to exploit, but both sides were making heavy weather of using their possession constructively. The game was becoming a dour struggle in midfield with disjointed play by both sides. Penalties awarded to Aber pushed play up the field, good lineout work kept play in the visitor’s half but untidy play in the loose released any pressure on the visiting team.

Aber stuck to the task and were beginning to play more fluent rugby. The deadlock was broken by Aber’s flyhalf Benjamin breaking from deep in his half, passing to Iestyn Thomas in open play who burst through a tattered Whitland defence to supply a telling pass for Evan Rowbotham to score an unconverted try. Whitland picked up the pace on the restart and after a tapped penalty and rucks deep in Aber’s 22 metres, the visitor’s centre Gino Setaro scored an unconverted try. Aber were soon back on the attack and a good line break and work in the loose by the Aber forwards resulted in Iestyn Thomas crossing for an unconverted try. The first half was ending on a high note for Aber. Half time score:  Aberystwyth 17   Whitland 5.

The second half scoring started with Whitland’s flyhalf Scott Newton converting a penalty into points from 35 metres out to narrow the gap between the two sides. Untidy play by Aber in open play allowed Whitland to breakthrough for Aber’s try line but a try saving tackle by Ben Jones allowed the home side to scramble the ball clear. Whitland tried to narrow the points gap but failed to convert a penalty into points. From the 22 metre drop out Aber were showing dominance in rucks and mauling well from lineouts but were pinned back close to their try line after conceding penalties to the visitors. Aber’s defence was solid, and the forwards rucked out of the danger zone well with good line breaks.

Aber steadily pushed play back deep into the visitor’s half, and a scrum to Aber and solid rucking saw Will Caron cross over for a converted try. The home side cleared their lines from the restart and pushed play up the field. Following a quickly tapped Aber penalty, a precise cross field kick was well taken on the run by winger Jones who sprinted in for an unconverted try. The adrenaline was pumping now, and Aber tapped another penalty and forced the visitors to clear with a defensive kick that was fielded on Aber’s 10 metre line by Ben Jones who started  a strong, scything run through the Whitland defence from 50 metres out, scoring an impressive solo converted try under the posts. Whitland kept on playing and tapped any penalties and rucked well to put pressure on Aber’s try line, and the final play resulted in Trystan Rees scoring a converted try for the visitors.

Final score:  Aberystwyth 36   Whitland 15

Definitely a game of two halves. The first half was a close, dour encounter, with both sides coming to terms with uncontested scrums and the lack of front-foot possession from scrums. Aber ended the half with two quick tries that set up a much better second half performance by the hosts with ball in hand to exploit gaps in the visitor’s defence. It was good to see players returning from injury and illness fitting straight back into the side and scoring tries.

Match Sponsor: Richard Thomas Heineken
Ball Sponsor: Rob & Julie Reid
Photos: Mike Binks
Match Report: Graham Harris