AERON DIG DEEP

RUGBY ROUND UP-Aberaeron win at Neyland, Lampeter edged out in dying minutes but heavy defeat for Tregaron.

Division 3 West A

Neyland 5 Aberaeron 12

Aberaeron moved above their local rivals Cardigan in division 3 west following a narrow victory over Neyland.

The seasiders who have been in good form of late with big wins over Laugharne and St Davids started well and went ahead with a try from centre Ollie Sayer which was converted by stand off Rhodri Jenkins and they kept the pressure on the All Blacks with powerful forwards in the shape of Owen Wozencroft, Alistair Severs and skipper and Alex Denton effective ball carriers in the heavy conditions.

Neyland though replied with a try from player coach Steve Martin but this was to be their only score of the game despite the wind and slope advantage after the break.

The Ceredigion outfit tackled doggedly in the second half through the likes of Denton, Rhydian Harries and Gethin Hughes and they took their chance when it arrived with busy flanker Aaron Lewis sneaking over to all but kill the game off.

Pembroke 79 Tregaron 14

Powerful back rower Sam Smith was the hero for the scarlets as his four tries helped steer his team to a comfortable win over Tregaron at Crickmarren.

It was the Ceredigion side though who opened the score, albeit against the run of play but they soon hit back with Smith very influential and they crossed for 13 tries in total as the Tregaron challenge wilted in the miserable conditions.

Smith was part of an impressive back row which included try scorer Billy Wood and Jordan Evans with the latter grabbing a brace of tries. Others to cash in were skipper Scott Powell, stand off Toby Smith, winger Barry John, full back Luke Hartland and burly centre Dom Colman. Centre Sean Dalling converted seven of the tries.

Tregaron though had the final say with a late consolation try.

Division 3 West B

Lampeter 12  Bynea 18

In the top of the table clash at north road Lampeter suffered their first league defeat of the season against a powerful Bynea side who were also unbeaten.

The hosts were missing several players and there were debuts for newcomer Shawn Stapleton and youth player Charlie Roper and first starts of the season for experienced flankers Ceri Thomas and Laurence Bransden.

The rain fell heavily prior to kick off and the heavy conditions under foot suited the big visiting pack and the hosts were forced to tackle aggressively through the likes of James Edwards, Rhodri Williams, John Heath and Ceri Thomas.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring just before half time with a penalty but Lampeter hit back after the break when openside Ceri Thomas crossed for an excellent try and the conversion was slotted over by Carwyn Lewis to put his team ahead.

The visitors responded with a try from a driving maul to regain the lead at 10-7 and as the weather improved the hosts tried to run the ball at every opportunity and they were eventually rewarded for their enterprise late on when winger Gareth Griffiths crossed for a super try following great work by flyhalf Dion Hughes, centres Emyr Richards and Gethin Davies and young fullback Sam Whittingham.

The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but Lampeter were back in the lead with ten minutes to go. This all changed with just a few minutes remaining when referee Colin Phillips penalised a Lampeter forward for moving away too slowly from a ruck and the Bynea flyhalf took this opportunity with a well struck penalty to give his team a one point lead with time almost out.

Lampeter tried desperately to spin the ball despite the greasy conditions and just as they looked to be on the verge of creating an overlap the ball was intercepted and the visitors broke away to score a try to end the contest.