RUGBY ROUND UP-First win for Llanybydder but defeats for Aberystwyth and Fishguard.
WRU Division 1 & 2 West.
Tenby United 33 Aberystwyth 7
After three defeats on the bounce Aberystwyth were brought crashing back down to earth with a heavy defeat at Heywood Lane.
The Ceredigion side had been on a roll and had moved up into the business end of the table but they came unstuck against a home team who were better in most departments on the day.
It was the Pembrokeshire team who broke the deadlock when outside half Ashley Sutton sliced through to score a try which he converted but the game was evenly contested and the Plascrug men went close when winger Gwern Penri was unlucky to knock the ball forward with the line at his mercy.
Tenby went further ahead just after the interval when they took full advantage of some sloppy work at the base of a ruck on the Aber 22metre line and the ball was turned over and right wing Jevon Barnes crossed in the corner to put his team 12 -0 up.
The Seasiders added further tries through Yannick Parker, Johnny Morgan, Jordan Asparassa and Osborne, to go with three more conversions from Sutton before Aberystwyth replied with a try set up by Owain Bonsall, the visitors’ best forward on the day. Bonsall was stopped short of the line and the ball was eventually recycled with Tenby under pressure and captain and number eight Lee ‘Truck’ Evans touched down. This was converted by Llyr Thomas to take the score to 26-7.
From the kick off Aber again knocked the ball forward and the Tenby pack stormed in and after a number of rucks close to the visitors line the ball was moved out wide for winger Asparassa to score a second try. Sutton again converted to complete the scoring at 33 – 7.
Division 2 West
Llanybydder 12 St Clears 8
Llanybydder produced a dogged performance against newly promoted St Clears to claim their opening win of what has been a difficult season to date.
The hosts who had lost three on the trot responded in the best way possible with a narrow victory over a St Clears side that are also finding life tough this season following such an exciting campaign last term.
The heavens opened and made the surface at Parc OJ very slippery but the strip held up well in what were thoroughly miserable conditions and the two packs enjoyed an even contest in the set-piece. The home side’s back row of Dion Howells, Liam Fitzpatrick and inspirational captain Ricky Davies were dynamic at the breakdown and won a number of very important turnovers and penalties. Fly half Steff Richards kicked four of these to provide all his teams points.
St Clears replied with a penalty for full-back Geraint Jones and they crossed for a try from close range by hard running number eight No 8 Mike Jones to set up a very tense final quarter with only four points separating the sides and both teams had chances to claim further scores but some excellent defending from the home team kept the saints out and they hung on for a very welcome win.
Yr Hendy 33 Fishguard & Goodwick 18
A poor start again by the seagulls gave them far too much to do at Hendy and despite a superb fightback they were eventually edged out.
The hosts were very impressive early on and ran in for tries through back rower Mark Witherspoon, centre Josh Baxter and winger Tom Harford, which were all converted by outside half Rhydian Morris.
Fly half Alun George replied for the visitors with a penalty before Tomos George raced in for a try just before the break.
Fishguard came storming back in the second half with experienced player Chris Shousha, Ryan Mc Veigh and skipper Gavin Walsh carrying the ball well and making the hard yards and the Seagulls added a further try when powerful forward Walsh barged over and this was converted by George who also added a penalty.
Hendy though rallied and upped the tempo and hit back with further tries from Harford and Baxter, one of which was converted by Morris to see off the challenge of the visitors from the west coast.
