NEWLY-PROMOTED Aberystwyth registered a close 22-21 win against Loughor to maintain their promising start to life in Division One West.

With the pitch in pristine condition, they started the game full of purpose, and were 14-0 up after 10 minutes.

The first try was a beauty, with a wrap-around move by influential outside half Mathew Hughes freeing up Adam Carvell to run strongly for the corner.As the visitors’ cover defence came across, he passed inside to the ever-supporting flanker Paul Stubbs, who crossed for the first try. This was converted by Llyr Thomas.

Loughor then missed a penalty attempt when Aber were penalised for not rolling away from the tackle area.

The next score for Aber was even better than the first, when Mathew Hughes made a searing break from open play and passed inside to Gruff Jones to score a class try, which was also converted by Llyr Thomas to make the score 14-0 after 10 minutes.

If the first period of the half had been dominated by the hosts, and Mathew Hughes in particular, the next period was dominated by Loughor scrum half Tom Davies, who scored two tries and converted both to make the half time score 14-14.

His first try came when Loughor worked their winger free down the right. Some excellent cover defence tackled him just short of the line, but after some disciplined close drives Davies forced his way over, and he also converted to make the score 14-7.

Aber were handing the initiative to Loughor with the concession of petty penalties and bouts of indiscipline, which did nothing to help their cause.

Davies’ next try was very similar to his first, when he made a fine break and was tackled short and, after a couple of drives by the pack, he was on hand to score his second, which he converted to make the score 14-14.

Aber dominated the next period of play, with Mathew Hughes making another fine break and a great off-load, but the cover defence nullified the attack and cleared their lines.

Aber’s scrum was becoming more dominant, but from one they were surprisingly penalised. The kickable penalty was missed, which was to prove crucial by the end of the game.

Dan Binks, who had a storming game, then stole the ball from a Loughor maul but the attack was repelled and it remained 14-14 at half-time.

The feeling was that Aber, after a very good opening period, had become sloppy and ill-disciplined in giving away too many penalties, and Loughor had grabbed the initiative.

Aber’s scrum in the second half got stronger and stronger, with front rowers Matt Roberts, Carwyn Thomas and newcomer Kevin Jones to the fore, and they took the ball against the head on a number of occasions.

From one Loughor scrum, under intense pressure, the ball popped out and the ever-alert Paul Stubbs pounced on it to score his second try, unconverted, to make the score 19-14.

Loughor came back strongly and after a series of disciplined drives by the forwards the ball was released to the backs and the right winger scored in the corner. The try was then magnificently converted from the touch-line by Davies for a two point lead.

Aber responded positively to this setback and took the game to Loughor, who were penalised for not rolling away from the tackle area eight metres inside their own half. Up stepped Llyr Thomas, and he coolly slotted a magnificent penalty to effectively win the game for Aberystwyth at 22-21.

For the next period of the game Aber penned Loughor in their half with some probing kicks deep into the visitors’ half. They had numerous attacks, trying to secure a four-try bonus point, but these were dealt with efficiently by the Loughor defence.

Indeed, the visitors came back strongly themselves and Aber had to defend heroically to win the game.

Bryn Shepherd deservedly won the Man of the match award for his willingness to support runners and appetite for carrying the ball in attack.