Aberystwyth produced an outstanding team performance as they thoroughly deserved their 45-17 bonus point win against Yr Hendy at Plascrug, to move them up the Division One West table.

They fully exploited any weakness in the visitors’ defence to run in seven wonderful tries in a comprehensive victory.

The back three looked comfortable under the high ball speculative kicks from Hendy, and looked to run to run the ball back out of defence at every opportunity.

The first try came when Rhodri Richards, who ran strongly throughout the game, beat three defenders out on the right wing and slipped a lovely pass to the supporting Steff Bonsall to run over unopposed by the posts. The try was successfully converted by Llyr Thomas.

Hendy were initially edging the scrums and were awarded a penalty, which was successfully converted by Newman.Aber’s next try was very well-worked when, following a series of powerful carries by the forwards, with Harvard and Plumbridge to the fore, the ball was moved infield for the returning Paul Stubbs. With a characteristic strong carry, he fed Mathew Hughes, who burst through to score a wonderful team try, which was converted by Llyr Thomas.

Hendy should have scored next, but unfortunately the ball was knocked on by their winger with the line at his mercy.

The next Aber score was a wonderful individual effort by full back Steff Rees, who took a pass from Richards, picked a line and ran strongly from half way to score by the posts, leaving the would-be Hendy tacklers floundering in his wake.

It was also converted by Llyr Thomas.

Aber scored immediately from the kick-off when, following a scrappy phase of play and a hack through, the ball ricochet into the hands of Mathew Hughes, who ran strongly to score by the posts.

The try was again converted by Llyr Thomas to cap a fine half of determined and purposeful rugby by Aber and thoroughly deserve the four try bonus point.

Aber continued in the same vein in the second half and scored another fine team try when they turned over Hendy possession moved the ball away quickly across the backs. Rhodri Richards showed good pace to win the race for the touchdown following a grubber kick from Thomas.

Aber almost repeated the score a few moments later as they took a quick penalty in their own 22 and moved the ball quickly, but they knocked on in the Hendy 22 and the opportunity was lost.

Aber then took full advantage of a poor Hendy line-out, as Plumbridge carried the ball strongly deep into the Hendy 22, won the ensuing ruck and moved the ball accurately across the backs for Rhodri Richards to go over for his second try.

Hendy, to their credit, never gave up and they subjected Aber to a period of pressure on their line where they conceded a number of penalties, and eventually the referee ran out of patience and awarded Hendy the penalty try.

Aber overcame this setback and went on the attack, and they scored their seventh and final try when Carwyn Evans, feeling slightly left out of the proceedings, burst into the line between the centres to score near the posts. Llyr Thomas again converted the try comfortably.

Hendy still took the game to Aber and penned them back in their 22. Aber, in keeping with their approach throughout the game, tried to run the ball out of defence but centre Williams intercepted and cantered over to score a try, which was converted right on the final whistle.

Aber fully deserved this bonus point win with a fully committed performance from both the forwards and backs, with a slightly overwhelmed Hendy only showing glimpses of what they are capable of.