AFTER a transformative performance in their victory over Crymych the previous week, Aber reverted to their old habits in their 38-24 defeat against Waunarlwydd.

Against Crymych they played fast, unselfish rugby, making the ball do the work, and scored tries as a result, but all too often on Saturday they seemed to believe that crash-ball tactics up front would win the game against a superior pack.

When the backs had the ball and used it wisely they were a big threat, and they scored all Aber’s tries. But again, selfishness and their failure to play ‘heads up’ rugby saw opportunities go begging.

Aber opened the scoring almost from the kick-off. Lee Evans won a ruck ball, Ifan Thomas put in a high kick, the home side failed to field the ball and Carwyn Evans gathered the fumble to go over near the posts. Steffan Rees added the conversion.

Waunarlwydd were quick to reply, however, with two penalties from their scrum half Evans bringing the score back to 6-7.

The home side’s game was expertly managed by their numbers 8, 9 and 10 and, together with their superior scrummaging, this gave them an advantage.

Aber were a threat whenever the ball was fed out to their three-quarters, and they should have scored from a counter attack; but the ball carrier ignored the two-man overlap, and was brought down.

Possession and territory was shared fairly evenly, and Rees added a penalty after a ruck infringement, to move 6-10 ahead.

Waun replied with a series of attacks, which resulted in centre Fox breaking through some weak tackling to score a try.

The conversion failed, but the pressure continued and centre Davies soon broke through some half-hearted tackling to go over, with Evans adding the conversion.

Waunarlwydd were 18-10 ahead and their domination was further emphasised when some expert tactical kicking by No 10 Hammet took play back down to within Aber’s 22 metre area. The home side won a scrum after the visitors knocked on and centre Davies had broken through for a try before the packs had disengaged.

Evans added an easy conversion, and Waun were 25-10 ahead at half-time.

The early part of the second half was more evenly contested, but Aber persisted in playing into the home side’s hands, keeping the game close to the forwards.

Good kicking from hand by No 10 Steffan Rees gave Aber good attacking positions and when he found touch five metres out from a penalty the visitors had a 15 minute purple patch, scoring two tries.

The first came from Cowdy on the wing, which Rees converted to make it 28-17.

Cowdy followed this up with an excellent break up-field and passed to the ever-present Paul Stubbs. He was tackled and the ball was fed to Hughes from the resulting ruck. The full-back made ground before releasing Llyr Thomas, who still had a lot to do before going over for an excellently worked try. Rees converted and Aber were back in business at 28-24.

This passage of play should have shown the visitors that open, running rugby could win them the game. Unfortunately, they went back to the sterile approach of the opening 40 minutes, allowing the home side to dominate once more.

A penalty increased their lead to 31-24, and after their pack demolished the Aber eight close to their line they inter-passed and prop George crashed over for a try, converted by Evans to close the scoring.

For Aber, Lee Evans and Ifan Thomas worked well together under pressure and Steffan Rees kicked accurately to keep his side in contention and out of trouble.

But the game was crying out for some creative, imaginative selection of options.

The backs scored all Aber’s points - and there was surely a hint there somewhere.