ABERYSTWYTH were able to build on their Swalec Plate triumph at Mumbles as they returned to winning ways in Division One West with a convincing home 39-8 victory against Tycroes.

The hosts started the game showing a number of changes from the previous week on a grey but dry day at Plascrug.

The entertainment to come wasn’t obvious when James Owens kicked an early penalty kick for Tycroes - but this seemed to fire Aber in action, and they were soon ahead.

Determined running and good handling, with virtually every player handling, lead to Robbie Parry crashing over for try near the posts, with Llyr Thomas converting.

Strong Aberystwyth scrummaging was disrupting Tycroes’s play and the resulting penalty earned Aber a foothold in Tycroes’s 22.

More strong running from Aber came to result in a Tycroes scrum on the defending five metre line, and good work from the forwards pressurised Tycroes at the scrum and Llyr Thomas crossed for a try.

Unfortunately he wasn’t able to convert because of the crosswind.

Worse still was that Prys Lewis had to leave the field with a calf injury, possibly as a result of his recent exertions in the Cardiff Half-Marathon. His replacement Oisin Canney, however, duly carried on his good work in the scrums.

Lee Gower collected a loose Tycroes kick well and then some strong running from Mat Hughes and Steff Rees allowed centre Tom Evans to power over, but again the conversion failed into the breeze.

From a lapse in concentration Aber were penalised and Tycroes hit the post, but Aber cleared well.

Aberystwyth continued to play exciting rugby and the Tycroes scramble defence only just brought them down 5 metres from the line.

More clever inter-play from a scrum inside Tycroes’s 22 metre line lead to Lee Gower scoring a good try, with Llyr Thomas hitting a post with the conversion attempt.

Another feature of the first half had been the clever box kicking of Ifan Thomas, which put a lot of pressure on the Tycroes defence.

Aber were now showing a lot of good running and handling, and following yet more good work from the team centre Carwyn Evans crossed for a try close to the posts, which Thomas converted. The score was 29-3 to Aber at half time.

Fourteen minutes into the second half a rampaging Arwel Lloyd, cutting a good line, smashed his way over from 15 metres out. Again good handling created the chance.

Carwyn Evans had to be replaced then by Malcolm Herbert through injury, and similarly James Plumbridge by Owain Bonsall, which lead to uncontested scrums.

Sam Hesden and Mark Evans both came on as well for the hosts.

Aber continued to play good rugby, and after a delicate chip by Matt Hughes, Arwel Lloyd dived on the ball just short of the dead ball line.

When questioned by the referee for waiting so long to dive, Arwel said he knew what he was doing.

Being so far ahead, and with all replacements used, Aber lost a little concentration and allowed Tycroes outside half Dean Bromham to score a consolation try from his own kick ahead, which was successfully converted by James Owens.