DESPITE some very poor performances lately, Aberystwyth had managed to cling on to third spot in Division One West.

On Saturday, however, they faced bottom of the table Whitland, and they were expected to put in a much improved performance, to consolidate their position in the table. That they failed so abysmally to do so in a 32-10 suggests that there are problems at all levels that need to be addressed urgently.

Weaknesses, both technical and tactical have crept into the team’s performances since mid-January and individuals’ skill levels and teamwork have deteriorated drastically, compared with the heady days of the first half of the season when Aberystwyth had played such intelligent, entertaining and winning rugby.

On Saturday they seemed to lack a tactical plan, and so each player played his own game, with little regard for the good of the team. Too often the visitors ran into opponents’ tackles and died with the ball instead of running into spaces, using support runners and keeping the ball alive.

Aber started promisingly, gaining good territory and were soon 0-3 up after Llyr Thomas’ second penalty was successful. Whitland hit back with a 40 metre penalty kick by No 10 Nico Setaro after an Aber forward was caught offside at a ruck.

From the re-start Whitland gained possession and Setaro, who marshalled his backs brilliantly throughout, put in a huge kick deep into Aber territory.

The visitors tried to counter-attack but a long, sloppy pass was gratefully intercepted by Sean Coles, who raced over from 30 metres out. Setaro converted to take the home side into a 10-3 advantage.

Honours were fairly even in the line-outs, but Whitland were dominant in the scrums and in the loose during the first half. Again they forced Aber to defend as they launched wave after wave of attacks and a clever grubber kick from Edwards allowed centre Alun Howells to score the simplest of tries. A dire half for the visiting team closed with the score at 15-3.

Regrettably for their travelling supporters, Aber’s second half performance was no better than that in the first 40 minutes.

A powerful scrummage drive from the home pack, five metres out, put Aber under pressure. When the ball emerged it was fed to wing Fola Dario to cross in the corner, and an excellent touchline conversion by Setaro increased their lead to 22-3.

Setaro soon followed this up with a simple penalty to take the score to 25-3.

Substitutes Robbie Parry and Geraint Rowlands came on and added bulk and strength to Aber’s pack, steadied their scrum and improved their lineout possession; but it was all too late in the day.

Aberystwyth were now gaining territorially and were camped near the Whitland line for long periods, before a consolation try by Lee Evans, converted by Steffan Rees took their score into double figures.

The overall team performance remained weak, however. Good breaks by the likes of Hughes and Richards came to nothing as the ball was either not offloaded or because no one was backing up in support.

Towards the end of the game Setaro put in another long kick deep into the Aber half. The ball was safely fielded but, instead of putting in a clearance kick, the visitors ran back at the opposition.

Whitland easily won a turnover at the resulting ruck and fed the ball out for substitute Davies to race for the line and score near the posts. Setaro converted for 32-10.

This result deservedly lifted Whitland from the foot of the table and sees Aberystwyth drop to fourth place. Unless urgent attention is now paid to better tactical preparation, improved skill levels, better understanding between players and effective on-field game management, it is difficult to see them halting this slide.

Such weaknesses are usually ironed out pre-season or in the first month of the season. That they should be arising at this stage of the campaign should be a cause for concern and urgent action.