BEFORE kick-off both teams and supporters stood to impeccably observe a minute’s silence in memory of Eifion Gwynne, and he would have been really proud of the Aberystwyth’s 52-12 win over Waunarlwydd last weekend.

The visitors kicked off and camped in the Aber 22 for the first 10 minutes. They mounted wave after wave of attacks, which the hosts defended magnificently.

Aber then worked their way into the opposition 22 and started to apply pressure. When Waunarlwydd conceded a penalty close to their line, quick-thinking scrum half Gruff Jones saw his chance and dived over from close range to open the scoring. The try went unconverted.

There followed the best try scored at Plascrug for a while. Straight from the kick-off Aber fielded the ball and ran it back strongly through the forwards, with some lovely well-timed passes and excellent support running to put Gruff Jones clear for his second try. It was converted by Llyr Thomas to make the score 12-0.

This theme was repeated a few minutes later to put centre Carwyn Evans clear to score a try under the posts, and this score was also converted by Llyr Thomas.

The Waun left winger was then yellow-carded for taking a player out in the air.

This was exploited shortly after by Aber when, from a line-out on the right 10m line, Paul Stubbs collected the ball at the back and burst through the defence to score under the posts for the bonus point.

The try was again converted by Llyr Thomas to make the scoreline 26-0.

Aberystwyth continued to dominate proceedings and from yet another dominant scrum Gruff Jones made a lovely outside break to put right winger Adam Carvell in to score a lovely text book try.

This try went unconverted and at the half-time break Aberystwyth led 31-0.

This was a dominant display by Aber in the first half, playing with discipline and a polish about everything they did. The team were well-led and looked very comfortable with their game plan, which reflects very positively on their coaches.

Aberystwyth carried on in the second half just as they had finished the first, and the next try unusually came from a set-piece.

The ball was tapped back from a shortened line-out on half-way and moved quickly to Lee Evans in midfield, who attracted a couple of defenders and fed a delightful short pass to centre Rhodri Richards, who came bursting through the defence to score right under the posts. This was converted by Llyr Thomas.Waunarlwydd then had their best spell and scored two tries by both wingers, one of which was converted to make it 38-12.

Aberystwyth soon got back on track and turned the ball over a number of times, showing both strength and technique in the very efficient use of the choke tackle.

Aber scored next when from a Waunarlwydd knock-on in midfield they moved ball out quickly to left winger Steff Rees who, with the defence closing in, kicked and successfully chased from half-way

With a lovely pick-up under pressure he dived over to score, and Llyr Thomas neatly converted to make the score 45-12.

One very pleasing feature was Aber’s dominant scrum, and even after a number of substitutions this still did not alter.

From one scrummage close to their line, Waunarlwydd, who were being pushed rapidly backwards over their line, dived on the ball and the referee awarded a penalty try to Aberystwyth. Llyr Thomas converted to make the final score 52-12.