ABERYSTWYTH completed an unbeaten January with a run of four straight wins, which saw them score 105 points and concede 66, to propel them from eighth position to fourth in Division One West.

Aber had narrowly beaten Gorseinon at the Welfare Ground last October, and this return fixture was by no means simple, with the Ceredigion men running out 32-15 winners in the end at Plascrug.

The visitors started powerfully and were very physical, and Aber had their work cut out - but by the finish the hosts had worn them down and eventually dominated them in all phases of the game.

Gorseinon varied their tactics wisely, using their big forwards to make inroads into Aber’s defence, and moving the ball wide to exploit opportunities outside. Early on they could have made more of the overlaps out wide, but instead they cut inside and wasted valuable chances.

So intense was the visitors’ pressure that it took a full 10 minutes for Aber to break into their half of the field. When they did, however, Steffan Rees put them three points ahead with a simple penalty.

Gorseinon replied with a penalty from Popham when Aber were penalised for not rolling away, and the scoreline remained 3-3 very nearly until the interval.

After stealing the ball from an Aber attack, the visitors launched an attack of their own. An attempted catch and drive led to a ruck, from which the ball was swiftly moved out to unmarked left wing Thomas to score the game’s opening try.

Phelps’ excellent conversion gave Gorseinon a lead of 3-10 at the interval, but the honours had been even throughout. Aber’s defence had held out very well considering the amount of possession the visitors had, and their ferocity of attack.

Up front, Aber’s scrum, although lighter, looked tighter and more cohesive and able to gradually dominate the opposition eight. In the line-outs the two sets of forwards were more evenly matched, with both sides losing the occasional ball on their throw-in.Behind the scrum, Aber’s passing had been fluent and neat, but Gorseinon’s backs were looking very adept at preventing any breakthroughs.

The hosts started the second half full of intent, and were to maintain this for the full 40 minutes. They realised the benefits of playing the game in the opposition’s half, preferably in the bottom corner.

From a penalty in midfield Steffan Rees found touch five yards from the visitors’ line. After Gorseinon were penalised at the resulting line-out Aber chose a scrum.

A huge shove enabled No 8, Lewis Ellis-Jones to touch down for the hosts’ first try. The conversion was missed, but at 8-10 the home side were reaping rewards for their growing dominance.

Aber’s work rate throughout the team increased. They won more ball and varied their use of possession. Ian Ellis at full-back was a constant threat to the visitors as he looked for openings to break through their defence or chip ahead to create opportunities for his wingers.

After one such break involving Ellis and Matthew Hughes the ball was moved to the right, where Dylan Evans rounded off the move with a fine try. This was very well converted by Steffan Rees, and Aber moved ahead for the first time at 15-10.

Gorseinon hit back when a failure to gather the ball cleanly from the kick-off led to a ruck, from which Aber’s clearance kick was charged down by lock Evans. He gathered and raced on to score a good opportunist try to level the scores.

Against a determined defence, Aber mounted more and more attacks, and it was from a phase of inter-passing down the left side that Matthew Hughes broke through to score near the posts. Rees converted, moving the hosts on to 22-15.

He added a penalty to increase this lead, before Adam Carvell pounced on a lax Gorseinon pass, to intercept and score Aber’s bonus try. Rees added the simple conversion to close the scoring at 32-15.

This victory was a real team effort, well led by skipper Arwel Lloyd. The forwards fought hard for territory and possession and Lewis Ellis-Jones, before he had to leave the field after an hour, was immense, and always in the thick of it. Paul Stubbs and Bryn Shepherd completed Aber’s industrious back row.

The front row completed a solid shift, with Owain Bonsall having one of his best games for some time. Centres Matthew Hughes and Carwyn Evans were the pick of the backs, with the back three of Ellis, Evans and Carvell creative and strong in attack and defence. Aber also had a strong bench, and there was no weakening of effort when they came on.

After a two-week break from action, Aber travel to Felinfoel on 15 February.