LAMPETER 34 CARDIGAN 0

LAMPETER returned to winning ways in heavy boggy conditions at North Road as they produced a clinical, accomplished second half performance to see off Cardigan in Division Three West.

After trying to play too much rugby in the first half, Lampeter could well have found themselves trailing early on as quick ball released the visiting backline.

They crossed over in the corner, only for the score to be scrubbed out extremely harshly for a forward pass.

The first half an hour was a real arm-wrestle, and Lampeter broke the deadlock when lock forward Guto Jones charged down a clearing kick, with the ball falling kindly to loose head prop Morgan Lewis, who pounced panther-like on the ball to break the deadlock.

After stern words at the half-time interval, centre Tomos Rhys burst through the midfield to score under the posts, with sibling Osian, at fly half, adding the extras.

Losing their regular starting front row to injury, the stand-in replacements shone brightly with evergreen Aled Bosman at prop and young at heart hooker Owain Jones providing the extra spark.

Playing towards the club, the home side stepped up a gear as the backs were called to attack at every occasion. From turnover ball, Carwyn Lewis made ground with his searing pace, and set up field position for lock Rhodri Williams to crash over.

Soon after fellow winger Garth Griffiths provided an assist for flanker James Edwards to also touch down.

With long territory winning kicks from fly half Jones, Lampeter went looking for the bonus point, and it came from scrum half Dion Hughes, after strong carries from the Lampeter pack.

Tiring but never giving in, Cardigan came back at Lampeter with strong carries from No 8 Tom Taylor, but they were guilty of Lampeter’s mistake in the first half - trying to play too much rugby in awful conditions.

It was the Lampeter No 8 and captain for the day, Rob Morgan, whose telling runs upfield caused huge problems in the visitors’ defence.

As Cardigan attempted to run back ball, fine defence by returning fullback Rhys Douglas snuffed out any chances of a deserved consolation score for the visitors.

Capping off a fine performance by the entire front row, hooker Jones added the final score when showing an impressive turn of pace, and no fear of the ball by taking a huge long pass and pinning his ears back to sign off an accomplished performance.

He was congratulated by his Man of the Match partner, loose-head prop Lewis, and adding the extras from the boot, young Jones capped off a fine tactical second half.

Going top of the league, albeit with other sides having games in hand, is a pleasing reward for the hard work put in by coaches Gerallt and Huw Thomas, alongside Youth coach Emyr Evans.

LLANGWM 0 ABERAERON 29

DESPITE the emphatic scoreline, this was a hard-earned away win for Aberaeron as the heavy conditions, following an overnight downpour, proved a real leveller.The hosts belied their lowly league position, and it needed a strong defensive effort from the Seagulls to keep their line intact in the first half - despite taking the lead in a rare foray into the opponents 22.

The early score had come from a series of forward drives, which created a penalty that outside half Rhodri Jenkins neatly placed close to the line - and from the ensuing lineout the huge frame of prop Mathew Roberts crossed over the whitewash for his first try of the campaign.

Whilst Jenkins had a rare off-day with the boot, mainly due to the conditions underfoot, his defensive display typified the team’s ethos, and he dictated much of the game, especially in the second half.

Aberaeron captain Sion Evans could also be proud of his fellow forwards, with a solid scrum and more than capable line-out, where old head Tudur Jenkins and youngster Llyr Davies took the honours.

After that difficult opening period, it was a typical Jenkins break minutes after the turnaround that created panic in the Wasps’ defence, and from the resultant scramble they could not prevent scrum half Gareth James adding the second try.

That beckoned a real change in fortunes, with centre Dafydd Llewelyn taking centre stage with a fine performance. Midway through the second period a searing break from within his own half left defenders flailing, which created an opening to cross for a try in the corner.

The fourth try defied the conditions as Jenkins broke strongly from his own 22 and linked with Llewellyn, who again cut loose down the left before supplying the inside pass to Ollie Sawyer to score, and Jason Freeman added the conversion.

With the bonus point secured, Llewelyn again bamboozled the defence from halfway, weaving past defenders to add his second try of the afternoon. Jenkins’ touchline conversion finally brought a difficult afternoon to a conclusion.

TREGARON 11 HAVERFORDWEST 18

TREGARON were beaten 18-11 as Haverfordwest defied a positive home performance, and the elements, to put in the sort of commitment asked for by coach Steve Barnett.

Despite the heavy rain, the school pitch was in perfect condition, and the heavier visiting pack had the better of the first half as their forceful ball carriers crossed the gain line with regular frequency.

The home eight had to work hard at the contact area, and the first 10 minutes saw thevisitors camped in their 22. Johnny White kicked the first points after a technical penalty at a ruck, before a number of phases saw the ball released by the forwards for Fijian Unaia Balekinasig to pick a good line and score.

For the remainder of the first half the home pack had several purple patches, which saw front foot ball for the first time, but chances were not converted to points.

On the stroke of half-time the Pembrokeshire outfit scored their second try, and once more it was the Fijian who crossed the white wash after good work by his pack.

After the interval, the home pack carried the ball more effectively, and they looked a far better team. No 8 Steve Roberts and substitute Geraint Rowlands were very prominent during this period, and outside half Huw Bonner kicked a lovely penalty to open their account.

Centre Aled Jones then scored a fine try, when winger Chris Wilkins chipped the ball over his opponent’s head and then kicked the ball once more. The race was won by young centre Jones, to reduce the deficit to just five points.

Midway through the second half the visitors’ power shone through again, as they kept the ball for numerous phases, before releasing their backs, and Balekinasiga completed his hat-trick of tries. For the last quarter of an hour, the hosts pressed hard, with Bonner adding another penalty on the hour mark.

During the final minutes it seemed that a try would be scored, and with the final play, Roberts made a huge drive towards the try line, but was tackled under short.

If the hosts had been offered a point prior to the game then they would have taken it.

LLANYBYDDER 30 PEMBROKE DOCK QUINS 3

LLANYBYDDER came out on top when they welcomed promotion favourites Pembroke Dock Quins to Parc OJ, after a massive effort from the ground-staff to make pitch playable after the recent rain.

Ground conditions were heavy, but both teams attempted to play an open game, and early pressure from the hosts led to a well-worked try by left wing Carwyn Blayney on his return from injury, brilliantly converted from the touchline by fly-half Steff Richards for a 7-0 lead.

The remainder of the first half was pretty even as excellent home midfield defence repelled the visitors as they constantly attacked using centres Jonathan Rogers and Jack Price. A penalty each for Richards and his opposite fly-half Tyler Castle meant a 10-3 scoreline at half-time.

The hosts dominated the second period as the forwards gained ascendancy in the set-pieces, and two early penalties for Richards extended the lead, before skipper Ricky Davies broke through to cross from 20 yards out. The conversion by Richards gave the home side a 23-3 lead as the match entered the final quarter.

With the Quins were now chasing the match, both teams lost players to yellow cards, before a speculative chip by Castle on his own 22 was intercepted by opposing number Richards, who released man of the match Llyr James to cross for the final try, again converted by Richards.

On Saturday, Llanybydder travel to Llangwm for a re-arranged league match.