MACHYNLLETH found Powys rivals Newtown a tough nut to crack as they slipped to a 20-3 defeat in Division Two North East.

Despite the overcast conditions and overnight rain, the pitch was still playable, although it did cut up towards the end of the encounter.

The visitors battled hard, and at least denied Newtown a bonus point win, but they struggled to shake off the shackles of their hosts.

Newtown, through their strong forwards, held sway for long spells, but were unable to chalk up the points that their possession and dominance had merited.

The hosts were quick out of the blocks from the first whistle, dominating possession and territory - and although Mach had one spell in Newtown’s 22, the home side dealt with the pressure.

With the hosts on top at the breakdown, and at the scrum, Machynlleth began conceding penalties, and a Gareth Williams kick put the first points on the board.

When Newtown were penalised 40 metres out for holding on after the tackle, however, Mach’s Kameron Simmons-Sandy converted a long range penalty kick, with the wind behind him.

Despite the heavy conditions, Newtown kept their backs involved and they began to off load at the tackle.

Strong runs by prop Twm Jones and good work at the breakdown from the pack, particularly the back row, kept them going forward.

After a long spell of possession in the Machynleth 22, Newtown won a scrum five metres out and scored a push-over try, with the ball being touched down by flanker Nathan Owen, and converted by Williams.

It was more of the same from the home side in the second half, as Newtown kept the pressure on at the scrum and the breakdown.

Man of the match, flanker Nathan Owen, put in a huge shift, frustrating Mach at the breakdown and linking with the backline, who began to stretch the Mach defence.

A penalty was converted by Gareth Williams, but credit must go to Machynlleth who defended skilfully throughout the game, despite the lack of possession.

They were always in touch on the scoreboard until the last 10 minutes when the hosts scored a second try.

Newtown possession on the 10 metre line was taken up by their backs and the ball was recycled quickly for scrum half Huw Spear to move the ball on the blind side and feed winger Will Whittington. He stepped outside the covering defender to score the try, converted by Gareth Williams.

At this point Newtown sensed that the floodgates might open and they pushed for a potential try bonus point, but Machynlleth steadied their ship and held out well until full-time.