Alltwen 21 – Betws 20

A lack of warm-up games and a subsequent lack of match fitness led to a poor start to the campaign in Division 5 South West for Betws when the homesters staged a dramatic second-half fight back to snatch victory. Betws started brightly with new signing Daniel Howells from Loughor at No 8 powering over from close range after some impressive driving from the forwards after only two minutes play. Outside half Gavin Davies added the conversion for an early 7-0 lead.

 The visiting forwards with Iestyn Williams at second-row dominating the line outs continued to apply pressure but they were held out by a determined home defence. After half an hour of battering the home defence, good possession from a line out on the half way saw the ball being spread wide with centre Phil Saunders breaking through before finding full-back Mathew Rees in support to cross in the corner. Outside half Gavin Davies again converted with a magnificent effort from the touchline. 

Half time loomed with Betws 14-0 in the lead before they conceded a penalty enabling the home team’s full back Andrew Roberts to convert it making the score 14-3 to Betws at half time. 

The second half started with the home team making a few tactical changes to their team and it was they who grabbed the initiative early on when centre Ben Howells broke through some weak tackling in loose play to score from 30 yards out. A late tackle by a Betws player gave Alltwen a chance for three more points with Andrew Roberts again converting to further reduce the deficit after only 5 minutes play in the second half. The line out dominance gained by Betws in the first half could not be maintained by the visitors, and Alltwen continued to apply the pressure. 

Gavin Davies relieved some of the pressure when Alltwen were penalised for a high tackle but the home team were in the lead after 10 minutes into the half when second row Chris Richards dived onto a loose ball at a short range lineout making the score 18-17 in Alltwen’s favour. The Betws pack, with the introduction of prop Arwel Davies after a whole season out with injury, then battled their way back into the game and regained the lead when Gavin Davies converted a penalty. The home team, however, were not to be denied and the reliable boot of Andrew Roberts earned them the win with a penalty 5 minutes from time. 

               


The match was a bruising encounter and Betws will be glad of the of the three week break before their next match against Cwmtwrch at home on Saturday, 22^nd September.