CWMTWRCH 6 – BETWS 38

Betws kept up the pressure on league leaders Ystradgynlais with another impressive performance to grab a bonus point win at Cwmtwrch. The visitors were unlucky on a couple of occasions during the opening exchanges with final passes going astray, but it was the home captain and outside half Oliver Jenkins who opened the scoring with a penalty after fifteen minutes.

The visitors hit back however when outside half Phil Saunders slotted over a penalty and they took the lead shortly after when a strong run by wing Nathan Davies was finished off by Number 8 Dan Howells as the visiting pack arrived in support. They quickly extended their lead when their scrum power gave player coach Gary Davies the opportunity to slice through from the half way line to score a classy try.
 

The deficit was reduced by a further penalty from home outside half Jenkins, but any chance of a Cwmtwrch comeback were thwarted by a series of injuries in quick succession. Wing forward Glyn Thomas then celebrated his first team debut for Betws by using his pace to sprint forty metres along the touchline after scrum half Dylan Rees had broken on the blind following another powerful scrum. Man of the match Phil Saunders proved beyond doubt that he was wearing his kicking boots when he converted from the touchline to give the visitors a 24 – 6 half time lead.
 

Spot the ball!

Although the home team were reduced to fourteen men because of injuries for the second half, they continued to battle bravely and were unlucky not to score on a few occasions, but the Betws defence held firm. It was the visitors however who were the first to score in the second half when following a powerful drive by number 8 Dan Howells, outside half Phil Saunders made a scintillating break to score from 25 metres, also adding the conversion for good measure.

Betws then continued to apply pressure but had a couple of tries disallowed before mercurial wing Rhys Williams again demonstrated his searing pace to spring 40 metres to score the final try with Saunders adding the conversion for a 38 – 6 win.