Ystradgynlais 12 – Betws 14

This top of the table clash lived up to its expectations as the “like pushing prams” statement made by the home team after last seasons fixture coming back to haunt them with the visiting Betws eight taking charge from the kick off. Second placed Betws gained full revenge against Ystrad, the last team to beat them, with the front row of Gareth Jones, Paul Roberts and Rob Grey destroying the home scrum from the outset.

 

Captain, hooker and inspired man of the match Paul Roberts led by example by taking the first scrum against the head, enabling No 8 Dan Howells to power through from 15 metres to score after only two minutes. Outside half Phil Saunders added the conversion to give the visitors an early 7 – 0 lead. The home team were stunned by the power of the visiting eight and they conceded a further try after 10 minutes when Dan Howells again attacked from the base of a powerful scrum before linking up with wing forward Gavin Thomas. He fed the ball to unstoppable prop Rob Grey in support to score his first try for the club. Saunders again converted to give the visitors a health 14 – 0 lead.

The home team realised that they had to change tactics and spread the ball wide at every opportunity. This paid dividends when after a series of short range penalties, wing forward Kurt Thomas broke through to score a try, thereby reducing the deficit.

With the homesters attempting to open up the game and the visitors keeping the ball tight, the game developed into an intriguing end-to-end battle.

 

In the second half, Betws continued to dominate the forward battle with second row Iestyn Williams providing the line out platform for the visitors to keep up the pressure. Influential home No 8 Dai Love was unable to dictate play with his pack under intense pressure, but midway through the half, turnover ball on the half way line enabled the home team to break clear, with outside half Dave Clancy involved a couple of times before crossing to reduce the deficit and also added the conversion.

The visiting pack were now tiring after the tremendous effort they had put in and the homesters put in a huge effort to try and gain the vital win and seal the championship. The visiting pack however dug deep and took control in the closing minutes to deny the home team any possession and secured the win that puts the Division 5 South West Championship title back in the balance. The teams are destined to meet again in the semi-final of the Brains Plate competition with the game probably being played in Brynamman on April 2nd.

The Second VX again had a good win when they beat visiting New Dock Stars 53 – 0.

The game was abandoned fifteen minutes early when the referee was injured.