Maesteg 16 pts. Whitland 28

Whitland travelled to the Old Parish to face Maesteg in Swalec League division one west on Saturday.

And, despite fielding a weakened pack, not only did they win by 28 points to 16, but they also picked up a bonus point which came from a great team performance, full of spirit and passion and total commitment.

Maesteg's outside-half Leighton Thomas missed an early penalty, as did Whitland's Huw Rees, before Mathew Davies took over the kicking duties for the home side. He too failed with his first attempt, but after 15 minutes got the scoreboard ticking over, only for Huw Rees to level within four mintues with his first penalty.

Midway through the half, after great work by the pack, the backs cut loose, centre and skipper Gary Evans delaying his pass to send fullback Johnny Morgan away and he in turn gave the try-scoring pass to winger Will Davies, who crossed in the corner. Huw Rees failed with the conversion attempt.

Maesteg drew level some six minutes later when winger Gareth Goodridge scored an unconverted try.

After 34 minutes, second row Gavin Ronan was yellow-carded for the home side and from the resultant penalty Huw Rees slotted the three points.

Not long after, Maesteg's other second row Owen Watkins was also yellow-carded for climbing all over Raff Williams at a lineout, but there was no further score in the first half, with Whitland going in 11-8 up.

Early in the second half, with Maesteg still down to 14 men, fullback Johnny Morgan got the Borderers' second try after good handling by the backs.

Rees again failed with the conversion, while Mathew Davies missed a penalty for the home side after seven mintues.

Whitland's number eight Celt Thomas was sent to the sin-bin for delaying quick ball, but during the time he was off, it was the Borderers who added to their total.

From a Maesteg lineout, flanker Jack Mason, jumping at number two, won possession and fed Raff Williams, who drove at the line before passing back to Mason, who bagged his side's third try of the afternoon.

Again it went unconverted, with Rees unluckily hitting a post with his attempt at goal.

Maesteg centre Aled Davies kicked a penalty midway through the half to cut Whitland's lead to 21 points to 11.

With 10 mnutes remaining, Borderers delivered the hammer blow when scrum-half Huw Rees made a break from the 10-metre line and probably could have got there himself, but unselfishly made sure his side got the bonus point try by giving the pass to outside-half Carwyn Jones, who got the touchdown. Rees added the conversion.

But still the scoring was not finished, Maesteg grabbing a consolation try right on full-time, to leave the final score 28-16 to the Borderers.

Centre Mike Giorgiou was the pick of the backs with some hard tackling and hard running, while up front there were strong games from Raff Williams, John Bowen and Celt Thomas, but for an excellent all-round performance, man-of-the-match had to go to flanker Jack Mason.

Team fielded: Johnny Morgan, Dion Thomas, Gary Evans (capt), Mike Giorgiou, Will Davies, Carwyn Jones, Huw Rees, Gareth Jones, Marc Jones (Shane Webster), Aled Richards, Raff Williams, John Bowen, Jack Mason, Tyrstan Griffiths, Celt Thomas. Subs not used - Andrew Davies, Andrew Hawkins, Rhys Jones and Anthony James.

Whitland 2nds and Youth both had their matches cancelled.