After their big win against Tondu the previous week, Whitland travelled to Llanharan for what always promised to be a tough Division One encounter against Llanharan on Saturday.

The Borderers withheld early pressure for the first quarter of the match, and after 17 minutes took the lead through a penalty by outside-half Aled Davies.

Three minutes later, Llanharan drew level with a penalty by their own outside-half Mark Roper.

From the restart, Llanharan won the ball and kicked deep, only for Whitland's no. 10 Aled Davies to return it with interest into the opposition's 25.

From the resulting lineout, Llanharan tried to run the ball out of defence, but were robbed by the Whitland forwards. Quick hands by half-backs Andrew Jenkins and Aled Davies then sent centre Lee Glanville on a jinking run and he passed on to ever-present flanker John Bowen, who crashed over for the Borderers' first try of the afternoon. Davies added the two points with a successful conversion.

This only served to galvanise Llanharan into action and their response was an impressive one as they hit back with four first half tries, through winger Richard Radford, centre Jayden De Charmoy and two by other centre, David Atkins.

Fly-half Mark Roper added three conversions to leave the half-time score 29-10 in favour of the home side.

The second half saw Whitland trying to claw their way back into the game and after 18 minutes winger Andrew Richards went over in the corner after good work by number eight Johnny Koloi. Davies failed with the conversion attempt.

After 29 minutes, Whitland were reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of prop Gareth Williams for a lineout infringement, which left the travelling supporters bemused.

Whitland then showed grit and determination and after some good rolling mauls by the pack, centre Steve Griffiths cut through the defence to score, with Davies adding the extra two points.

The travelling support felt that a possible point was within Whitland's grasp, but a well-worked try by the home side, and a hat-trick for centre Atkins, put paid to those hopes, with Roper adding the two points to leave the full-time score 36-22 to the home side.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Whitland entertain Maesteg at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, with a 2.30 pm kick-off.

Whitland fielded: Gavin Morris, Andrew Richards, Steve Griffiths, Lee Glanville, (Scott Penny), Aled Davies Andrew Jenkins, Romeo Colella, Steve Gerrard, Dai Jones, (Gareth Williams), Carwyn Davies (Ben Armstrong), Fakatah Mollatika, John Bowen, (Stuart Tirie), Phil Morgan (capt.), Johnny Koloi,

Subs. not used - Ricky Davies, Lee Tucker.

SECONDS SLUMP

Whitland Wanderers played host to visiting Llandovery Seconds on Saturday and went down by 25 points to 11.

The home points came from hooker Dafydd Levis with a try and outside-half Wayne Morris with two penalties.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the Wanderers travel to Carmarthen to play the Quins' Seconds.

YOUTH SHINE

UNDER LIGHTS

Whitland Youth entertained Fishguard Youth last Friday under lights, being victorious by 39 points to seven.

Whitland's points came from tries by Charlie Corhrom, Dafydd Gibbon, Adam Davies, Mark Jones, Ross Harris and Ali Bowen. Ali Bowen converted two and added a drop goal for good measure, while Mark Jones was also successful with a conversion.

The Youth start their league fixtures tomorrow with an away match at Milford Haven.