Whitland again showed their mettle and never-say-die attitude on Saturday to come away with another vital three points from this clash with Blackwood - a victory which sees them move up to seventh from bottom in division one of the National League and away from relegation trouble.

Blackwood opened the scoring in the fifth minute when quick-thinking scrum-half Owen Jones slipped over from short range to score a try, with outside-half Martin Jones adding the two points with a successful conversion.

The visitors should have scored again three minutes later, but bad handling in the centre let them down.

Whitland hit back with two well-taken penalties in the 12th and 26th minutes by fly-half Daniel Griffiths, before five minutes later they scored their first try of the afternoon.

It came following a long kick down field which fullback Dean Brown could only clear to the 22 metre line. From the resulting lineout, Whitland number eight Randall Williams made the break, but when he was brought down just short, quick ball was fed out for the backs to use and centre Mike Buckingham twisted and turned his way over for the touchdown.

Griffiths added the extra two points, only for Blackwood fullback Jones to respond with a penalty deep into injury time to leave the half-time score 13-10 to the Borderers.

Six minutes into the second half, Jones again brought Blackwood level with another penalty, but Whitland regained the advantage six minutes later with their second try by left winger Gavin Morris.

A scrum on the 10 metre line saw Whitland run the ball, with Steve Hartland making a half break before being brought down 10 metres out. The ball was recycled quickly and fed out to the supporting Steve Gerrard and on to Molatika, who who gave the final try-scoring pass to Morris who ran in from 25 metres. Griffiths again converted with a fine kick from the touchline to open up a seven-point advantage at 20-13.

Blackwood did not let their heads drop, however. They quickly drove back up field and hooker Andrew Peacock crashed over for their second try, with Jones again levelling things up at 20-20 with a successful conversion.

And it was not long before the boot of Jones had given his side the lead again, as he banged over his third penalty to open up a three-point gap.

There was something of a turning point soon after, however, when Blackwood number eight Jamie Simms was sin-binned for what appeared to be a headbutt and Daniel Griffiths kicked Whitland level with a penalty after fullback Wayne Lewis was taken high.

Five minutes later, Whitland scored the winning try through right wing Steve Hartland. Once again it followed a long kick to the corner by Daniel Griffiths and when Blackwood knocked on, the Borderers took full advantage to drive into the heart of their defence, before unleashing the backs, centre Buckingham sending a long floated pass out to Hartland who took on his opposite number and left him for dead as he crossed in the top corner.

Again man-of-the-match Griffiths converted from the touchline to leave the final score at 30-23 to Whitland.

Whitland fielded: Wayne Lewis, Gavin Morris, Domenico Setaro, capt. (Steve Butchers), Mike Buckingham, Steve Hartland, Daniel Griffiths, Andrew Jenkins, Gareth Williams, Steve Gerrard, Ricky Davies (Romeo Colella), Anthony Jakeman, Fakatah Molatika, Rob Norton, Mark Hughes, Randall Williams. Subs not used - Lee Banfield, Simon Rogers, Dai Ebsworth, Dafydd Lewis, Andy Webster.

The Borderers do not have a match this weekend, but next Saturday, April 13, are away to Bedwas, kick-off 2.30 pm.

WHITLAND WANDERERS

Whitland Wanderers travelled to play Ferryside in a friendly and came away victorious by 23 points to 12 after a hard fought battle against a far bigger pack - full credit to the boys.

Winger Iestyn Page opened the scoring with a try, converted by outside-half Bleddyn Evans, and Whitland extended their lead after an opportunist try by winger Mark Lee, who hacked through a 50-50 ball to beat the defence to the touchdown.

The try went unconverted, leaving the half-time score at 12-0 to Whitland.

After the turn around, Ferryside responded with three penalties, before centre Kristian Richards replied with one for the Wanderers.

Ferryside kicked another to bring the score to 15-12, but that was to be their last points of the afternoon as Richards replied with another of his own, before scrum-half Darren Rees intercepted on his own 22 metre line and ran the full length of the field to score.

It rounded off another dogged performance by the Wanderers, with Arthur Goodyear putting in a fine performance in the pack and centre Mathew Hughes being the pick of the backs.

Next Saturday the Wanderers play local rivals Narberth in the West Wales Premier League, kick-off 2.30 pm.

UNDER 18s

Saturday also saw Whitland's Under 18s side progress in the Griffiths Cup after defeating Milford Haven 34-8.

Ryan Michael opened the scoring with a try, with Wayne Morris adding the two points.

Milford hit back with a penalty by Craig Fona, before Wayne Morris added another penalty to make the score 10-3.

The second half saw Whitland run in four more tries through Mathew Owens, Ally Bowen, Rhydian Thomas and Ryan Michael - his second - with Wayne Morris converting two.

Milford were awarded a late penalty try to make the score 34-8 and leave Whitland to go marching on.

WHITLAND YOUTH

Easter Monday saw Whitland Youth travel to play local rivals Narberth and after a thrilling display of good hard running rugby the young Borderers won comfortably by 25-5.

Whitland took the lead with a Lee Glanville penalty halfway though the first period and just before the break hooker Ian Stevenson took one against the head for number eight Craig Williams to pick up at the back of the scrum and force his way over under the posts.

Glanville added the two points from the conversion to give Whitland a 10-point advantage at half-time.

Three minutes into the second half, outstanding flanker Alan Evans broke from a ruck on his own 10 metre line to race through tackles and score an unconverted try in the corner.

Seven minutes later Whitland added a third try by outside-half Lee Glanville. It came from a scrum when number eight Craig Williams picked up and, after first going open, cut back to the blind side to release Glanville to score in the corner.

Again Glanville failed with the conversion, but 18 minutes into the half Whitland effectively killed the game with their fourth try through prop and captain Alan Proctor. Alert Lee Glanville set it up with a quick tap penalty, before passing on to Proctor, who bulldozed his way over for the touchdown.

Centre Wayne Morris unluckily failed with the conversion, seeing his effort hit one post and then the other, before bouncing back out.

If Whitland had had their kicking boots on, the final score would have read much worse for Narberth, who gained a consolation try at the end through their winger.

Well played boys, it was a pleasure to watch such good rugby, and well done Roy, Lyn and Marlais, the coaches.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the Youth play at home to Haverfordwest, the match having a 2 pm kick-off due to the Wales v Scotland international.