Waunarlwydd

2nd XV 15 pts

Whitland 2nd XV 20

Whitland Seconds completed the double over their Waunarlwydd counterparts in the Carmarthen Tyre Services Championship on Saturday, winning another close game by 20 points to 15 away.

They had won the home leg earlier in the season by 17 points to 12.

Despite the difficult conditions, both sides tried to play an open game, but had to contend with a very slippery ball which did not help with the flow of play as a lot of handling errors were made.

Unfortunately, this resulted in a rather stop-start game, but full credit to both sides for their efforts.

Waunarlwydd fullback Ricky Jones failed with a chance to open the scoring for the home side when he missed an early penalty, so it was Whitland, midway through the half, who put the first points on the board.

After great work by the pack, the ball was taken up by the backs, but when they were held up just short, number eight Marc Jones was on hand to get the touchdown, which outside-half Jonathan Thomas converted.

Waunarlwydd were awarded a penalty try after 31 minutes, which Ricky Jones converted, to level the score at seven points each.

Just at the break, two Whitland players were yellow-carded, Mike Giorgiou and skipper Dafydd Evans.

Despite Whitland now being down to 13 men, Waunarlwydd failed to take advantage and, after missing with one minutes earlier, it was Jonathan Thomas who put the visitors ahead with a penalty after 25 minutes.

The home side rang the changes and replacement second row Ben Charlton scored an unconverted try after 31 minutes to see Waunarlwydd take the lead at 12-10.

Some four minutes later, Thomas restored Whitland's lead with his second penalty, only to see Ricky Jones kick a penalty some three minutes later to give the home side the advantage going into the last few minutes of the game by 13 points to 12.

With the last move of the match, after Waunarlwydd had cleared deep, winger Jack Mason ran the ball back and, with support from his fellow backs, drove deep into home territory, where a kick through saw Mason get to the tackle first and after ripping the ball free he ran in for the winning try, which Thomas converted, to leave the full-time score 20 points to 15 in Whitland's favour.

Footnote: The Whitland 1st XV match against Waunarlwydd was postponed.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the 1st XV are away to local rivals Narberth, with a 2.30 pm kick-off, while the Seconds are home to Narberth 2nd XV - please note the early kick-off time of 12 noon.

Whitland Youth, meanwhile, play Llandovery Youth in Webb Ellis Welsh Cup, kick-off 2.30 pm, the match having been called off last weekend.