AMMANFORD 25 pts.

WHITLAND 28

Whitland came away with the win from Ammanford in this Swalec League Division One West clash on Saturday - but only just!

Having led at the break by 18 points to eight, it took a last second penalty from Scott Newton to finally seal it, the fullback showing no nerves as he slotted the three points to give Whitland the victory by 28 points to 25.

Whitland scored their first try after seven minutes when a great little chip through by skipper Andrew Jenkins saw winger Dafydd Williams race onto it and gather the ball before touching down in the corner. Newton failed with the conversion.

Ammanford got their first points some three mintues later, with a penalty kicked by centre Mathew Lemon, and increased their lead midway through the half with an unconverted try by secondr ow Richard Greg.

Scott Newton responded with two successful penalties to give Whitland the lead once again and on the brink of half-time, after great play by the whole team, hooker Marc Jones scored their second try, which Newton converted, to give the Borderers an 18-8 lead at the break.

Ammanford cut this lead within two mintues of the restart when winger Owen Herbert scored their second unconverted try and, when referee Alan Jenkins awarded a penalty try some four minutes later for pulling down a maul, which outside-half Iwan Mainwaring converted, the homse side led by 20 points to 18 and left Whitland shell-shocked.

Ammanford pressed hard, but Whitland's defence held on and, as the half progressed, they came back into the game.

With eight minutes remaining, they broke down field and a great kick through by Scott Newton saw him follow up and re-gather before passing back inside for centre Lee Glanville to scored Whitland's third try. Again Scott Newton added the extras to give his side the lead back by 25 points to 20.

Ammanford thought they had drawn the game when fullback Wayne Price scored an unconverted try in the corner with only three minutes left on the clock, but Scott Newton had the last word and slotted a 38-metre penalty, as cool as you like, to win the game for Whitland by 28 points to 25 with the last kick of the game.

Men-of-the-match: Scott Newton, Rhys Jones and Andrew Hawkins

Match refeere: Alan Jenkins, Swansea

Team fielded: Scott Newton, Dion Thomas, Lee Glanville, Gary Evans, Dafydd Williams (Tom Dinan) Nico Setaro (Carwyn Jones), Andrew Jenkins, capt (Huw Rees), Rhodri West, Marc Jones, Gareth Lloyd (Chris Davies), Rhys Jones, Dylan Richards, Andrew Hawkins, Tommi Jones, Jack Mason. Sub not used - Aled Harries.

SCINTILLATING SECONDS

Whitland completed the double over Ammanford in the Carmarthen Tyre Services League when their second string scored an emphatic victory by 77 points to five, running in no fewer than 13 tries.

The tries came from outside-half Shane Morgan with four, scrum-half Adam Davies, flanker Will Davies and centre Mike Giorgiou, two each, and one apiece for wingers Ali Bowen and Mathew Howells and centre Steve Aston, who converted five, with Adam Davies adding one.

YOUTH BEATEN

Having drawn at Pembroke Dock two weeks previously, Whitland Youth were looking to put home advantage to good use, but found themselves eight points to three down at the break and in the second half the Quins took the game away from them as they ran out comfortable winners by 34 points to eight.

Whitland's points came from a first half penalty by Liam Price, while prop Leigh Derbyshire scored an unconverted try in the second half.

LADIES WIN

AT LAST

Whitland Ladies got their first win of the season away at Pencoed by 29 points to 12, a well-deserved victory.

Winger Hannah Richards grabbed a hat-trick of tries and fullback Sian Robinson bagged two, with flanker Cath Davies converting two.