GLAMORGAN

WANDERERS 11 pts

WHITLAND 25

Whitland recorded their seventh victory on the trot last Saturday, with a hard fought win away against a Glamorgan Wanderers side that never gave up.

The Borderers eventually won 25-11, with 10 of their points being scored after the 42nd minute of the second half!

Whitland absorbed the home side's early pressure, and after 14 minutes were awarded a penalty on the halfway line, from which outside-half Aled Davies drilled the ball deep into the opposition's 22. Wanderers' second row Alex Luff knocked on at the lineout and from the resulting scrum, quick ball was fed out into midfield for Mike Buckingham to punch a hole in the home defence, before drawing the fullback and sending fellow centre Lee Glanville over for Whitland's first try. This was unconverted.

After 22 minutes, the Wanderers opened their account with a penalty by left-winger Mark Heywood.

At this point Whitland lost their influential number eight Randall Williams, with John Bowen ably replacing him.

Whitland increased their lead in the 38th minute with an Aled Davies penalty.

Heywood missed a penalty in the 40th minute, but from the resulting drop out by Whitland, the Wanderers' pack set up the ball for the backs to use and centre Mike Butler looped round winger Paul Collett to score in the far corner. Again Heywood was unsuccessful with the conversion, which left the half-time score eight-all.

The Borderers made one substitution at the break with Ricky Davies replacing Dai Jones in the front row.

Five minutes into the half, Whitland were awarded a penalty 15 metres from touch on the opposition's 22-metre line. The travelling supporters watched in horror as captain of the day, scrum-half Andrew Jenkins, instructed Aled Davies to kick for the corner, and thought an easy three-pointer had gone begging.

From the resulting lineout, Ben Armstrong failed to control the ball at the front, but it was gathered in the middle by replacement John Bowen, who drove towards the line. Quick possession presented by the forwards allowed Jenkins to throw a long pass to Davies, who dummied his opposite number Chris Baxter, sending him the wrong way and going in under the posts unopposed. He also added the extra two points to give Whitland an early lead in the half, 15 points to eight.

Seven minutes later, the Wanderers were attacking through centre Nick Bellamy, who could see no way through, so coolly slotted a drop goal instead to narrow the lead to four points.

Fly-half Aled Davies had two chances in the 18th and 20th minutes of the half to extend Whitland's advantage, but failed with both attempts.

Three minutes later, Whitland lost their influential second row Carwyn Davies with a back injury. Phil Morgan replaced him, going into his usual position in the back row, with Johnny Koloi moving up to stand in at second row.

Although Glamorgan Wanderers never looked like they were going to breach Whitland's defensive line, with only a four-point lead the travelling supporters were always wondering whether this one was going to get away from them.

But the nerves were settled two minutes into injury time, when, after a good rolling maul by the forwards, flanker Stuart Tirie crashed over for Whitland's third try, and this time Davies added the two points.

Both sets of supporters were confused when referee Hugh Banfield restarted the game, but more or less straightaway the Wanderers were penalised for diving in, and Aled Davies hammered home the penalty from long range to give the final score of 25 points to 11.

Whitland fielded: Gavin Morris, Jack Tremlett, Lee Glanville, Mike Buckingham, Andrew Richards, Aled Davies, Andrew Jenkins (capt.), Gareth Williams, Dafydd Lewis, Dai Jones (Ricky Davies), Ben Armstrong, Carwyn Davies (Phil Morgan), Johnny Koloi, Stuart Tirie, Randall Williams (John Bowen). Subs not used -Gareth Davies, Scott Penny, Romeo Colella and Wayne Higgon.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Whitland 1st XV entertain Treorchy at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, while the Wanderers XV are away to Llangennech. Both matches have a 2.30 pm kick-off.

Whitland Youth

Whitland Youth travelled away to play Kidwelly, winning by 26 points to 22.

In the first half, Whitland scored the two opening tries through Ali Bowen and prop Charlie Cockeran, Bowen converting both, before Kidwelly hit back with two unconverted tries by Rhys Nelson and Owain Williams.

In the second half, Kidwelly took a lead through a Jason Smith try, before Whitland hit back with two tries by scrum-half Ross Harries, Bowen converting one.

An exciting finish was set up after Kidwelly's Rhodri Evans scored a converted try, but the young Borderers held out for a well deserved win.