WHITLAND 9 pts

BEDWAS 21

Once again Whitland found the going tough in this National League division one encounter at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, with the power of the Bedwas front five being the major difference.

Whitland opened the scoring in the 10th minute when fullback Daniel Griffiths slotted over a penalty after Bedwas were penalised for pulling down in the lineout,

Whitland number eight Randall Williams had been replaced by Rob Norton due to a back injury.

In the 20th minute, Bedwas drew level when fullback Paul Phillips kicked a penalty.

Before the restart, Whitland hooker Richard Emms had to leave the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder, being replaced by Andrew Harry.

Whitland extended their lead in the 22nd minute when Griffiths kicked his second penalty, which was awarded after the Bedwas backline was caught offside. And he was again successful with another in the 27th minute after outside-half Simon Rogers was a judged to have been held back after grubber kicking the ball through.

Bedwas cut the deficit to three points when again Paul Phillips was successful with a penalty in the 37th minute, but he failed with another attempt four minutes later to leave the half-time score 9-6 to Whitland.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, Whitland's hooker Andrew Harry was shown the yellow card for persistently driving in at the ruck, and that proved costly, for in the 10 minutes that he was off the field, Bedwas added 10 vital points.

Firstly Paul Phillips banged over his third penalty in the 17th minute, and three minutes later Bedwas added a try through centre Andrew Harrison after a poor mistackle by Whitland's second row Ricky Davies. Phillps added the extras from the conversion.

Bedwas put the game out of Whitland's reach in the 32nd minute when scrum-half Wayne Bray scored the vital try, which came after the visitors were awarded a penalty which they kicked for the corner. From the resulting lineout, their forwards drove on and after Whitland's Rob Norton appeared to be deliberately taken out off the ball, Bray dived over to score.

At this point, Whitland's other back row forward, Mike Buckingham, remonstrated with the referee about what he felt was illegal play, but was yellow carded for his attitude, after which he literally saw red as further back chat then led to him being red-carded.

With a few minutes to go, Whitland tried hard for the consolation score which they richly deserved, and after a quick penalty tapped by Robert Phillips, he was tackled within 10 metres by second row Robert Edwards, which resulted in Edwards being sin-binned.

Try as they might, however, Whitland were unable to take advantage and failed to cross the Bedwas line in the closing moments.

Whitland fielded: Daniel Griffiths, Matiake Mafi, Domenico Setaro, Sengili Tuihalamaka, Gavin Morris, Simon Rogers, Robert Phillips, Gareth Williams, Richard Emms, (Andrew Harry), Andy Webster (Wayne Higgon), David Ebsworth, Ricky Davies, Mike Buckingham, Phil Morgan (capt.), Randall Williams (Rob Norton). Subs not used - Mark Hughes, Andrew Jenkins, Darren Rees, Wayne Lewis.

The sponsors awarded the man-of-the-match to Rob Norton for his outstanding all-round back row play.

Main match sponsors: Clive and Heather Edwards, Bysiau Cwm Taf Valley Coaches, of Whitland.

Team sponsors: Huw Thomas, Agricultural Engineer, Whitland; Woodfield Nursing Home, of Narberth.

Match ball sponsors: J. Thomas and Son, of Whitland; Julian Mousley, Agricultural Contractor, of St Clears; Thomas and Sheila Evans, of Tavernspite; Willie Thomas, St David's Avenue, Whitland; Jan and Keith Thomas, of Narberth.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Whitland play away at Aberavon, with an early 2 pm kick-off, due to the Wales v Tonga international, which might see Whitland's second row Fakataha Molitika gaining another cap for the South Sea Islanders.

A supporters bus will leave the club at 12 noon - names and money to Iona at Gog Sports.

Whitland Wanderers play away to Carmarthen Quins' Seconds in the West Wales Premier League, while Whitland Youth entertain Llangwm Youth at Parc Dr. Owen, both games kicking-off at 2 pm.

Please note tonight (Friday), Whitland Under 16s play Fishguard at home, with a 7.15 pm kick-off, and next Wednesday evening the Wanderers take on the Signal Regiment based at Brawdy, at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, 7.15 pm kick-off.