RESOLVEN 12 pts WHITLAND 22

Whitland kept their promotion hopes alive on Saturday when came away from the Vaughan Field, Resolven, with the three points after a very hard fought encounter, winning by 22-12.

The first-half saw a battle of the No. 10s, with Whitland's Daniel Griffiths and Resolven's Neil Clapham kicking three penalties apiece (Clapham also missed another two) to give a nine-all half-time score.

The second-half saw much of the same, with Griffiths edging Whitland in front with two further penalties, before Clapham added his fourth to give a score of 15-12 with 10 minutes to go.

Whitland then sealed a vital victory, and ironically the winning score came after the Borderers themselves had been forced back on the defensive.

In an effort to relieve the pressure, Griffiths kicked a long ball down to Resolven's 25-metre line. Right-wing Simon Hutchinson opted to run the ball back, before hoisting an up-and-under, which Whitland's Johnny Kiloi gratefully gathered to break through a tackle and leave Resolven for dead as he raced in under the posts.

Griffiths added the two points to round off the scoring and leave Whitland just off the pace at the top of division two of the National League.

The Borderers are currently 12 points adrift of leaders Narberth and six points behind second place Bedwas, but have the advantage of a number of games in hand on their rivals.

Whitland fielded: Wayne Lewis, Craig Richards, Domenico Setaro, Brad Baker, Nick Jackson, Daniel Griffiths, Robert Phillips, Gareth Williams, Steve Gerrard, Dai Jones, David Ebsworth (Steve Thomas), Fakatah Molatika, Steve Parsons, Johnny Kiloi, Mike Buckingham. Subs - Andy Webster, Dafydd Lewis, Eifion Lewis.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Whitland play Brynmawr away in a rearranged game. Supporters please note the early kick-off time of 1.30 pm.

KIDWELLY SECONDS 11 pts WHITLAND SECONDS 15

Fielding a very young side (average age 22), Whitland Seconds travelled to Kidwelly and came away with a well deserved victory by 15-11.

Kristian Richards opened the scoring with a penalty, before prop Ian Hancocks crossed for an unconverted try to give a half-time score of 9-0.

In the second-half, Kidwelly came back strongly, with flanker Peter John crossing for a try and outside-half Wayne John kicking two penalties, before centre James (Spiney) Morgan crashed through to score the vital try for Whitland.

Richards added the extras with a successful conversion to complete the scoring.

WHITLAND YOUTH 59 pts

PEMBROKE YOUTH nil

Whitland proved much too strong for Pembroke and after a convincing all-round performance ran out victors by 59-0.

First-half tries were bagged by Darren Rees (2), Marcus Phillips, Michael Phillips and Matthew McMillan, with Bleddyn Evans converting four, to give a half-time score of 33-0.

In the second-half, both Darren Rees and Michael Phillips completed their hat-tricks, with Carwyn Morris adding another try and Evans converting three of them to make the final score 59-0.

Tonight (Friday), Whitland Youth travel to play Haverfordwest Youth, kick-off 7.15 pm, in the clash of the top two youth sides in Pembrokeshire.