Whitland Youth arrived at the Milford Observatory Ground knowing that this would be a testing encounter against the team only two places below them at the top of the league.

They were further hampered with the unavailability of some of their more experienced players and having to rely on some of the younger members of the squad to step up for this difficult fixture.

Surprisingly, given the size of the Milford team, they opted to go uncontested at the scrums as 'no player had been trained up to play prop'. Regardless of this development, Whitland decided to start with their original forward pack selection of Kieron Heycock, George Atkins, Richie Waters, Jack Hirst, Casper Lewis, Dewi Davies, Thomos Walters and Jamie Harries, who were all magnificent in their defence throughout the game.

Milford had the use of the slope to their advantage and started the game the stronger side. They were clearly intent on using their big pack to carry the ball down field and use their crash ball centre Jack Johnston to break the line of defence.

But it was Whitland who scored first. After they managed to steal a loose ball in their own 22 metre area, quick hands brought it out to right wing Jevan Mumberson, who was still in his own half, but his turn of pace and sidestep beat the first two defenders before he turned back inside to score near the posts. The conversion was added by Geraint Jones.

Within three minutes, Milford struck back, with strong running number eight Sam Dolling picking up at the base of the scrum in the visitors' 22, running over the first defender before using his bulk to crash over and score. With the conversion missed, it was 7- 5.

Whitland were then awarded their first penalty after 12 minutes on the clock, a fine kick by Jones adding an extra three points.

Whitland extended the lead midway through the half after a poor clearance kick from Milford kept them inside their own territory. Whitland won the lineout and moved the ball into midfield, where Mumberson was again involved, entering into the attack from the right wing and again breaking the defence.

The ball was then moved out to left wing Mathew Davies who carried strongly, making 20 metres up to the five-metre line, where good support work from number eight Tom Walters saw Whitland win the ball and drive on, before Davies quickly picked up at the base of a ruck to race over the line and score. Jones added the conversion.

Milford were again on the attack and, with their forwards carrying the ball close to the rucks, they soon narrowed the deficit after a rare missed tackle allowed Dan Henla to outsprint the defence and score, the try being converted by James Truman.

Leading up to half-time, Whitland managed to win a penalty on the left touchline, from where Jones was again successful with the difficult kick and it took the interval score to 17-12 to the visitors.

At the start of the second half, Milford were awarded another penalty close to the posts, Truman stepping up and being successful with the kick, which proved to be their final score of the game.

Milford continued with the same tactics, but were left frustrated as the strong Whitland defence stopped their big forwards gaining any momentum. As a result, several scuffles broke out and eventually, some 22 minutes into the half, home number eight Sam Dolling was given a yellow card by the referee.

With the clock running down, Milford used their forwards to drive over the try-line, but again some excellent work by the Whitland defence, led by Jamie Harries and Tom Walters, held them up and drove them back infield, winning a penalty in the process.

A fine touch kick to clear the danger from Jones was followed by Whitland winning the lineout and driving on. They then quickly released their strong running centre Max Lewis, who took the ball down into the five-metre area, before a further two carries by the visiting forwards allowed replacement second row Ryan Powell to crash over and score.

Whitland's bonus point try came from the re-start. The ball was gathered and fed to fullback Aron Ebsworth, who ran past several defenders before feeding Max Lewis; he then made good ground before fixing the fullback and shipping the final pass to Joe Criddle to score.

Both tries were converted by Jones and the final score was 31-15 to Whitland