WHITLAND 19 pts.

TONDU 16

Whitland kept the pressure on the top two in Swalec League division one west with a hard fought win at home against Tondu on Saturday by 19 points to 16.

Conditions underfoot on the day were very heavy, but the Borderers played some good rugby and after the loss last time out, it was good for them to get back to winning ways.

Tondu took an early lead with a penalty from skipper and outside-half Paul Smithson, but Whitland hit back with a try after seven minutes when, following good work from the forwards driving close to the line, captain and scrum-half Andrew Jenkins went over in the corner.

Fullback Scott Newton failed with the conversion, enabling Smithson to take Tondu into the lead again some six minutes later with his second penalty.

Twenty-five minutes into the game, the Whitland forwards again took control from a lineout, which had resulted from a penalty, and drove over for their second try, with hooker Marc Jones claiming the touchdown.

Again Newton failed with the conversion attempt, and again Smithson responded with his third penalty for Tondu after 31 minutes to cut the deficit to just one point.

Newton was finally successful with this first penalty on the stroke of half-time, however, to send the Borderers in at the break with a 13 points to nine advantage.

And eight minutes into the second half, he banged over his second penalty to increase the lead to 16 points to nine.

Winger Darren Thomas then crossed for Tondu's only try of the match after 25 minutes, which Smithson converted to bring the scores level at 16 points to each.

With quarter-of-an-hour left on the clock, the match was now back in the melting pot, with all to play for.

Whitland kept battling away, though, and their efforts were finally rewarded just two minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Scott Newton and he cooly slotted over the kick to give the Borderers a well-deserved victory.

Man-of-the-match: Andrew Hawkins.

Match referee: Mr. Alan Jenkins, Penlan, Swansea.

Team fielded: Scott Newton, Dion Thomas, Lee Glanville, Gary Evans, Fraser Watson, Carwyn Jones, Andrew Jenkins (capt), Rhodri West, Marc Jones, Alun Davies (Gareth Lloyd), Rhys Jones, David Ebsworth Carwyn Jones), Dylan Richards, Andrew Hawkins, Callum Tree. Subs not used - Huw Rees, Aled Harries and Tomi Jones.

Main match sponsor: Bysiau Cwm Taf Valley Coaches.

Team sponsors: Gareth and Elonwy Phillips, Phil Bowen Tyres, Whitland, Whitland Ladies Rugby and the Station House, Whitland.

Ball sponsors: Tuf Treads Ltd, The South Wales Paper Company Ltd, Barry, Keith Richards, Jan and Liz, Ron Mounsey, McDonalds, K. P. Thomas and Son, Fuel Distributors, Templeton, and Dorian Williams, NFU Mutual, Fishguard.

MORRISTON nil

WHITLAND 2nd XV 24 pts

Whitland 2nd XV won away at Morriston by 24 points to nil, scoring four tries (two in each half) to pick up a bonus point in the process.

In the first half, second row Mathew McMillian and prop Lee Williams crossed for a try each, with outside-half Jonathan Thomas converting one of them, for Whitland to lead 12-nil at the break.

In the second half, fullback Ali Bowen and prop Alan Proctor crossed for Whitland's tries, with Thomas again converting one, to leave the final score 24 points to nil.