Fixture

Ammanford RFC | 1st Team 7 - 21 Ystalyfera RFC | 1st Team
Luc Caines
1 Try
Gareth James
3 Penalty

Match Report
12 September 2017 / Team News

Ammanford 7 – 21 Ystalyfera

Ystalyfera travelled to ‘The Rec.’ in Ammanford for the first away fixture of the season,  ‘Fera kicking off  toward the clubhouse into the sun and a sharp wind.

The game started at a keen pace, only for Ammanford to give away a penalty in the first minute, dutifully kicked over by ‘Fera outside half Gareth James. Both sides competed hard for possession of the ball, and the home side worked the game into the Ystalyfera 22. Defending adequately, ‘Fera scrum half Nathan Cornelius was yellow carded in the 10th minute for deliberate knock on, but Ammanford failed to take the opportunity to equal the score. Gareth James eventually relieves the pressure with a fine line kick out of defence. The contest remained in midfield with both sides looking to control the ball. A penalty given away by Ammanford let Gareth James kick his second penalty in the 20th minute: score 0 – 6. The home side attempted to break through both on the wings and up the middle but Ystalyfera countered most effectively, Gareth James putting in excellent line kicks when required. The ‘Fera forwards began to feed good ball to their backs, and after a clean scrum wing Mathew Scott attempted a fast break but was bundled into touch. Pressure now ensued by the visiting pack and after a second driving scrum at the Ammanford tryline the referee awarded a penalty Try in the 33 minute: score 0 – 13. Ystalyfera surge forward from the restart but Ammanford gain the ball and attempt an attack. The ‘Fera defence is sound however and play continues in midfield. At the end of the first half Ystalyfera make an aggressive push under the home posts and a Try is disallowed.

Ammanford attack from the restart, but Ystalyfera forwards win a turnover. Attempting to gain advantage by kicking behind the visitors defence, Ammanford are successful in the 42nd minute, flanker Owen Davies getting a Try, converted by outside half Ceri Morris: score 7 – 13. Determined to correct matters, Ystalyfera immediately return to the attack and a line out on the home 5m line is cleared by Ammanford. ‘Fera winger Luc Caines catches the ball, and seeing a gap on the outside speeds past his hapless opposite number to run in a fine Try in the 48th minute. The game continues as a determined contest with efforts to penetrate being made by both sides. All of the effort from Ammanford however fails to crack the Ystalyfera defence. Outside half Gareth James was now in full control of events with solid line kicks and distribution of the ball. His record of top points scorer within a season in Division One, achieved when playing for then Champions Bonymaen in 2006 was being vindicated. In the 65th minute he converted his third penalty to lift the score to 7 – 21, and although Ammanford continued to make every effort to redeem the score, that’s how the game finished.  

This was a dominant away win for Ystalyfera. Whilst Ammanford attempted to break their defence with attacks on the flanks, up the middle and even over the top, the ‘Fera stood strong and came back themselves to get a deserved win.

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