Fixture

In wet sticky conditions Ystalyfera travelled to the run-away leaders of the Division in a return fixture, having lost at home 3 – 43 back in September.

Match began with a solid defence by Ystalyfera. The 1^st penalty of the game being in the 5^th minute, against the visitors for driving sideways in the 1^st scrum. This was converted by Outside-Half Anthony Busselli. Ystalyfera then made the first run of the ball along the backs, Skewen in turn moving play back to the ‘Fera half. A 2^nd penalty then followed for offside,  Anthony Busselli increasing the sore to 6 – 0 in the 13^th minute. After 15 minutes Ystalyfera lock Jesse Patton was yellow carded, and after a scuffle in the resulting line-out a player from both sides were also Sin-Binned. Skewen then completed a push over scrum in the 19^th minute scoring the 1^st Try by No8 Ed Price, being converted the  score was now 13 - 0. Ystalyfera still playing with spirit were taking the game back into the Skewen half. In the 23^rd minute the ball popped out the side of the six man ‘Fera scrum and Skewen winger James Ball run in their 2^nd Try. This was also converted lifting the score to 20 – 0. Ystalyfera were awarded their 1^st penalty in the 28^th minute and with the returning 2^nd rows attempted a catch and drive. The Skewen defence earned a yellow card for the Skewen winger Mark Harvey. The home side then broke downfield and after a ball handling error get another penalty which this time hits the post. An interception by ‘Fera Outside-Half Gareth James is then stopped for offside. Whilst both sides were attempting to increase the tempo of the game events were continually stopped by infringements seen by the referee. Another missed kick by Skewen was awarded by the home linesman, who was spoken to by the referee. A break by the Skewen backs on the left wing in the 40^th minute saw the winger tackled into touch but the linesman did not raise his flag and a Try ensued. Score 25 – 0. The game continued and moved into the Skewen 22, where a player from both sides was yellow carded and Ystalyfera took the opportunity to score a push-over Try by prop Jonathan Williams. Game stopped at 25 – 5.

Ystalyfera kicked off the second half and were on the attack. The forwards were moving well but in the 48^th minute the referee yellow carded ‘Fera captain Paul Davies for contesting a knock-on. Both teams were now quite disrupted but this did not stop the visiting back row and ‘Fera flanker Ashley Carter run in an opportunist Try in the 55^th minute. Score 25 – 10. The remainder of the game wore on as a battle for possession of the ball in the worsening sticky conditions. Big effort was put in by both sets of players but no further addition to the score took place.

Penalty count was 10 given by Skewen, 15 given by Ystalyfera.