Division Three West

Llandeilo 22 Llanelli Wanderers 14

This was different from recent Llandeilo games in that there were no early scores. In almost every other respect, however, it was more or less business as usual – a lively, open game, as tense as ever, a couple of second half yellow cards each and Llandeilo coming back from a deficit to take the points in the last ten minutes.

Llanelli Wanderers came to play rugby and contributed fully to an entertaining game which started at a frantic pace, both sides giving the ball some air and creating chances. Defences held, though, and despite all the running it was almost half an hour in before the visitors opened the scoring with a try by Jonathan George, converted by Ashley Powell.

As so often happens, this spurred Llandeilo on and they hit back almost immediately, strong running wing Owain Roberts forcing his way over near the posts. Josh Archer converted and the teams were level at the break.

Archer put the home team into the lead for the first time with a penalty early in the second half and this, in turn, appeared to have a galvanising effect on the Wanderers. They began to mount more regular attacks and were rewarded when Daniel Nicholson broke through a few tackles and charged across the line to give Powell an easy conversion and his team the lead again.

At 10-14 with 20 minutes left it was anybody’s game but the momentum seemed to swing Wanderers’ way when two quick yellow cards left Llandeilo with the prospect of holding out for some seven minutes with 13 players. And it looked even worse when the visitors were awarded a scrum in the most threatening position. But fortunes changed again when the excellent home back row, led by the tireless Dan Thomas, did enough to clear the danger and take Llandeilo back to halfway.

Recognising the turning point, the home team sensed that the game was theirs to win and, back to full strength – and with Wanderers soon down to 14 for the second time – finished the game strongly. Replacement flanker Emyr Richards scored the try that put Llandeilo back in front, Archer converting.

Archer himself sealed the game right at the death, and deprived the Wanderers of a bonus point they probably deserved, by crossing for a try with the last play.