Division Four South West

Betws 12 Pyle 18

Bottom-side Betws wasted another opportunity of a first win of the season and in the end had to be content with a point.

Unfortunately the game was reduced to passive scrums again with the homesters only mustering 15 available players, but those that arrived played with great commitment from the outset.

The early pressure paid dividends as full-back Scott Bowen – playing on permit – entered the line at pace to score after a storming run by No8 Cerith Lilburn. Bowen converted.

Pyle reduced the deficit with a penalty, but Betws should have extended their advantage midway through the half when a trademark interception by Cellan Davies saw him caught a metre short after a 70-metre sprint.

Strong driving play from the larger Pyle pack eventually got its rewards as their No8 powered over. The conversion put the visitors 10-7 ahead.

A try-saving tackle by debutant Daniel Thomas should have shored up the scores for the interval, but inexplicably the hosts attempted to run loose ball out of defence and Pyle made the most of the decision with a scrambled try.

After the break, Pyle literally came out fighting and were reduced to 12 men as the referee showed two yellows and a red to the visitors.

Betws took advantage as flanker Ashley Jones crossed in the corner, however Pyle held out until their men returned.

Betws’ tiring defence were forced to concede numerous penalties late on, resulting in two yellows of their own, and the visitors were able to add another penalty to make the result safe.