Division Three West

Tycroes 17 Llandeilo 6

With the relentless poor weather causing so much disruption to the league calendar, when any respite is found it inevitably causes an adverse impact on attendances at matches, and so it was on Saturday where the incessant rain ensured a far smaller crowd than would have been expected for a bruising encounter between Tycroes and Llandeilo.

The hosts took an early lead when Carwyn Richards judged his penalty to perfection and slotted the kick over in the face of the strong gusting wind on just eight minutes.

Llandeilo’s Josh Archer levelled the score on 15 minutes after Tycroes were penalised for killing the ball beneath the posts, which earned debut flanker Charlie Randal a yellow card.

The next 25 minutes proved a dour affair while both teams sparred like a pair of super heavyweights, with no one coming out on top.

The sides went into the half-time interval on levels.

After the break, the home side came out far the stronger.

Following some Llandeilo indiscipline, the home side worked their way down field and powered over the visitors’ line from a five-yard scrum after replacement No8 Mathew Edwards controlled the ball well and steered his pack across the line only to find his scrum-half Mathew James steal the try from his feet. Richards was successful with the extras.

Llandeilo reduced the deficit on 63 minutes when Archer bagged his second penalty.

Tycroes worked the corners well with outside-half Bromham kicking his team into great positions, and when the Llandeilo prop was yellow-carded, the home eight opted for the scrum on the Llan line.

Again Edwards was able to exert control and again James was able to sneak in to claim a second touchdown on 76 minutes. Richards again slotted the extras.

With little time left on the clock, Tycroes were able to close out the game for a deserved win.

Head coach Aled Griffiths has brought a steely professionalism to the Tycroes side with the support of backs coach Dean Bromham, defence coach Morgan Sheridan, skills coach Grant Jones and line-out coach Anthony Stevens.

Tycroes now go into the Six Nations break in fourth place after making up ground on the leaders.