Division Two West Central

Aberavon Green Stars 17 Cwmgors 21

Cwmgors made a great start to their campaign in the newly-structured Division Two West Central with a well-deserved victory at Aberavon. The win was all the more pleasing with a number of key players out injured, including Ethan Price and Lloyd Watson.

The newly-promoted Cherries expected a hard-fought match in a tougher section, and so it proved.

In an extremely tight first half, Green Stars opened the scoring with a penalty, but also missed a few kickable efforts, while Steff Rees saw his effort hit a post and go wide for the hosts.

The visitors hit back with a well-worked forwards’ move which was dabbed down by industrious flanker Rob Clive. Rees added the conversion for a 7-3 interval lead.

The Cwm pack again got the rumble on after the break, paving the way for Clive to go over in similar fashion for a second converted score.

Aberavon then enjoyed a real purple patch of phase-play, and turned things in their favour with a brace of converted tries to lead 17-14.

With Clive, Liam Jones and Steff Rees impressing, man of the match was 18-year old openside flanker and Cwmgors Youth product Ioan Davies.

The Cherries were also delighted to welcome back replacement prop Jonathan Rees to the fray after some six years out with a bad shoulder injury.

The visitors grabbed the all-important winning try when from a controlled rolling-maul from some 30 yards out. Quick ball found Steff Rees, who created space and found the gap to slice in for the killer try. He converted his own try.

Cwmgors will hope to build on their start when they entertain Pencoed at the Maerdy on Saturday.