Division One West

Whitland 20 Amman United 15

Amman United continue their search for a first victory in Division One West after another potential win slipped from their grasp on the trip to Whitland on Friday evening.

However, should their performances carry on in the same vein, the elusive victory is unlikely to evade them for too much longer.

The match, brought forward due to Amman’s Adrian Thomas’ wedding the following day, began well for United as scrum-half Joel Foster slotted over an early penalty.

The visitors had the best of the opening period and went in at interval enjoying 10-3 in the lead after clinching the only try of the half when some great interplay between forwards and backs created the gap for Stewart Herbert. Man of the match Foster converted.

With both sides searching for their opening win of the season, the Amman pack, with Tom Davies and Matthew Wrigley in imperious form, dominated, nailing every scrum and giving their opposite numbers a torrid time.

Despite missing the key services of Dean Williams – out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury, Amman came out for the second half firing on all cylinders.

From a turnover on the 22, the ball was played out to the backs, and Herbert set up the try on a plate for winger Jonny Bevan.

Amman had victory in their sights, but disaster struck when Whitland lost one of their front row injury.

The introduction of passive scrums ensured the visitors’ lost their most potent weapon and their momentum and the game turned on its head.

Whitland exploited the platform to their credit, and hit back to carve out two try-scoring opportunities which they gleefully took to nick a win. A late dropped-goal all but sealed it.

Ultimately, Amman paid the price for silly errors and gave away too many penalties, as what appeared a certina victory slipped from their grasp.

United will restart the search of a confidence-boosting win when they host Newcastle Emlyn at Cwmamman Park on Saturday.