Division One West

Newcastle Emlyn 38 Ammanford 20

Ammanford began their visit to Newcasle Emlyn strongly and were gifted an early try when some poor passing between the Emlyn centres saw the ball go to ground and the resulting kick-and-chase ended with Ammanford wing Dafydd Pritchard claiming the touchdown.

A second error by the hosts saw the home full-back drop on a loose ball only for it to pop up into the waiting hands of 18-year-old Ammanford scrum-half Aled James who went over in the corner to secure a 10-0 advantage for the visitors.

An overthrown line-out on the Emlyn 10-metre saw the arrears reduced however as the hosts made the most of the opportunity and drove up-field. Ammanford’s scrambled defence failed to hold out the charge and the home team powered over the line for a try, converted by former Ammanford cricketer Rhydian Harries.

The hosts generosity was not over though and they gifted Ammanford a third try – again thanks to a wayward pass. Outside-half Rhydian Morris picked up the loose ball and raced 40 metres for a try, which he also converted.

With half time looming, Ammanford’s fringe defence were already dreaming of the interval when as the Emlyn scrum-half darted clear to score under the posts.

The easy conversion took the scores to 17-14 in favour of the visitors.

Within minutes, both teams were down to 14 players as tempers flared and just before the break Emlyn were reduced to 13 after a silly kick.

Despite their man advantage, Ammanford started badly in the second half started badly – and failed to get any better due to a spate of poor tackles.

Within five minutes of the restart, Emlyn shrugged off the lack of numbers as their right wing cut through a weak tackle and ran a 50-metre diagonal to touchdown with another hand being laid on him. The conversion took the home team into the lead for the first time.

The game remained in the blance until the final quarter when a speculative high ball from Ammanford saw the home full back not only jump the highest to claim, but on landing found himself beyond the visitors’ chase line. He showed the chasing Ammanford defence a clean pair of heels to race home for a 26-17 lead.

Ammanford pushed hard, but with a breakthrough open a wayward pass with a four-man overlap found Harries in the clear for the hosts.

Never known for his quick singles on the cricket field, he still had plenty of gas in the tank to sprint 50 metres before offloading for the homesters to score. The exertion at least ensured he was unable to add the conversion.

Thanks to yet more lacklustre tackling from the visitors, Emlyn could have scored a couple more tries, but it was not until the final five minutes that they added another touchdown when a positive drive at a scrum from Ammanford’s pack on their own line still somehow saw the backpedalling Emlyn eight release their Number 8 to go over in the corner.

Ammanford will need to play for the full 80 minutes to get their season back on track when they entertain Crymych at the weekend.