Division One West

Ammanford 32 Amman United 18

Ammanford kickstarted the New Year by climbing into fifth place in Division One West courtesy of an impressive second half win over valley rivals Amman United.

The visitors started enthusiastically enough and with the aid of some astute kicking kept the hosts pinned back in their own half for much of the first period.

The pressure paid dividends when United outside-half Rhys Williams made a clean break inside the home 22 and scampered over the line for an early lead.

A Rhys Thomas penalty saw the visitors extend their advantage.

Williams precision kicking ensured the visitors remained on top with Ammanford constantly forced onto the back foot.

A second Thomas penalty say Amman go into the break with a deserved 11-0 interval lead over the hosts.

A game of two halves is an often used cliché, but on this occasion the description was to prove apt.

With the Amman supporters expecting their side to push on after the break, they found themselves reeling as the hosts put on a storming 20-minute burst that turned the game on its head.

Almost immediately from the kick-off, Ammanford outside-half Rhydian Morris slotted over his first penalty of the day to get the hosts onto the scoreboard.

Within minutes, a slick training ground move saw centre Craig Woodall put clear from a line-out and go over.

Morris converted and suddenly there was just a point between the sides.

Without United rocking, Ammanford full-back James Owens burst through to give the hosts the lead for the first time as their offloading game continued to improve.

With the momentum all Ammanford’s, the impressive Woodall went over close to the posts for his second score. Morris converted.

The Ammanford scrum, which had struggled in the first half, dominated the second half thanks to the hard graft of front row Liam Baker, Ryan Williams and Kevin Jones. Williams also carried well in the loose.

A Morris penalty extended the lead out to 25–11 before a try for substitute flanker Sion Williams ten minutes from time, converted by Morris, but the game completely out of Amman’s reach.

The visitors’ Alun Lewis battled gamely throughout and was rewarded late on with a consolation try, converted by Thomas.

The result moves Ammanford up to 5th in the table ahead of next week’s trip to seasiders Tenby.

Amman United meanwhile remain second-bottom.