Division One West

Amman United 29 Carmarthen Athletic 9

Amman United claimed only their second league win of the season with a thumping 29-9 victory over bottom side Carmarthen Athletic at Cwmamman Park.

A series of decent Amman performances have gone unrewarded of late, but the Reds secured a confidence-boosting win and a five-point haul to close the gap on the sides above them.

The hosts, who shuffled their back line for the fixture, came flying out of the blocks and saw a smart a dummy-run and popped pass create the space for wing Gavin Lewis to scorch through the entire Athletic defence from halfway for a second-minute try. Outside-half Rhys Thomas stepped up to convert and give the hosts a perfect start.

The reliable home forwards found themselves well-matched by a solid Carmarthen pack as the front eights locked horns, but United conceded two penalties from which the visitors to were able to reduce the arrears to 7-6 going into the half-time interval.

The game opened up after the break with Joel Foster’s sniping runs from behind the scrum keeping the hosts on the front foot.

It was Foster who proved the catalyst for Amman’s second score which saw Mathew Wrigley driving over.

Wrigley and Liam Mangan were outstanding in the pack, while Johnny Bevan and full back Rhys Williams looked sharp in the United back division.

Athletic added a third penalty before the hosts again earned themselves some breathing space when the ball broke loose from a driving maul for Gavin Lewis to chip ahead. His neat gather allowed him to romp home for a trademark score.

With Amman camped on the Athletic line searching desperately for the bonus-point try, the pressure finally told with two minutes remaining when the visiting second row aimed a blatant kick at veteran Number 8 Karl Worsfold.

The offender saw red, but the Amman were furious that the official had dragged back play when the try-line was beckoning.

There was still time for justice to prevail however and United went through the phases until Mangan found a pocket of space and dummied his way clear for a bonus-point touchdown in injury time.

Amman pack their buckets and spades for a visit to mid-table Tenby on Saturday.