League One West Central

Maesteg Quins 21 Ammanford 28

Ammanford travelled to Maesteg Celtic for the first time in over 10 years with concerns over a lack of numbers due to several players being unavailable.

The visitors fears were unwarranted however as they claimed a scruffy but vital win which saw them climb to second in the table.

The opening first 20 minutes proved relatively uneventful with the sides’ exchanging a penalty each.

Quins increased the pressure and with loose head prop Lewis Jonathan having to move over to tight and second rows also missing the Ammanford scrum and lineout found themselves under the cosh all game.

A penalty conceded 30 metres out was quickly taken by the hosts and a sharp offload put them in for the lead.

They came quickly back on the attack and when Ammanford lost a lineout inside their own 22, the ball was moved away quickly and the home side went over under the posts for a 15–3 advantage.

The visitors spent much of the first half lacking fluency but going into the final 15 before the break they started to put things together.

Ammanford came strong and a catch and drive from 20 metres saw Emyr Price fall over in the corner to reduce the arrears.

From the kick off Ammanford came back on the attack and gained a penalty which outside-half Mitch Jones slotted over before the interval.

Flanker Dafydd Hughes, enjoying an impressive debut, started the second half well with a big carry. However, another strong home scrum got its rewards and the Quins’ outside-half extended the lead to 18-11.

From a long kick out of defence Ammanford wing Dafydd Pritchard took the ball on his own 10m line and an excellent swerving run saw him emerge the other side of the defence where a quick offload put Hughes, on a fine support line, over under the posts. Jones added the two to level the scores at 18–18.

Using the wind, Quins came back again and the scrum won another penalty to push them three points clear, but from the kick off the home side were lazy in claiming the ball and conceded a penalty that again levelled the score.

Another long kick by the hosts saw the try of the game as Ammanford ran the ball and with some slick handling, centre Andrew Owen went over in the corner. Rhydian Morris took over the kicking and added the extras from wide out.

Ammanford supporters were put through another nerve wracking last five minutes with both sides making some silly decisions, but Ammanford hung on for a scruffy, hard earned win.