Division Two West Kidwelly 39 Ammanford 31 Ammanford travelled to Parc Stephens, Kidwelly, on Saturday with the home side determined not to make it three defeats in a season against the league leaders.

Having beaten Kidwelly twice at the Rec Ð in both the league and Swalec Plate Ð in hard fought and close encounters, Ammanford knew this would be a difficult fixture.

In the opening minutes of the game the home side applied the early pressure and took the game to Ammanford. Their large pack drove into the visitors 22 and Ammanford were penalised from a ruck allowing Stuart Morris the early points.

Ammanford were missing first time tackles and from the restart Kidwelly centre and captain Andy Francis broke through the Ammanford defence and gave a try scoring pass to supporting Elgan Morgan. Morris added the two points to give the homesters an early 8-0 lead.

Ammanford number ten Owen Higgins reduced the home lead with a well struck penalty, but Kidwelly were soon back on the attack and yet more errors from the visitors defence led to Francis scoring under the posts. Once more Morris added the extras.

With the wind behind them the home fifteen continued to take the game to Ammanford at every occasion and Ammanford soon conceded yet another penalty which Morris converted.

Ammanford required a score to slow down the Kidwelly juggernaut. Owen Higgins took the ball deep inside his own 22, beat two men and offloaded to centre Tom Rees, who showed pace and strength to beat the Kidwelly defence and score.

Higgins added the two points to get Ammanford back in the game at 18-10.

Kidwelly replied immediately and scored a try from a quickly taken line out. Ammanford turned their backs for a split second, Kidwelly took advantage and outside half Morris scored unopposed beneath the sticks. The linesman held his ground for the lineout to be retaken but was overruled by the referee and Kidwelly were 25-10 to the good.

The last play of the first half saw Kidwelly increase their lead when scrum half Craig Thomas put his name on the score sheet. Morris once more added the two points to give the home side a 32-10 interval advantage.

Kidwelly began the second half as they had finished the first and within minutes home scrum half Thomas scored his second try.

Changes were made to the Ammanford fifteen with Bartlett, Cooper, Rosser and Jones coming off the bench. A great steal by Ammanford centre Tom Rees put flyer Ashley Evans in space, Evans was well supported by hooker Rosser who scored with his first touch of the ball. Higgins added the conversion.

The crowd at Parc Stephens were then rewarded with one of the best tries of the game (if not season) when once again young Ammanford winger Ashley Evans was given the ball with 80 meteres between him and the Kidwelly try line. His electric pace had the home team in all sorts of trouble and his body swerve took him inside and outside the home defence to score under the posts. When Higgins added the two points Ammanford were back in the game and the home side looked worried.

Ammanford now had their tails up and when Tom Rees broke through the home defence to give Ashley Evans his second try (and a bonus point) Kidwelly could only pray for the final whistle.

Unfortunately Ammanford did not have enough time to turn this result around and a very entertaining game ended Kidwelly 39 Ammanford 31.

Will supporters please contact Ammanford RFC regarding Monday, May 2, SWALEC Plate final for bus and ticket allocations (Tel 01269 597777).

Ammanford play Tondu away on May 7. Kick off 2.30pm.