DIVISION Five South West visitors Gowerton gave a good account of themselves at Division Four West leaders Amman United, but the in-form Red Devils, who certainly weren’t at their best, proved far too strong for the visitors and claimed a place in the Swalec Bowl quarter final.

Playing with a strong wind at their backs in the first half, United took the game to the opposition from the start.

Amman’s Adrian Thomas sent an early into touch at the corner and, from the resulting catch and drive, the home forwards were held up by a Gowerton defence with the line beckoning.

But Gowerton remained on the back foot and yielding another penalty.

Thomas opted for the points as Amman dominated territory and possession, but Gowerton almost broke away twice, spilling the ball following an interception and then failing to finish when a try appeared inevitable.

Amman’s good play continued to earn little as too many wrong choices and dropped passes dogged the game before Thomas sent over a second penalty for a 6-0 lead on 25 minutes.

Another drive for the Gowerton line almost brought the opening try, but hardworking prop Emyr Lewis’ effort was ruled out for a double movement.

The Amman forwards worked hard throughout with Sean Mangan, Tom Davies, Sean Lacey and Karl Worsfold prominent as they put the visitors through the wringer.

The constant pressure sawthe visitors crack and a yellow card for the Gowerton hooker just before the interval allowed Thomas to increase the home lead to 9-0 before the break.

The Reds upped the ante after the break as Gavin Lewis, who had been quiet by his standards during the opening exchanges, went on a trademark run and brought in wing Stuart Herbert.

Herbert, in turn, found the supporting Worsfold who powered over from 25 yards to punish the fourteen men.

With Gowerton feeling the strain, Amman’s purple patch continued as they tore through again with scrum half Joel Foster capitalising to score and Thomas converting.

Gowerton, to their credit, battled to the end and tried desperately for a consolation try, but were continually hit back by a stonewall Amman defence, typified by a no-nonsense display of hard-hitting tackling from the excellent Richard Dunne at centre.

With time running out, the visitors were turned over near the home try-line andAmmanhooker Doug Jenkins snatched his chance of glory to scamper all of 75 yards on a lungbusting run only to be brought down inches short. But the ball was immediately swept wide where wing Dean Williams took the simple try-scoring pass.

Matchball sponsors were L & G Electrical, Maheen’s Indian Restaurant and Martin Jones Butcher