Tondu 33 Ammanford 30 (From South Wales Guardian)

Tondu 33 Ammanford 30

9:00am Friday 21st September 2012 in Sport

Division One West 

THE league leaders can breathe a sigh of relief after holding out to clinchvictory in this very entertaining rugby match.

Tondu took an early lead with a Paul Smithson penalty and should have capitalised on some excellent early attacks but poor handling and a resolute Ammanford defence ensured the scoreboard remained unchanged.

Ammanford responded and after several good phases outside- half Rhydian Morris stole through to score the first try.

The game was end to end and both teams looked to play an expansive game.

Tondu regained the lead thanks to another Smithson penalty before a brace of penalties from Rhydian Morris gaveAmmanford a 11-6 lead.

The hosts were denied a score by a brilliant tackle by Ammanford’s Jake Randall but they continued to apply pressure and were rewarded with a try by full-back Matthew Murphy to level the scores on the stroke of halftime.

Ammanford started the second period poorly and conceded 15 points in the first ten minutes as Tondu crossed for two tries. Smithson converted one and added another penalty.

Ammanford picked up their game and began to play the better rugby with Mike Evans, Randall and Tomos-Ellis Williams all looking threatening.

They were rewarded with a well-worked try finished off in the corner by substitute Cerith Lilburn. Morris added the conversion.

This scorewas cancelled out almost immediatelywhenpossession was conceded on halfway and the ball was hacked through for Nick Hopson to make the most of the gift and touch down.

Smithson’s conversion gave the home side a comfortable lead.

Ammanford’s efforts were by no means over and the forwards continually drove at the Tondu defence with Dylan Cooper, Jake Simm and Ryan Williams prominent. This created space and possession for the dangerous back-line to work with and a score was inevitable.

The ball was moved quickly to the left and wing Gary Stephens darted through the defence to score wide out.

Ammanford were finishing much the stronger team and were back on the attack with Mike Evans and Carwyn Richards threatening. Morris saw the gap and put brother Llyr in to score a welldeserved try before adding the conversion with the final kick of the game.

The young Ammanford side can take many positives from a game they could easily have won.

On Saturday Ammanford travel to Carmarthen Athletic..