FURNACE 35 LLANDYBIE 10

Llandybie travelled to Furnace for the first time in three years expecting a physical encounter, and although the hosts fielded a very big side, the pack more than held their own.

The home side scored a very early try but the visitors fought back. A good clearance kick relieved the pressure, but  a charge down by Llandybie was just minored by the full back.

Rhys Cann found Ioan Rees in the lineout and they set up a driving maul with scrum half Rhys Tench moving blind side to just get over in the corner.

Garin Criddle made some good runs for the visitors but Furnace set up a rolling maul from their lineout to drive over for a try and converted a penalty for not retreating ten yards to lead 13 -5 at half time.

Llandybie put on the pressure after half time to keep Furnace in their own half for fifteen minutes, missing a penalty in front of the posts.

A good carry from Nathaniel Butler saw Tench high tackled but in the melee that ensued the referee reversed the penalty, and another chance was missed.

In a breakaway Furnace kicked another penalty for offside and hit a purple patch in scoring three tries in five minutes to lead thirty five points to five.

Llandybie had not given up and came storming back, encamped in the home side’s twenty two for the last quarter.

Furnace gave away at least a dozen penalties during this time for offside and a couple of high tackles, with no action taken until two minutes from the end when the referee yellow-carded a Furnace player.

With good carries from the Llandybie forwards and backs Llandybie eventually scored with Criddle to Butler to Josh Watkins diving in at the corner.

A five minute purple patch for Furnace cost Llandybie dear. The scoreline flattered the home team, but they took their chances and were clinical.

On Saturday Llandybie are at home to New Dock Stars.