Rugby: Ammanford fall to home defeat against Kenfig Hill

The excellent start to the season was halted by a very strong Kenfig Hill side.

Ammanford, again ravaged by injury, were forced to play flanker Cian Trevelyan at scrum half.

The flanker did his best but the flow of Ammanford’s play was affected by not having a specialist. They did have the welcome return of Callan Davies in the second row.

Ammanford started well enough taking the kick off moving the ball wide and full back Elis Lewis gassed the defending winger to score in the corner, a quality conversion from the touch line added to the score.

Kenfig Hill came back strongly and after a series of rucks close to the home line the big pack powered over under the posts to level the score.

After an altercation on halfway between two players the referee felt he only needed to yellow card the Ammanford prop Mathew Swann.

The Mules took advantage of the extra man when their centre bust through to take the lead 7-14 after 10 minutes. The next 29 minutes was very nip and tuck.

Ammanford struggled at the breakdown with the referee’s decisions going in favour of the visitors allowing them to get out of their half to easily.

Ammanford were the next to score when after a penalty kick to touch.

A drive was followed by a couple of rucks the ball was moved wide for winger Liam Smith to streak into the corner and reduce the half time score to 12-14.

From the kick off Kenfig Hill messed up the reception giving outside half Ryan Williams the opportunity to put Ammanford back into the lead, 15-14.

The breakdown was still Ammanford’s Achilles’ heel which eventually allowed Kenfig Hill two penalties that gave them the match-winning lead.

This was a game that Ammanford should have won and are disappointed with their performance.

Next week the league takes a break and Ammanford welcome Newcastle Emlyn in a Cup match. This is the first time the teams will have met for 10 years.

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YOUTH

Tumble 17-21 Ammanford

It was nice to see the Youth teams back in action this weekend. They travelled the short distance up to Tumble and got off to the best of starts.

From the first scrum of the game when the ball was moved wide winger Tom Davies sped into score. Outside half Sam Potter added the extra points.

Winger Davies was soon back in the action where he was alert to take an interception on his own 10-metre line. He then had the gas to go all the way to score giving Potter an easy conversion.

Tumble took the remainder of the half to work their way back into the game and reduce the lead at the half to 12-14.

Ammanford's outside half converting from the touchline (Image: .)

Tumble started the second half well and saw their number eight produce a lovely step and go 60m to score. Davies not to be out of the game produced an excellent charge down to keep the lead down to 17-14.

With time running out Tumble fumbled the ball Potter was on hand to hack through and win the chase to the ball and score and retake the lead, 17-21.

Tumble youth threw everything at the visitors and were only stopped by a last-ditch tackle by scrum half Noa Potter. The final whistle was music to the years of the Ammanford boys.

Second row Toby Jenkins and flanker Harry Thomas stood out in the midst of a fine team effort.

Next Saturday the Ammanford Youth team travel to Cowbridge in the WRU Youth Plate Competition whilst Tumble Youth host Bargoed.