This was a game played to the final whistle decided by the last kick of the game. On a miserable windy day, when few games were played the Rec showed its merits as an excellent self-draining ground allowing the Championship game to go ahead. This was the first time the two clubs had crossed swords for some 13 years and after a crash bang fireworks night on the Friday more fireworks were expected on the pitch.

The game was influenced greatly by the referee’s interpretation of the high tackle with Ammanford it seemed the main culprits’ and this gave the visitors several opportunities to score. This was in fact how Crymych got their first two penalties and on a day when running rugby was at a premium Ammanford struggled to get a foothold in the early part of the game.

Slowly the pressure forced the visitors into a few errors rewarding Ammanford with a couple of penalties which outside half Sam Potter cooly slotted over. The referee’s influence was critical and again his view of the high tackle not only slowed Ammanfords progress but allowed Crymych to kick a penalty deep into the corner from which a clinical catch and drive earned the visitors their first try of the game an excellent kick from out wide made the score, 6 – 13. With time running out in the first half the scenario was repeated, high tackle penalty, kick into the corner, catch, drive, try, conversion and at the half Ammanford found themselves 6 – 18 down and under the conditions they seemed to have a big mountain to climb.

The second half started fairly evenly but slowly Ammanford started getting a foothold in the visiting 22. They were rewarded when a very clever little diagonal grubber by centre Kai Richards gave wing Elis Lewis the opportunity to skip around the defender and dive on the ball to score. Potters conversion inches from the touch line was an excellent successful effort.

Within minutes of the restart another high tackle call from the referee gave Crymych another three points. Not to be daunted Ammanford pushed Crymych back and soon a driving line out gave second row Sion Williams the opportunity to score his first try in four yeas another fine Potter conversion made it a one-point game.

Crymych pushed the lead back out with a penalty for offside before Ammanford took the lead for the first time. Started by a good break down the right by full back Ceri Rees, he fed supporting wing Liam Smith whose speed and strength took him the 30 meters to the line making it 25 – 24 to the home side.

There was a nervous 10 minutes left and what did not help was the referee awarding another high tackle penalty giving the lead back to Ammanford. With time running out the Ammanford pack that had scrummaged well all game won a penalty some 40m out. Up stepped Potter and the young man held his nerve and calmly slotted the kick and the ref blew for time. This was a really well deserved 28 – 27 points win.

Final score: Ammanford RFC 28 – 27 Crymych RFC.