Fixture

Ammanford  27 Brynaman 16

Swalec Plate 1^st Round

Despite the eventual defeat this was a much improved Bryn display and one which will hopefully now go some way to kick starting what has been a disappointing start to the season. Due to the recent abandonment of the C. C. Evans Cup competition and latterly Ammanford’s Division 1 West status, derbies between the two sides have been  few and far of late. Indeed the last competitive fixture was in fact a C.C.Evans clash at Brynaman on 15^th March 2011, Bryn being victorious by 19-13. Interestingly the Ammanford Captain that day was a certain Mark Jones! (Coach).

In what were almost perfect conditions it was Bryn who started the brighter, and with hooker Chris White to the fore of some particularly robust early exchanges, Ammanford quickly became aware that a stern challenge that lay ahead.  An offside from a knock on by the homesters just outside their own 22 handed Bryn the first scoring opportunity and Greens outside half Craig Jones made no mistake with his first penalty slotting calmly for a 3-0 lead.  

However Ammanford soon bounced back as Bryn were guilty of failing to tidy up possession from the restart. A clever reverse pass by Ammanford scrum half Aled James caught Bryn completely off guard and in the confusion that followed hooker Ryan Williams was able to race home under the posts almost unopposed. With the conversion a formality Ammanford then took the lead at 7-3.

Craig Jones then pulled the Greens back to 6-7 with his second penalty as Ammanford were punished for being offside at a scrum. From the restart the Greens again responded positively and with Craig Jones orchestrating a well -rehearsed set piece play, centre Paul Taylor hit the gain line at full speed before offloading with precision to wing Owain Sullivan. Taking full advantage of the overlap created by an instinctive switch from the far right, Bryn’s elusive young flyer then rounded the home defence in some style for a memorable score. With the lead at 11-7 another promising Bryn attack soon developed but this time the ball was turned over with the Greens deep in Ammanford territory.

A well placed cross kick by Ammanford once again caught Bryn napping and wing Gary Stephens raced home for an opportunist try. With a successful conversion Ammanford led 14-11 at half time. At this stage the contest looked evenly matched but as the excitement and tempo of the first half gradually ebbed away it was Ammanford who took full advantage. Another converted try by Ammanford’s Ryan Williams increased the advantage to 21-11 before two further penalties put them out of sight at 27-11. On permit replacement flanker Alun Lewis pulled a try back for Bryn in the dying seconds but unfortunately by then it was purely consolation.