Tycroes 25 Llanybydder 14
Llanybydder travelled to Cae’r Gelli, Tycroes , a ground on which they have endured some difficult days over the previous few seasons. The depleted visitors suffered further woes pre-match as influential skipper Stuart Phillps and in form loosehead Zach Lowther failed fitness tests leading to a new combination in every row of the scrum. The home side had the wind and slope advantage in the first period, and started on fire as their backs and forwards combined well leading to early tries for wing Gareth John and prop Trystan Morgan, both in the bottom right corner. It looked ominous for the visitors, but credit to all the players as they stuck to the task, and repelled further periods of Tycroes pressure, until fly-half Dean Bronham crossed near the posts just before the interval. All conversions were missed, but the home side led 15 – 0.
The second half was more even, as No 8 Ricky Davies was outstanding in his ball-carrying, tackling and work in the contact area. Flankers Wyn Davies and John Evans became more prominent and with a huge effort by the front five the visitors clawed their way back into match. However, John James crossed for the home side’s bonus point try, before Llanybydder replied with an excellent try by hooker Alun Davies after several phases of play. As the visitors confidence grew, backs and forwards combined well to keep possession, and another move was finished with a try for full-back Steff Davies as he took the ball on an excellent angled run. Davies converted both tries to reduce the home lead to 20 – 14, and with 6 minutes remaining the visitors thought that an unlikely win was possible. However, Tycroes re-grouped, and secured victory when hard-running centre Mathew Lemon crossed for their 5th try , making the final score 25 – 14.
Llanybydder are home to Haverfordwest next Saturday, in a must win match if they are keep above the relegation battle
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