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 LLANDYBIE  13    LLANDEILO  14

Match report by Charles Cann

The much awaited derby between Llandybie and local rivals  Llandeilo was the usual close affair with both sides hell bent on not losing.                                                                                          Llandeilo came with a very young front row and were immediately going backwards in the scrums  and soon after Llandeilo eight Craig Davies went to the bin for foul play. A penalty to the hosts with Aled Tommason chancing his arm from 52 metres but it fell short.  Llandybie were caught offside and Owain Roberts kicked the points for Llandeilo. The hosts yielded two further penalties for offside with Roberts converting the second to lead 6 – 0.  Llandybie’s Mike Tench and Eirian Williams were tacklng well and number eight Lyndon Davies was always available to carry making inroads into the Llandeilo defence.                Tommason kept the hosts going forward with some good angled kicks but Llandybie lost second rows Tim Williams and James Tommason with leg injuries replaced by Dylan Parry and Nathaniel Butler which left Mike Tench to contest the lineouts. Half time the visitors led by 6 points to nil.

Another Roberts penalty increased the visitors lead until a Tommason penalty reduced the arrears. Alex Wigley at ten and centre Rhys Evans almost found their way through but Llandeilo defended to a man. The introduction of Butler helped Llandybie going forward. Llandybie had a scrum 10 yards out and Llandeilo were penalised four times for wheeling but a penalty try was not forthcoming. The referee then penalised Llandybie for driving up which resulted in Tommason going to the bin for a comment. From a kick ahead winger Keri Davies put pressure on the full back causing a knock on. From the scrum the hosts made a number of drives well defended by Llandeilo but prop Dai Lloyd came at a good angle to burst through the first tackle and dive over for a try converted by winger Ben Featherstone to put Llandybie in the lead for the first time and he increased their lead with a penalty. A mistake by stand in full back Rhydian Jones and Llandeilo hacked ahead but Featherstone chased back to cover and the defence cleared.    A good cross kick by Aled Parry took the hosts into the Llandeilo twenty two but a silly penalty and a bit of back chat saw Llandybie defending their own line. Good pressure with a number of rushes and scrum half Osian Williams took a quick tap five yards further on than the mark and dived over although the defence were convinced it was short but the referee awarded the try. LLandybie were gutted after fighting back so well but they paid the price for a poor first half. Next week Llandybie are away to Llangadog still looking for their first win of the season.