Fixture

A gloomy day with the pitch in surprisingly good condition after a lot of recent rain saw the visitors start proceedings into a stiffening breeze putting the home side on the back foot from the start.

The first foray into the visitor’s half after ten minutes resulted in a penalty slotted over by James Davies to open Saints account and in between resolute defensive duties, another successful penalty for Davies, after a further ten minutes extended the hard fought lead to six points.

Pont continued to apply all the pressure however and only a number of handling errors and some good fortune prevented good try scoring opportunities on a number of occasions.

Another rare visit to their opponent’s half produced another penalty and Davies maintained his 100% kicking success rate to put St Clears nine points to the good at half time.

The strengthening breeze at their back only served to increase the visitor’s territory advantage and ten minutes into the second half their persistence was rewarded with a successful penalty for outside half Aled Stone and ten minutes later the first try of the game in the corner following good work from the forwards for blind side flanker Craig Davies.

Ten minutes later another penalty conceded under the relentless pressure allowed Stone the easy kick to put the visitor’s nose in front for the first time to lead 11 points to 9 and only the upright prevented a further score ten minutes later when Stone’s kick narrowly missed the target.

Pontarddulais were not to be denied however and despite resolute defence, another try in the corner for hooker Andrew Badger extended the lead to seven points.

In the final ten minutes phase of play Saints produced their best rugby and were unlucky not to record a try which would have been no more than their sterling defensive efforts deserved and may perhaps have levelled the scores but were instead left to reflect on a disappointing and frustrating afternoon when no amount of effort had been enough to gain any telling ascendancy and in truth only heroic defending kept the scores in check, finally producing a narrow defeat by 16 points to 9 and at least the losing bonus point!