Fixture

Last week’s 96 – 0 trouncing for Llanybydder at the hands of Whitland suggested an easy run out for Saints but pre match reviews made the point that Llanybydder is a difficult place to dig out a good result and the early stages confirmed the latter to be the more likely outcome, as both sides tested each other in a bruising encounter with neither side gaining any real superiority.

The visitors looked the more likely however to register the first score with some early territorial advantage but nothing resulted from this and a missed penalty was the only opportunity to put some points on the board before a penalty for the home side allowed outside half Steffan Richards to open the account for Llanybydder.Tit for tat successful penalties were the only other scores in a frustrating first half which never really got going, leaving the half time score at 6 points to 3 in favour of the home side.

Five minutes after the restart yet another penalty produced a further three points for the trusty boot of Richards to stretch the lead to six, but ten minutes later the only try of the game came from more pressure from the visitors pack allowing player/coach Mikey Jones (pictured, coming out of retirement to cover the long list of unavailable players) to crash over. Another missed kick, in the tricky wet and windy conditions, from the conversion attempt, failed to add the extras and a one point deficit resulted.

Five minutes later Steffan Richards, seemingly unaffected by the weather, added to his tally with a long range penalty from half way and narrowly missed another from the same range shortly after. Despite more pressure from Saints in the dying stages they were unable to gain any reward, although going close and the final result of 12 points to 8 was greeted by some relief for the home side and only a losing bonus point to show for all the visitors’ valiant efforts.