Fixture

St Clears opened proceedings clearly determined to take the fight to the table topping visitors, on a beautiful early spring day although the ground was still heavy underfoot and in places still showing the after effects of the relentless recent rainfall.

Early pressure led to a penalty after five minutes which James Davies slotted over to give the hosts a three point lead but despite Saints enjoying more of the game in the opening phases of play, Hendy hit back after twelve minutes with a converted try from their second row to take the lead.

Saints were not to be knocked off course and retook the lead after twenty minutes with an opportunistic try from their lively scrum half Adam Davies, converted by James Davies and four minutes later an excellent try in the corner for captain Mathew Lewis, following good work by the home side’s backs, with another conversion from Davies from the touch line to put Saints into a thoroughly deserved ten point lead with thoughts of a surprise result beginning to form.

Hendy showed why they lead the table at that point however and in ten minutes two tries, one converted, levelled the scores and a successful penalty on the stroke of half time put them in front at the break.

Another try two minutes into the second half, albeit thanks to a favourable bounce from a kick which should have been gathered in, led to a simple try under the posts and an easy conversion to extend the lead to ten points.

A high tackle led to tempers boiling over in the moments after this set back and yellows for both sides resulted, with Saints struggling to rediscover the form shown in the earlier stages of the game in the disrupted formations following the departures.

 With the clock ticking down and only twenty minutes remaining,  Adam Davies darted in for his second try under the posts and with the conversion from James Davies the arrears were reduced to three points, 24 to 27 and at least a losing bonus and maybe even the unexpected four points looked more than just a distant possibility.

Two yellow cards in four minutes for the under pressure visitors increased the chances of that unlikely victory and Saints threw caution to the wind but as a result took one chance too many allowing the visitors to score under the posts with the last action of the game, coming away with nothing from a game in which they deserved more!