Fixture

St Clears 12 Aberaeron 6

The battle for promotion from Div 3 West A hots up as St Clears subjected Aberaeron to only their second league defeat of the season. Defeat for the Saints would have been a serious setback to their ambitions and they showed their colours from the first whistle with early pressure on the Seagulls defence. The visitors on the other hand have one of the best defences in the league and albeit shorn of a number of regulars were able to protect their line admirably, Gradually they did gain field position and it was the reliable boot of Rhodri Jenkins who capitalised on an offside infringement to stroke over a penalty to put his side ahead until the break. Aberaeron's injury woe worsened on the restart with Jason Freeman and Huw Wozencraft forced to leave the field but as often happens it does give others the opportunity, and coach Justin Lloyd had little hesitation in giving starts to youth contingent Steffan Dafydd Jones on the wing and Osian Davies in the unaccustomed centre role. To their credit both looked comfortable in senior ranks which bodes well for the future. As in the first period it was the hosts first out of the blocks and some indecision in the visitors ranks allowed St Clears to gain field position and a series of attacks gave No 8 Rhodri Evans the opening to cross under the posts and give Dan Griffiths an easy conversion. Aberaeron responded well from the restart and forays from Tudur Jenkins and Aaron Lewis invited the Saints to fall foul of the referee and Jenkins reduced the deficit to a single point with a penalty. Further scores looked unlikely with neither side unable to create clear cut chances and it was down another lapse that allowed the hosts to create an opening for wing John Gosling to score and despite a last gasp attempt Aberaeron failed to overcome the deficit and thereby having to be content with a losing bonus point. For Aberaeron the league takes a rest on Saturday with a trip to Baglan in the Bowl Cup, with the squad hopefully strengthened with some of the enforced absentees.