Fixture

Over the years a visit to the Athletic Ground in Neyland has always been
a highly charged affair and this rearranged fixture proved to be no
different. The home side always play with aggression, egged on by a
volatile support and this was to prove a interesting test for a young
Seagulls side on their first visit. It also calls for stern and fair officialdom
and regrettably on this occasion an indifferent display from the official
resulted in continuous niggles which was not a good advert for the game.
The opening exchanges were played in good spirit with nothing to
choose, but Aberaeron gradually gained supremacy in the set pieces and a
series of forays towards the line gave alert scrum half Gareth James the
gap to open the account. Rhodri Jenkins converted and the outside half
soon added a penalty to increase the lead. From being a competitive
opening the game turned sour mid way through the half with a
confrontation where all players were involved, and the referee sadly
unable to exert his authority. After the dust settled red cards were
brandished to a player from either side, and with the match still
simmering a pair of yellows soon followed. Gradually rugby resumed and
the hosts recovered and were rewarded on the half time whistle with a
converted try. They drew level minutes after the restart, but the support
were then treated to a glimpse of class as once again full back Morgan
Llewelyn used guile and pace to outdo several would be defenders, to
keep up his try scoring run. Alas, not for the first time Aberaeron were
caught sleeping from the restart, failing to gather  and with the defence in
disarray, Neyland's forward momentum took them over the line with
added points from the boot to bring the scores level. At that point
Aberaeron were looking the stronger and were unfortunate not to regain
the lead with strong breaks from hooker Ryan Williams and captain
Tudur Jenkins falling short of the line. To compound the misery a hopeful
clearance from home territory resulted in indiscretion in the Seagulls
ranks and the successful penalty gave the hosts the advantage. With
minutes remaining Aberaeron exerted continuous pressure on the home
defence only to be thwarted with last-ditch defence. In the final seconds,
the chance finally came with a difficult penalty. Agonisingly the ball
drifted wide of the upright, resulting in jubilation in the home ranks. On a
positive note, despite the absence of several experienced personnel, the
future looks in good hands with the likes of prop Kuba Poplonski, centre
Steffan Jones and flanker Osian Davies showing up well. The game
however will be remembered for the wrong reasons.