Borderers better - but still lose (From Western Telegraph)

Borderers better - but still lose

Treorchy 25 Whitland 7

Whitland are still seeking their first league points of the new season as they went down to their fourth successive defeat at the hands of Treorchy, although there was again an improvement shown in the way that the Borderers played as they created more chances and generally competed in the set-pieces.

But with the wind in their faces they were 15 points behind at the break and although they scored a good try in the second half they were already doomed to defeat since the home side had added another ten points.

Treorchy opened their account in the eighth minute when a good handling move allowed left winger Karl Rees to cross for a try which was converted by Mafete OtoOta, who was at fly half for the Rhondda Valley side.

Daniel Griffiths missed a chance to reduce the deficit as he was off target with a 14th minute penalty and the Borderers went further behind as OtoOta notched a penalty and converted a try by centre Damian Lawlor.

Griffiths was again off target with a penalty attempt right on half time, following good work by Dai Ebsworth, Phil Morgan and Rob Norton, who was voted as the Whitland man of the match against his former club.

Mike Buckingham, Steve Gerrard and Fakatah Molatiko all battled hard for the Borderers after the break but mistakes were punished as Treorchy went further ahead with an early try by centre Mark Sheppard which OtoOta again goaled as well as adding a penalty after 55 minutes.

Whitland had to wait until 12 minutes from the end before they broke their points duck when a quick pick up by Ricky Davies, normally a prop but playing well as replacement No 8, allowed scrum half Andrew Jenkins to snipe away on the blind side and find Wayne Lewis in support and ready to cross for a try which Griffiths converted.

Sadly though, it was too late for the Borderers to stage a come-back and they face Llanharan at home this Saturday, still in search of their first precious points.

Whitland: Wayne Lewis: Eifion Lewis; Lee Banfield; Domenico Setaro; Craig Richards: Daniel Griffiths; Rob Phillips: Gareth Williams; Steve Gerrard; Lee Parry : Steve Thomas; Dai Ebsworth: Rob Norton; Phil Morgan; Fakatah Molatiko. Replacements: Richard Emms; Romeo Collela (for Williams); Andy Webster (for Parry); Andrew Jenkins (for Rob Phillips); Simon Rogers; Ricky Davies (for Ebsworth); Sengili Tuihalamaka (for Banfield).