Wizards too strong for battling Borderers (From Western Telegraph)

Wizards too strong for battling Borderers

Whitland 7 Aberavon 23

Aberavon maintained their quest for a top two position in Division One as they gained a hard-fought win at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn against a Whitland side which battled non-stop in the heavy conditions and had the better of the exchanges for much of the second period before a late try and conversion by fly half Jamie Davies saw a final victory margin that was a little flattering for The Wizards.

It was Davies who opened the scoring in the first minute after opposite number Daniel Griffiths had failed to take the kick-off ten metres - and Griffiths missed a relatively simple penalty himself after five minutes, following good work by Steve Gerrard, Ricky Davies, skipper Phil Morgan and Randal Williams in the close exchanges.

Aberavon lost fiery hooker Simon Hiett after ten minuets for a reckless challenge in a ruck but the Wizards still had enough fire-power to extend their lead as influential No 8 Richard Morris made Whitland pay for losing their own ball at a set-piece, barging his way close to the line before nippy scrum half Daniel Hawkins crept blind with Jamie Davies for winger Lee Abdul to have the easiest of unconverted tries.

Hawkins was joined by brother David in the centre as the launch-pad for much of the visitors' attacking flair - and the scrum half helped create Aberavon's second try as he swept play left for Abdul to score a carbon-copy of his first try.

Jamie Davies missed the conversion but was again on target with a penalty that gave his side a 16-point interval lead.

Home coach Mark Waygood brought on Jason Evans for Gerrard at hooker and prop Wayne Higgon for Davies at prop and for a while The Borderers were on top after David Hawkins had almost scored for Aberavon from the kick off with an incisive run through the middle.

The visitors lost Abdul for a professional foul and winger Steve Griffiths and centre Domenico Setaro had good little darts before running out of support.

But Whitland finally broke the deadlock with a cracking try as flanker Tristan Bowen set Steve Griffiths away on the right and the young winger beat his marker and raced around to the posts for big brother Daniel to add the extra points.

It was a quality finish but although Whitland looked marginally the better side they were unable to break down a disciplined Aberavon defence - and the Wizards made doubly sure of another good away win as Morris and skipper Chris Giffin set up the late platform for Daniel Hawkins to put Jamie Davies in at the corner for a try which he did well to convert before referee Clayton Thomas brought an end to a hard battle where both sides tried hard in unpleasant conditions!

The Whitland match sponsor was Geraint Hughes, Duraseal Fibre Glass Flat Roofing, Aberdare and Swansea. The team sponsors were Woodfield Nursing Home, Narberth and the Whitland RFC Committee.

The match ball sponsors were Dr Roger Hind (Saundersfoot); The South Wales Paper Company Ltd of Barry and Dr Meirion Rees, Dyllas Engineering Co Ltd, Aberdare.