Borderers battle to narrow win (From Western Telegraph)

Borderers battle to narrow win

Whitland 12 Blackwood 8

Whitland showed the best of their battling qualities as they outlasted a doughty Blackwood side under the Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn lights to secure a narrow but thoroughly deserved victory against a side they had also beaten away by 12-7 in a similar match.

There were errors aplenty from both sides with a heavy pitch and greasy ball but the Borderers held a real advantage in the scrums for three-quarters of the game. A great deal of credit must go to their front row of Dai Jones, Steve Gerrard and Gareth Williams for the way they shunted their opposite trio all over the pitch until Jones went off and they lost their impact.

Gerrard was particularly impressive in his first full game for a month - the 38-year-old hooker won a lot of ball on the ground and showed good work in the tight. Tristan Bowen and skipper Phil Morgan also caught the eye. They helped produce so much good ball that Blackwood only entered Whitland's 22 on one occasion in the entire first half.

The only surprise was it took Whitland 36 minutes to open their account, when a Blackwood scrum was disrupted. Steve Gerard and Fakataha Mollatika maintained the move after an initial snipe by scrum half Andrew Jenkins, Dominico Setaro made good ground and his flat pass allowed winger Steve Butchers to supply full back Wayne Lewis with the inside scoring pass.

Perhaps Whitland fly half Daniel Griffiths was fully aware he had claimed 999 league points before this match - he was off-target in the first four minutes with a drop goal and penalty attempt and the Borderers threw away a plethora of chances as final passes went to ground after good initial work.

In one single attack Whitland had three clear-cut opportunities but lost the ball.

But then came that superb try to end the session in style - although Blackwood started the second half on the attack as outside half Martin Jones slotted an easy fourth-minute penalty from in front of the posts after the Whitland backs had encroached offside.

Both sides made a series of changes in an attempt at raising the tempo and it was Whitland who made the break-through with a try which owed a great deal to a superb forward drive. Dominico Setaro then cut through the middle and fed Steve Butchers on the right - and when he was illegally held Daniel Griffiths fired the ball into the left corner.

Tristan Bowen made a clean catch at the lineout and Fakataha Molatika was powered over the line for Whitland's second score - and the loudest cheer of the night was reserved for Daniel Griffiths when announcer Rob Benjamin told the supporters that the two points for the wide-angled conversion took the fly half to 1001 points.

But when prop Dai Jones was substituted the Borderers seemed to lose a lot of impulsion and although Steve Butchers went close on a strong run and Griffiths was off-target with a penalty it was Blackwood who clutched at a straw offered by Whitland's inability to kill them off - winger Mark McKee rounding off some good handling by Owen and Martin Jones, Daniel Sinclair and Daniel Dark to cross in the corner. Martin Jones hit the woodwork with the conversion. It was a vital miss since the visitors still needed a try to snatch a result.

They ran a couple of kickable penalty chances in the dying moments - but the Borderers' defence held out and their reward was a deserved win and a solid mid-table slot.

The match was sponsored by the Coracle Inn, Carmarthen, the team sponsors were Riverlea Tractors, Whitland, with the match balls sponsored by the Lobster Pot, Marloes; the Lamb Inn, Tenby; The White Horse, Builth Wells, the Market Tavern, Brecon.

Whitland: Wayne Lewis: Daniel Rogers; Dominico Setaro; Lee Banfield; Steve Butchers: Daniel Griffiths; Andrew Jenkins (Gareth Davies 53 minutes): Gareth Williams (Romeo Colella 65); Steve Gerrard; Dai Jones (Ricky Davies 60): Tristan Bowen; Fakataha Mollatika: Johnny Kaloi; Phil Morgan; Derek Thomas (Rob Norton 64). Other replacements: Randal Williams; Lee Glanville; Scott Penney.