Borderers bag vital league win (From Western Telegraph)

Borderers bag vital league win

National League Division One: Whitland 9 Carmarthen Athletic 3 Three penalties by outside half Aled Davies were enough to see Whitland take the precious league points against Carmarthen.

The home side consolidated their second place in the table behind Maesteg with this very hard-fought victory at a very muddy Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn on Bank Holiday Monday.

With the ball becoming more and more like a bar of soap as play progressed there was little chance of any festive thrills but the Borderers deserve credit for sticking to the task, especially in a tough first half where the Athletic gained the lion's share of possession but were unable to break down the Whitland cover

The visitors were rocked back right on the interval as Davies went literally within inches of snatching a breakaway try in the left corner. He then landed a well-struck penalty after the efforts of Phil Morgan, Randall Williams and Aperaamo Tauialo were illegally halted.

Morgan in particular caught the eye throughout a muddy battle as he was always in the thick of the action and made sure that Carmarthen No 8 Graham Evans had a quiet game.

He was easily the man of the match as he led his pack by example and received support from a fired-up Tauialo, Williams, John Bowen and Gareth Williams - and there was some good work in the lineouts by Carwyn and Iwan Davies.

Carmarthen Athletic pivot Julian Howells hooked a penalty wide after 35 minutes and was also well short of the mark with an optimistic 50-metre kick after the change of ends - but hauled his side level with a simpler kick from 25 metres after 17 minutes of the second period.

But Whitland regained the initiative almost immediately after Romeo Colella had joined the fray and secured the platform from which Aled Davies notched a relatively easy kick from near the posts.

Johnny Koloi also made an impact when he came on for Bowen but as conditions worsened so Whitland spent longer periods in the Athletic's 22 and some good work by replacement hooker Aled Harries allowed Aled Davies to slot a third penalty from only 15 metres.

Although the Athletic tried hard to fight their way back upfield they were held in a pincer grip by the Borderers, who secured a welcome tenth win from 14 outings to keep in the promotion hunt.

There was a minute's silence in memory of Whitland president Bowen Stephens.

Whitland match sponsors were Bysiau Cwm Taf Valley Coaches and the Whitland Grammar School Old Boys, led by Paul Kirk. The team sponsors were Dylan Thomas Crane Hire, Boncath; Delme Sharp and Son, Road Haulage, Bancyfelin; Paul Morgan and Andrew Skyrme; Wade Removal; Ron Mounsey of McDonalds; Mark Oriel, Sartorious Fitness Centre and Injury Clinic; Classic Kitchens, Whitland.

The match ball sponsors were Swansea Truck Centre, Huw Jones, Hafod Tractors; John and Vicky Gardner; KP Thomas and Son Fuel Distributors; Martin Williams; Wynne Phillips Truck Centre; Countryside Farmers; Stewart Harries Electrical Contractor.

Whitland: Gavin Morris: Will Davies; Lee Glanville; Eifion Roberts; Jack Tremlett: Aled Davies; Andrew Jenkins (Gareth Davies): Gareth Williams; Aperaamo Tauialo (Aled Richards); Richard Smith (Romeo Colella): Iwan Davies; Carwyn Davies: John Bowen (Johnny Koloi); Phil Morgan (Capt); Randall Williams.

Referee: Peter Rees (Llandovery)