St Davids 15

Pontyates 15

St Davids called upon all their battling qualities to share the spoils with visiting Pontyates after trailing by eight points at half time and generally finding it hard going against a big Pontyates pack.

Indeed, the Saints might have snatched the decision late on but influential outside half Jonathan Thomas was just wide with a difficult late conversion, and they missed a couple of clear-cut chances but spilled passes in the Pontyates 22.

But perhaps a draw was the fairest verdict because Pontyates could still have gained victory with the last kick of the match as they were awarded a wideangled penalty but ace kicker Kieran Evans hit the post low down and honours were even.

Evans had given Pontyates the lead in the first half with a well-struck penalty and he also added the extra points when their powerful pack drove the Saints back at a scrum 10 metres out and No 8 Daniel George claimed a push-over try.

Back came the Saints with a deserved seven points as talented young centre Scott James made a nice midfield break and supplied the pass for winger Scott Candler to race over so that Thomas could convert.

Pontyates had the final word in the half as Kieran Evans grabbed a solo try that he was unable to convert, and the Saints knew that they had to raise the tempo in the second half.

The home side managed just that as their two players named Rhys Price joined Neil Thomas in the front row and there was action aplenty from Ben Kirk, Sam Thomas, Aled Harries, Rhys Evans and skipper Jack Jones as they fought hard for every ball.

Gareth Charles did the same when he joined the fray and with halves Geraint Morris and Thomas looking for gaps the Saints levelled with a Thomas penalty and a good try for replacement winger Rupert Dunn as he benefited from an overlap out wide.

So it ended all square and both sides were left to reflect on chances not taken as they are involved in the relegation dogfight, and might have settled for that result when they set out.

The result moves St Davids onto 14 points, while the visitors are now up to 18 ahead of there game against Llangwm this week.

St Davids: Andrew Lamb, Scott Candler, David Canning, Scott James, Craig Challonder, Jonathon Thomas, Geraint Morris, Rhys Price, Rhys Price, Neil Thomas, Ben Kirk, Sam Thomas, Rhys Evans, Jack Jones (capt), Aled Harries.

Replacements: Rupert Dunn, Ben Evans, Gareth Charles, Dafydd Williams.