MILFORD HAVEN 17-13 ABERAERON (From Western Telegraph)

MILFORD HAVEN 17-13 ABERAERON

4:00pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Sport

Swalec bowl - MILFORD Haven moved into the last 16 of the Swalec Bowl competition by beating Aberaeron.

But not before the visitors to the Observatory Field had pushed the Mariners all the way.

Alan McClelland’s team had already beaten Aberaeron by 33-18 in their league match at the same venue. Another comfortable win seemed on the cards as they swept into a 17-0 lead before half time – but they lost their way a little and allowed Aberaeron back into contention before edging home in the final analysis.

Gareth Fawcett opened the Milford account as the rangy forward stretched over to gain the touch-down. After good work by the likes of Rhys Thompson, Craig Smith and Matthew Doncaster it was hooker Smith who dived through for the second Mariners’ try, which Leigh Broome again converted. Pacy winger Craig ‘Yoda’ Thomas, who is the middle of some excellent try-scoring form, added Milford’s third try and a 17-point lead at the half-way mark was certainly no more than the Mariners deserved.

But they took their feet off the gas thereafter and scrum half Owen Williams, who normally plays at No 10, landed two penalties before he also converted a close-range try from powerful prop Deiniol Evans.

It narrowed the Milford lead to four points and Aberaeron looked capable of springing something of a surprise result. But the Mariners held their nerve late on and must now wait to see who they meet in the round of the last 16.