IN-form Llandybie edged this full-blooded local-derby, resisting a late Amman onslaught to hold their nerve, and to maintain their position in second place in Division 3 West B following a hard fought win against their near rivals.
Both sides were well up for it from the start, with Llandybie, playing with a breeze at their backs, shading the first half.
Steff Thomas, Ethan Walters and Mike Tench did well early on as the visitors made some good carries; lock Garin Criddell was also in the thick of it with a fine charging run, which earned a penalty, and outside half Chris Howell slotted to give his side a deserved 3-0 lead after 15 minutes.
Amman began to get a foothold, Rhydian Jones and Joel Foster counter attacking well, and in forcing a penalty, saw outside half Tom Caddell fail to capitalise, sending it wide.
Howell missed a second penalty chance just after, then Amman’s Ceri Jones began to influence the game with some neat breaks.
Sporadic flare ups, particularly amongst the forwards, peppered the first half, and the Aberystwyth referee had had enough on the half hour, when another incident ended with two cards, a yellow for Amman’s Craig Ratcliff and a red for Llandybie’s Nathanial Butler.
However, the 14-men still ended the half on a high, Howell’s break almost carving out a try chance, but the excellent Alun Lewis’ last gasp tackle saved the day for United.
On the stroke of half time, Chris Howell’s penalty gave the visitors a 6-0 interval lead.
Despite being a man down, Llandybie began the second half as they had ended the first, and were soon on the attack, veteran full back Wayne Williams beginning some good situations from deep, while centre Nicky Morris was also busy on the offensive.
Amman transgressed again, and Howell made no mistake with a very kickable penalty.
In the final quarter, Amman began to make the extra man count, but were wasteful in finishing off some promising moves; Tom Thorneycroft charged for the try line but was stopped millimetres short, before Amman created the overlap wide out, but unfortunately wing Liam Danter, with the tryline beckoning, failed to take the pass and the ball went down.
Replacement Rhodri Lewis had a positive effect on the Amman attack as they battered away at a besieged but heroic Llandybie defence late on, but again there was no end product for his side and no reward or their efforts.
However, Amman’s relentless pressure at last told when scrum half Joel Foster burrowed over for a try with some four minutes remaining, although the visitors felt he had been “held up”, but the ref awarded the score, and centre Jason Richards, taking over the kicking duties, added the conversion.
But the visitors held out the late barrage and were delighted to notch a notable victory over
their local rivals.
Amman will be at Cwmamman Park again on Saturday, April 2, when they are home to
New Dock Stars, wheras Llandybie travel to play third in the table Cefneithin.
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