WHITLAND moved to within one win of the League 2 West title after they beat Fishguard 46-26 at The Moors on Saturday (May 5).
The Borderers were beaten by Hendy in their previous game but bounced back and now just need to win their final game at home to Mumbles on Saturday (May 12) to seal the title.
Fishguard sit seven points above second from bottom Amman United and the two teams meet next Saturday.
Whitland began Saturday’s game well but after a pass was knocked forward, Fishguard had a scrum. However, a Seagulls infringement gave the ball back to the visitors and from the resulting scrum Adam Davies picked the ball out before passing to Liam Price who went over in the corner.
Nico Setaro’s conversion went wide and the Borderers held a 5-0 lead with ten minutes gone.
Just a minute later Setaro burst through a couple of tackles and offloaded to Jonny Thomas who touched down under the posts giving Setaro an easy conversion.
Fishguard looked to respond and came close on a number of occasions. On one occasion, they were held up illegally and Mike Jenkins sent a penalty through the posts to put the Seagulls on the board.
Whitland then went up the other end but after another foul, Setaro had a chance to extend their lead but his penalty went wide.
Setaro then made amends a minute later as he sent a penalty through the posts for a 15-3 lead.
From the kick off Whitland knocked the ball on giving Fishguard possession and after kicking to touch, Mike Jenkins offloaded for Jamie Lewis who scored in the corner. Jenkins then added the extras to bring the Seagulls to within five points of their opponents.
Fishguard came forward again with Chris Shousha making a darting run and after losing one of his boots he was brought down. Another Whitland foul saw Jenkins send a penalty through the posts to make the score 13-15 to the visitors.
Whitland again responded but Fishguard’s Luke Freebury intercepted the ball illegally, according to the referee and Whitland had another penalty which Setaro scored.
On the stroke of half time, Whitland kicked the ball forward and Seagulls’ Robbie Jones struggled to take the ball cleanly in the bright sun. That put Fishguard back and Whitland were able to win the ball back. Setaro again broke the tackles and passed to David Ebsworth who was brought down before the line but was still able to reach over for the try.
The conversion caused a moment of controversy as it was given by the Whitland touch judge and not given by the Fishguard touch judge. After the confusion was cleared up the conversion was not given and Whitland held a 23-13 lead at the break.
In the second half, Mike Jenkins went on a mazy run but he was penalised for holding onto the ball. Whitland chose to kick to touch but the kick didn’t go out and Fishguard attacked again.
They were then given a penalty and Jenkins again sent the penalty through the posts to bring them to within seven points of their opponents.
Whitland responded in kind and a penalty from Setaro restored his side’s ten point lead.
A knock on from Whitland saw Fishguard pick the ball up and play the advantage but they were unable to break through.
Whitland had a scrum five metres out but Setaro’s clearance kick barely cleared the 22 and Fishguard attacked again. They came close but a knock on ended their attack.
Moments later Setaro broke out and a series of passes found Jonny Thomas who touched down in the right corner. Setaro added the extras for a 33-16 lead.
Another penalty from Jenkins closed the gap once more and with ten minutes to go, Fishguard attacked and the ball was played to Osian Lewis who went over in the corner for a try. Jenkins added the extras to bring the Seagulls back to within ten points of Whitland.
Five minutes from time Setaro added another penalty and with the clock ticking over the 80-minute mark Sean Coles intercepted the ball in his own half and ran on to score the try. Setaro added the extras giving Whitland a 46-26 victory.
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