Llandybie 13 Llangadog 12

Llandybie welcomed old adversary Llangadog for this Division Three West B fixture hoping for a change in fortune after some indifferent results.

The play from both sides was scrappy in the first quarter with the hosts having the bulk of the territory.

Front row Dai Lloyd, Rhys Cann and Jordan Tommason gave a solid platform in the scrums and drove the visitors back.

From one foray forward Llangadog put the ball wide but dropped the final pass with the line begging.

Llandybie lost a player to the bin for a dubious tip tackle and Llangadog for a high tackle on Nathaniel Butler with Steffan Coombs coming on as a blood replacement.

Good carries by Dai Lloyd and Tommason kept the hosts going forward, with the visitors giving away numerous penalties because of Llandybie’s dominant scrum.

With half time looming Chris Powell took the points to lead 3-0 at the break.

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In the second half good carries by Butler, captain Merlyn McClelland and Garin Criddle put pressure on the visitors but they broke clear and after a period of sustained pressure forced themselves over for a converted try to lead 7-3.

Winger Cellan Williams broke away for Llandybie and kicked ahead, but he ball just ran dead, he was replaced soon after with a head injury by Iestyn Richards for his first senior game.

Llandybie’s lineout was functioning well with hooker Rhys Cann finding jumpers Jack Part and Connor Butler with regularity and Part also stole two of Llangadog’s throws.

Flanker Owain Williams playing at unaccustomed inside centre tackled well but came off with cramp late on.

With Llandybie attacking Llangadog were guilty of a tip tackle, but Llandybie kept going and from a break from Leighton Rees, Criddle forced his way over for a try converted by Powell who kicked a penalty soon after.

Sion Thomas and Iestyn Richards cleared Llandybie’s lines with booming kicks to peg the visitors back.

Scrum half Steffan Jones was lively around the scrum and fly half Rees kept the Llangadog defence switched on.

Despite Llandybie’s territorial advantage the visitors' defence was dogged and they broke away to score a late try, but missed the kick to put them ahead and a further kick in front of the posts.

All Llandybie’s early hard work could have resulted in nothing but they had a bit of luck at last to run out winners.

This was a good team display by all the players and will give them some confidence going forward.

Next week Llandybie are away to New Dock Stars.