Glynneath 43 Ammanford 24

Ammanford travelled to Glynneath aiming to regain a top three spot in Division One West Central, but unfortunately they produced their worst performance of the season.

They were well beaten in all departments, failing to gain quality ball from scrum or line-out - and what they did have was not wisely used.

The game started frenetically, with both sides making errors, but trying to run at every opportunity. Glynneath opened the scoring when a penalty was kicked into the corner and the lineout was driven over.

The restart did not go 10m and Glynneath were back on the attack, and within minutes they took advantage from a scrum. A direct run by the centre was enough to get the second try, taking the home side to a 14 point lead.

A fine break by Craig Woodall took Ammanford to within meters of the home line, but a poor final pass went directly into touch.

With the Ammanford scrum under pressure, the inevitable penalty was awarded and the Glynneath lead was extended to 17-0.

Ammanford finally got their backs moving and a Craig Woodall break was finished off when the ball was offloaded to hooker Evan Harrow, who went over under the posts, bringing the score at the half to 17-7.

An Ammanford revival looked on when early in the second half a timely pass put full back Steffan Roberts through the hole, and his pass was finished off by wing Liam Smith.

From the kick-off Ammanford moved the ball into midfield, a delicate chip by Ryan Williams was fumbled by the home winger, Kai Richards hacked the ball the length of the field, and Ellis Lewis won the race allowing Ammanford to take a 17-19 lead.

The lead was short-lived when Ammanford's achilles heel - the retake of kick-offs - struck again. The ball was lost, Glynneath moved the ball wide and scored in the corner, a fine conversion took the home lead to 24-19.

Ammanford lost prop Morgan Plimmer and were reduced to 14 men. From there on Glynneath dominated and Ammanford lost their composure, as errors in defence were again turned over and Gynneath scored to make it 31-19.

Ammanford's coaches gave members of the Youth team that reached the WRU Youth Plate Final, Sam Potter and Josh Beswick, their first team debuts.

Ammanford tried to speed the game up but their usual reliable passing was letting them down. Another penalty was successfully kicked into the corner and a try was the result, and another kick extended the lead. Trying to run from deep another error gave Glynneath their sixth try.

A final last-gasp effort from Ammanford saw the ball moved wide, giving speedy Lewis a chance to score the visitors' fourth try and a bonus point. The final score being 43-24.

Ammanford have games coming thick and fast and on Wednesday they travel to top of the table Bonymaen.

Results: Division One West Central: Bonymaen 51 Nantyffyllon 28; Bridgend Athletic 15 Kenfig Hill 19; Dunvant 20 Birchgrove 0; Glynneath 43 Ammanford 24; Tondu 40 Brynamman 12; Waunarlwydd 22 Skewen 17.

Fixtures: Saturday, 22 April: Division One West Central: Ammanford v Tondu; Birchgrove v Glynneath; Bridgend Athletic v Skewen; Brynamman v Waunarlwydd; Kenfig Hill v Bonymaen; Nantyffyllon v Dunvant.