Division Three West
Tycroes 21 Pontarddulais 17
Tycroes first home game of the new season was against local rivals Pontarddulais, with local bragging rights as reward for the winners, and it was the hosts who came out on top.
Carwyn Richards opened the scoring with a well-struck penalty after only a couple of minutes before Jonathan Lloyd levelled for the visitors, but then failed to claim the lead by missing three opportunities.
Nicky Hopkins scored the first of his brace of tries on 30 minutes, converted by Lloyd.
Richards reduced the deficit to four points with another penalty and on the stroke of half-time Aaron Price scored for the second week running to give Tycroes the lead. Richards converted to give the hosts a 13-10 interval advantage.
Rhodri Danter opened the scoring in the second half with a rampaging run down the left wing to cross in the corner. Richards missed the conversion but added another penalty soon after to extend the Tycroes advantage to 11 points going into the last ten minutes.
Hopkins scored his second on 75 minutes with Lloyd converting to ensure a nail-biting final five minutes with Tycroes holding out to take the win.
Although Pontarddulais only came with fifteen players and opted for passive scrums from the outset, the game was still a physical encounter with players on both sides nursing injuries. Unfortunately for Tycroes, second row Luke Bettison was transported off to hospital after injuring his ankle following an awkward fall at a lineout.
Next week, Tycroes travel to Llandeilo.
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