West Wales Rugby

Division Two West

Maesteg Harlequins 29

Amman United 15

Newly-promoted Amman United had won their first two matches at the higher level since going up to Division 2 West, both times having to turn around a first half deficit to do so.

And, with their hosts having also won twice,both these sides led the early table with maximum bonus points. So, inevitably, something had to give.

Amman, to be fair, didn’t have the best preparation at all; they were missing some key influential players through injury. They missed the trickery of Dean Williams, and also lost Rhys Thomas and Richard Dunn to injuries.

And, with their bus late arriving just before the kick off, they were inevitably slow out of the blocks,and in a difficult first half, Amman were struggling to combat Maesteg’s quality mauling. United did have some good possession,but were unable to turn pressure into points, and by halftime, they had again fallen behind, and trailed 17-0 at the break.

As in previous games, Amman seemed to up a gear in the second half, and their fitness began to get them a foothold in the game. But they had left themselves too much to do up against a very good side; Adrian Thomas got them onto the scoreboard with an opening penalty, before they worked a well-made try when winger Johnny Bevan arrived at pace to race in. They continued to pound away at the home defence, and were rewarded when long-serving backrowman Karl Worsfold crashed over near the posts. Adrian Thomas added a conversion, but their first half performance cost them in the end.

*Amman will be hoping to bounce back when they entertain Trebanos at Cwmaman Park on Saturday.