Aberaeron 18 Bethesda 23

A storming second half comeback by the North Walians was enough to deprive Aberaeron a place in the next round of the Swalec Cup competition. With both teams undefeated in the league this term, a close result was always on the cards, and after eighty minutes of high entertainment, it was Bethesda who did just enough to take the spoils. It had looked o so different at the break as Aberaeron had a potential thirteen point winning advantage curtsey of two tries from centre Aled Sweeney and a conversion and two penalties from Dylan Evans. The first score came virtually from the start as a poor defensive kick resulted in the ball finding its way to Sweeney to run in under the posts. The jubilation was soon dampened however as poor defence gave the visitors the opportunity to strike back with their flanker brushing aside several would be tackles to register their first try. The game itself was very evenly balanced with the front eights having a real battle and for a change Aberaeron not having their own way in the scrums, depending largely on the rolling maul to gain territorial advantage.. Captain Tudur Jenkins again led by example with support always at hand and the backs were somewhat unlucky not to register further scores before the break . A slight breeze gave Bethesda the advantage in the second period and they were soon to reduce the deficit when a lack of defensive cover opened the way for the visitors’ second try. Their third soon followed as a wheeled scrum gave an overlap opportunity which was taken with ease much to the annoyance of the home support. This was Bethesda’s best period of the match as the hosts found it difficult to break the stranglehold in their own half, and a couple of indiscretions resulted in the advantage changing hands, a period which was to be crucial at the final whistle. To their credit Aberaeron battled back and were desperately unlucky in the last ten minutes not to recover, only last ditch cover preventing try scoring opportunities. This pressure also resulted in the referee brandishing a red card to one of the Bethesda front row, an offence likely to result in a long term ban. But the late offensive failed to bear fruit and it was the visitors who returned to North Wales with a place in the next round. So the ambitions of a visit to the Millennium stadium will have to be put on hold for another season, with focus again returning to the league, hopefully getting back on the winning trail with Swansea Uplands the visitors to Parc Drefach on Saturday.