Cefneithin 10 Aberaeron 7

Fortune did not favour the brave in this top of the table encounter. A sterling effort from a much changed Seagulls outfit fell just short at the final whistle and puts a serious question mark against any promotion ambitions. Unavailabilites and injury meant a vastly rearranged back line, indeed questioning the dedication of some individuals at a crucial time of the season, but credit to the incumbents for giving their all and at the end not receiving the rewards their efforts undoubtedly deserved. Young Owen Williams was forced into the outside half position and was partnered by Adam Jones normally involved in the front eight, but making his debut at centre and combined with a first outing of the season for veteran Iwan Thomas, and Rhys ap Dylan on the wing, the wholesale changes coped well in the face of some creative back play from the home side. It was however the forwards that were again the cornerstone, very comfortable in the scrummaging department and constantly taking opponents ball in the lineout where newcomer Lee Draper showed up well in his first outing as hooker. There were opportunities for both sides in the opening quarter, Tudur Jenkins braking the advantage on more than one occasion with another fresh face, Marcos Davies providing the support along with fellow flanker Ywain ap Dylan, but it was the home side that took the lead creating an overlap to score near the posts and with the added conversion it was little surprisingly that there were no further points in the half. Facing the wind in the second period the Aberaeron eight subjected their home counterparts to some frantic defence, and from a series of rolling mauls a scrum near the Cefn line resulted in the referee justifiably awarding a penalty try with the conversion from Williams levelling the score. The match developed into an entertaining encounter with both sides eager to go for the win, but cancelling each other out in most departments and whilst a draw looked inevitable and a just result on the day a dubiously awarded penalty for the home side resulted in the winning score and disappointment for the visitors. Whilst Cefneithin march on in their quest for promotion it may well be a case of deja-vu this season for the Seagulls, falling short again at the final hurdle.

15 Aled Davies, 14 Rhodri Tomas, 13 Iwan Thomas, 12 Adam Jones, 11 Rhys ap Dylan(Llion ap Dylan),10 Owen Williams, 9 Dylan Williams (c), 8 Tudur Jenkins, 7 Marcos Davies, 6 Yws ap Dylan, 5 Nathan Best, 4 Leighton Daniels, 3 Dan Downes, 2 Lee Draper, 1 Deiniol Evans