Felinfoel 27 – 5 Aberystwyth
Felinfoel completed the double over Aberystwyth on Saturday with a comfortable home win and showed why they are favourites to win the Division 1 West title this season.
Conditions were ideal for a fast flowing game of rugby and the first forty minutes of the match were very evenly contested. The home side had slight superiority in the scrums but in every other respect Aber matched them and were every bit as committed, as competitive, and as skilled. Despite being forced to make changes in their line-up, with new players coming in and others playing out of position, the visitors played flowing rugby and offloaded and supported very effectively.
All the hosts had to show for their efforts in the first half was a very controversial penalty try, so although they were 7 – 0 down, Aber were still very much in this match at the interval.
But the half-time team talk by Felinfoel’s coach must have been explosive, because his team stepped up a few gears in the second half and dominated the game with faster and more clinical rugby that saw them pull away to win the match comfortably. They tore into Aber forcing errors which they pounced on and capitalised on ruthlessly to create scoring opportunities.
Felinfoel’s outside half, Aled Roberts added to their tally with a penalty for not releasing and from 10 – 0 ahead they didn’t look back. Shortly after that, Felinfoel’s wing forward Stuart Taylor intercepted a wayward Aber pass to race 30 metres to score under the posts. Roberts’ conversion took the score to 17 – 0. As Aber’s forwards tired so the hosts’ dominance in the scrums and lineouts increased. Errors crept into the game on both sides but Felinfoel punished Aber’s more severely, gaining momentum and territory as a result.
A penalty kick to the corner by the home side saw them win the resulting lineout to drive the Aber pack over their line for wing forward Ford to drop on the ball to score. The conversion failed but the hosts’ lead had been extended to 22 – 0.
Although Felinfoel kept Aber under a lot of pressure the visitors maintained their efficient tackling and made efforts to counter attack at every opportunity. It was from broken play that left wing Gwern Penri scooped up the ball and raced a full 75 metres to score Aber’s only try.
The home side increased the pressure on Aber and were camped in the visitors’ 22m area for a long time before the defensive wall finally cracked and outside half Roberts crossed to close the scoring at 27 – 5.
The final score gives an unbalanced picture of the game. Although the hosts were the better team – more clinical and more skilled - the score disguises the fact that Aber put in a creditable performance. For most of the time they were sound in defence, and in attack they threw the ball about more often and more constructively than they have been doing so far this season. This is something they need to build on.
Although Felinfoel deserved to win, the margin could and should have been much less. Aber’s place kickers had an off day and the team’s error count in all phases was too high. With ball in hand they looked threatening; but at times the ball carrier chose the wrong option between carrying or offloading, and carrying or kicking.
The team now needs a few more wins this season if they are to maintain a respectable place in Division 1 West.