Swalec Bowl – Round Three

Pontyberem 20 Penybanc 27

After last week’s home defeat to the unbeaten league leaders of Division Three West A — and facing the usual bout of injuries and unavailability, Penybanc travelled to Pontyberem hoping to at least give a better account of themselves than they had mustered seven days earlier.

As in the last outing, Banc started the stronger and were unfortunate to see a try from veteran Christian Hughes disallowed.

Fly-half Bradley Nicholls opened the scoring for the Tigers with a penalty shortly after however, but Bont kicked three unanswered penalties to take a six-point lead.

Full back Wayne Williams clawed Banc back into contention with a try after some excellent work from James Turrell, and Nicholls added the extras.

But the hosts soon restored their lead with another two well-struck penalties before the powerful Tom Rees, playing on permit, broke through the defensive line to touch down and level the scores at 15-15 going into the break.

A couple of yellow cards after the turnaround did little to aid the Tigers' cause but somehow, after several charges, centre Mathew Brayley managed to power over from short range.

Nicholls again was on target with the conversion.

With Banc back to their full quota, playing well and with new-found, they looked to press on.

Flanker Aled Danter went over for a try from a well-rehearsed line-out move, and an unlikely win was on the cards.

Bont scored late on to get within seven points of the visitors, but Banc managed to see out the game for a deserved win.

Acting prop Steve Richards put in a huge shift as did flankers Turrell and Danter while the experience of Brayley and Rees at centre shone through.

Hard running wing Mathew Wan also went well after a spell out.

Banc head to local rivals Llandybie on Saturday, hoping to finish 2014 with a win.