Ammanford RFC 57 Hendy RFC 0
Ammanford RFC started their 22-23 season with a pre-season friendly against Division 1 West team, Hendy RFC. Both sides were a little under strength but this gave an opportunity to blood some new faces.
On an extremely warm Saturday afternoon this was a game for the youngsters who wanted run and play expansive rugby. Within two minutes of the start Ammanford moved the ball wide putting winger Jac Doel away down the right, the ball was then switched wide left where flanker Cian Trevelyan dived over.
From the kick off Rhys TJ gathered the ball and powered through the attempted tackle off loaded to full back Mike Rees who burst through. The attack was halted a yard from the try line but wing Ben James was on hand to gather and dive over.
Hendy came back into the game and put pressure on the home defence but solid tackling kept the visitors at bay. The game was an even affair for the next twenty minutes.
The home back, led well by prop Rhodri Jones, drove Hendy off the ball. Scrum half Alex Davies whipped the ball away giving centre Kai Richards the space to hand off and then jink the visitors defence to score under the posts. Outside half Ryan Williams added the extra points, 22-0.
Again Ammanford attacked off the kick off putting centre Tian Evans through and a clear run to the line making the conversion a simple one. The final try of the half came when a fine break by Evans put supporting wing Jac Doel over to score under the posts ending the half 36-0.
Hendy did not give up and put a great deal of pressure on the home line during the first half of the second half. There was some strong defence led by back row of Dylan Lewis, Jed Anthony and Rhys TJ. Ammanford were given a steady supply of lineout ball thanks to second row Carwyn Bebb.
The first try of the second half came when Hendy attacking ball was turned over and a kick and chase was won by the home team, the ball was fed supporting scrumhalf Davies who went 30m to score.
Ammanford again managed to turn over a Hendy attack and when Williams got the ball it was time for one of his trademark chip and chase. On gathering his own chip he immediately put in a kick which was gathered by Evans who ran the 60m to score.
For the final score some hard tackling saw the ball break free, Anthony hacked through, gathered his own kick and fed Trevelyan who went the 50 to score and the converted his own try.
With the temperature high, making running around hard work and both teams having done their best the referee called a halt to the game. Final score was 57-0.
Ammanford travel to Morriston next week for their final friendly. The game is also in memory of the late Andy Powell who played for both sides in the 90’s.
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