The Width of the post
Ammanford 26 Porth Harlequins 27
A WRU Plate game played between two very even sides was decided by the kicking skills on show with the Porth kicker slotting two touchline conversions whilst Ammanford hit the post.
Ammanford dominated much of the first half, with some strong running from centre Craig Woodall, but their only reward were three penalty kicks. The visitors had one visit into the home 22 but made it count. A powerful drive from a lineout resulted a try in the corner which was excellently converted from the touchline leaving the half time score at 9-7.
It was clear that the Porth team had been read the riot act at half time as they came out after the break with all guns blazing. Within minutes of the kick off they won an attacking scrum and a supers miss pass by the outside half created space for the wing to go over in the corner. Again a quality conversion added the extra points.
Ammanford got back into the game and from a scrum 40m out the ball found centre Woodall who cut back against the flow and found himself in acres of space which he used to go all the way to score, unfortunately the conversion hit the upright and the scores were level, 14-14.
The next ten minutes belonged to Porth where firstly the drove down field an after several phases the flanker picked up to dive over under the posts. This was followed up with their next attack which was rewarded with a penalty when the home defence was caught offside to extend their lead and within minutes Ammanford repeated the infringement and Porth had a good lead, 14-27, as the game moved into the last quarter.
The home team to their credit did not lie down, and although the three-quarter line was disrupted with the loss of centre Woodall and wing Steff Howells, the players pulled together and were soon back in the game when outside half Ryan Williams squeezed over in the corner after phases of flowing rugby by the home team. Directly from the kick off Ammanford with nothing to loose moved the ball between backs and forwards for prop Dylan Phillips to drive over and score. Steff Roberts added the extra points to reduce Porth’s lead to one point. Ammanford stayed positive but although there was some nice interpassing the final pass could not find the right man and Porth hung on to go into the last 16 of the Plate.
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