Tongwynlais 38 Llandrindod Wells 5

LLANDRINDOD travelled to Cardiff with a bare 15 players and put in a gutsy performance before being beaten by a clinical Tongwynlais team with some silky runners in the backs.

The visitors started brightly before Tongwynlais got their backs into the game with two quick fire tries by their scrum half and right winger.

Llandrindod responded well and got their driving lineout going, pinpoint throwing from Sam Davies led to a driving maul expertly marshalled by skipper Richard Watkins.

This started on the home sides 10 metre line before being stopped just five metres short, a big carry from number eight Nathan Jones took Llandrindod inches short before scrum half Dale Wilson dummied to score a try to bring the away team back into it.

The Llandrindod scrum started to win penalties with Noel Davies-Jones alongside Sam Davies and skipper Watkins to the fore and Llandrindod looked to have levelled things up but Bon Williams was just held up short.

Moments later Tongwynlais broke away to score a try under the posts, a hammer blow for Llandrindod as they now found themselves 14 points down at half time.

The second half was a similar story with Llandrindod pressing for the most part. There were some good carries from back row brothers Josh and Ashley Hammond which took the game to their hosts.

Sean Cosgrave almost released winger Ben Williams who’s line kicking had been impressive all day, but a hand from a home player prevented the scoring pass going to hand.

Winger Gareth Oakley and Centre Luke Evans combined well to force another scoring position but again Llandrindod were denied with Ash Hammond held up over the line needing three defenders to stop him.

Tongwynlais’s defence held firm though and after regaining possession got the ball wide to their pacey centre who out sprinted the away defence to score out wide.

By now the spa men were out on their feet and Tongwynlais added two more converted tries despite the valiant efforts of Llandrindod’s man of the match Dave Smith who put in a tireless shift in the second row.

This is a performance that Llandrindod can build on when they host Whitchurch this Saturday, 2.30pm kick off.