This high quality encounter was a great advert for division two rugby, with both teams prepared to move the ball along their back lines at every opportunity. Kidwelly in particular were even running the ball from their own try line, and in a purple patch in the first half, the black and ambers went into a fifteen point lead, and the Athletic seemed to have no answer to their scintillating brand of rugby, but as is always the case when a team moves the ball at pace in its own twenty two, there is no room for error, and when a loose pass went to ground deep in the visitors twenty two, the home team pounced to score, and they were back in the game.
After an even opening ten minutes, the game sprang into life, when a break by skipper Craig Thomas, took play close to the Athletic twenty two, from a maul Kidwelly lock Chris Eldred broke away to run twenty meters, breaking a tackle to score wide out, outside-half Leighton Walters converted with an excellent kick into a strong wind, in the twentieth minute, a good run by Kidwelly fullback Andrew Francis split the home defence, he linked with flanker Chris Cray, who was held inches short of the try line, Kidwelly were awarded a penalty, which Walters kicked to increase the visitors lead, and on the half hour they further increased their lead, when excellent three quarter play saw the ball moved from touchline to touchline, before lock Chris Eldred galloped over for his second try, Kidwelly continued to move the ball, but a loose pass deep in their own twenty two went to ground, it was hacked on on by athletic centre Aled Thomas, who scored near the posts, fly-half David Evans converted, the Athletic upped their game and in injury time, a strike against the head, from a scrum close to the visitors try line, number eight Lee Basset forced his way over the line, Evans converted to give Kidwelly a narrow fifteen points to fourteen interval lead.
Kidwelly were the first to threaten in the second period with runs from Andrew Francis and Rhys Jones, but it was the boot of Leighton Walters, that stretched the black and amber lead to four points with a forty meter penalty, in the sixty fifth minute a superb forty five meter run by right wing Chris Mathias, saw him touch down between the posts, Evans converted, and the Athletic had the lead for the first time in the game, they ensured victory five minutes later with an unconverted try by flanker Nick Morris, Kidwelly struck back with a forty five meter penalty by Walters, who hit an upright with a similar effort minutes later, the final whistle went with the home team the victors, but credit to both teams for an excellent display of rugby.
D Dewdney
1st XV
