Fixture

A late penalty try denied Alltwen a victory that for much of the match had  seemed reasonably secured.

In conditions more suited to the Winter Olympics than rugby football, Alltwen defied the chiiling temperature to produce a boiling start, with some fine interplay leading to Rhodri Lewis crossing for an early unconverted try.

It was to prove the only try of a low scoring half however, as despite going close on a couple of occasions, conditions proved difficult for Alltwen to unleash a clearly more threatening attack. A penalty goal from the home side gave the half time score a closer look than Alltwens territorial dominance deserved.

In the second half despite wind conditions and the grounds slope favouring the home side, Alltwen were able to keep the opposition attack comfortably at bay and pose some further attacking threats themselves, despite the Pontrhydyfen scrum beginning to cause their visitors problems.

The critical moment perhaps came when Alltwen were awarded a penalty within striking distance of goal. With hindsight kicking for the corner and maintaining territorial advantage might have possibly proved a better decision. Instead Jason Richard successfully kicked for goal and put his side 8 points to 3 ahead.

From the ensuing restart however, Pontrhydyfen were able to secure their first foothold inside the Allltwen 22 , leading to a scrum close to the Alltwen line. By this time the home pack had assumed a strong scrum advantage., strong enough to convince the referee that a collapsed surge would have led to a certain try.

With penalty tries also now unconverted, the score put the visitors ahead for the first time, an advantage they were to maintain in the minutes through to a final whistle blown somewhat prematurely by the referee presumably due to conditions.

Alltwen will now have to pick themselves up for another December trip across the Welsh Alps in facing Ogmore Vale next Saturday 16^th December 2;30.. Skiing gear mandatory.