Aberystwyth had to settle for a losing bonus point on Saturday as their run of disappointments continued at Plascrug. On the heels of their first win of the season a week previously they welcomed Aberavon Harlequins, regular combatants throughout their time in Division 2; the Quins themselves had had a better start to their season having three victories under their belt, but during the week they struggled with availability for their trip to Ceredigion. In the end they managed to trawl in players from neighbouring clubs, and it was two of these draftees who scored the two tries that gave them success in the end.

The home side too had to change their side due to illnesses and the scourge of rugby at this level, viz losing players to Clubs in higher Leagues; geography however denies Aberystwyth the possibility of local drafting-in, but they drew on their reserves and even the help of one of the coaches to fill the gaps.

Aberystwyth have developed a tendency to leak early scores in matches this season and this was unfortunately repeated on Saturday when after just four minutes a lineout five metres from the Aber line spawned a forward surge with hooker Ryan Curtis crossing over for the try. The home side gathered themselves after that and in the 14^th minute a 45 metre penalty from Jason Rees, playing at outside half, cut the deficit to two points. But within a minute that was annulled when the home backs were caught offside on their own 22, giving Rees’s opposite number Mark Shepherd an easy chance to re-establish the 5 point gap. Aberystwyth tried their best to better their position for the remainder of the half but the Quins defence, alongside the occasional error and wrong option saw the scoreline remain static. Both sides were becoming increasingly frustrated by some of the refereeing decisions, but the interval came with the visitors’ 8-3 lead intact.

As the second period started it was anybody’s game, but a lapse of concentration right at the start of the half gave the Quins a chance they did not refuse, centre Kyle Jenkins being the player to eventually cross the line for his side’s second try in the 44^th minute. Shepherd’s conversion made it 15-3 and the game seemed to be slipping away from Aber. The home side did however enjoy lengthy periods of possession and attack, and in the 65^th minute the Aber pack powered over the Quins line replacement flanker Aaron Lewis getting the touchdown just minutes after he had joined the action. The conversion attempt just missed, but the 8-15 scoreline did bring Aber within the all-important seven points of their rivals.

The Quins held out for the remainder of the game, despite Aber getting territorial supremacy against a tiring pack. Frustration emerged in the visitors’ ranks and in the closing minutes they suffered first a yellow card for killing the ball and then a straight red for deft use of the fists by one of their props. It is arguable that the incident should have attracted further punishment as the player who held the victim for the assault was just as guilty. But it was too late for Aber to salvage a draw or steal a victory. In the end it was probably a fair result, reflecting the facts that the Quins defence had been sound and Aber had lacked the killer finish to achieve the scores.

Almost a third of the way through the season, Aber are now firmly placed 10^th in a 12-team division with 7 points, five below Builth in ninth place. The two Clubs below them however have yet to register a point, and next week’s outing to Crymych pitches the light and dark blues against one of these. This is the nearest Aber will get to a local derby this year, and the local dimension adds to the interest of this vital match. With the future of Maesteg sadly uncertain after their failure to find a team last Saturday, the matches between Aber and their northern Pembrokeshire rivals could have a great bearing on the lower echelons of this League this year.

 Alan Jones