The visitors took the spoils in this Easter Saturday at Plascrug, but it was hard-earned, as the home side put up a spirited and much improved performance. The result was uncertain to the last, and Aberystwyth in the end were unlucky to be deprived of even a bonus point.

The light and dark blues got off to a cracking start, their first score coming after just four minutes when fly half Llywarch ap Myrddin showed that he certainly had his kicking boots on as he slotted a mid range penalty from wide out. Two minutes later a chip ahead by Paul Stubbs, returning for his first game after a prolonged injury absence, was gathered by co-centre Rhodri Richards who fed scrum half Ifan Beynon-Thomas to sprint for the corner for an excellent try. A superb kick from ap Myrddin put his side 10-0 up inside seven minutes. That lead was short lived however as Aber were immediately penalised at the restart for holding back, and Builth centre John Thurston slotted the kick from in front of the posts.  Builth attacked with a vengeance and Aber’s defence came under torrid pressure; after repeated rucks near the Aber line, Builth spun the ball out wide, but the Aber defence held firm again and this time regained possession. Unfortunately for the home side Powys referee Rhys Jenkins took play back to a penalty at a ruck wide out on the right. Builth went for the lineout, took the ball cleanly and quickly and hooker Phil Morgan was bundled over for a try that cut the home side’s advantage to just two points. As the half advanced Builth seemed to be gaining the ascendancy up front but Aber resisted and held them out valiantly. After conceding repeated penalties along the left touchline, Builth went for a lineout inside the Aber 22 and in almost a mirror image of their first crossing they scored a second try when lock Huw Thomas this time claimed the touchdown. This put Builth ahead for the first time in the match, a lead they were never to relinquish. Aberystwyth struck back in the 33^rd minute, indiscipline costing the visitors 10 valuable extra metres after a penalty making it easier for ap Myrddin to slot the penalty to make it 13-15. Builth failed to repay the compliment moments later; the restart from that attempt went badly wrong for the home side when the dropout sailed directly into touch. Builth applied pressure from the scrum and forward momentum carried play to the Aber line where number eight and skipper Ben Duggan touched down for the third try. The referee blew for half time immediately afterwards when the scoreboard read Aberystwyth 13 Builth 20.

Despite the scoreline Aberystwyth had not appeared beaten at all in the opening period and showed considerably more self-belief after the restart.  This was especially commendable after a double blow was dealt to them within minutes. Reduced to 14 men in the 42^nd minute, they then conceded a fourth try, again to forward pressure; Builth were understandably elated at the bonus point, but it seemed to spur on the Aber cause also. After enduring the inequality in numbers without further change in the score, a four minute period changed the complexion of the game completely. In the 54^th minute they ran at their opponents from inside their own half and then kicked upfield. Bulth failed to gather and the marauding Stubbs was on hand to take the ball and break through, feeding the ball to full back Siôn Summers to score in the right corner. Minutes later Builth were stunned again as Richards powered through their defence and this time Stubbs took the ball himself and used his strength and ability to force his way over the line. The conversion attempt narrowly failed but Aber were back within 2 points at 23-25. For 10 minutes Aberystwyth continued to raise the profile of their game and there was a general feeling that the match was within their grasp. In the 68^th minute however they suffered a cruel blow when Builth were awarded a fifth try. In a move that had started inside their own half there were strong suspicions of one early and one late tackle against the Aber defence, but referee Jenkins waved play on and when Thurston converted the visitors had a nine point lead. Aberystwyth attacked again from the restart and continued to do so from a scrum on the Builth 22; the visitors conceded a penalty and ap Myrddin added the three points. Six points behind and sensing they could do better, Aberystwyth continued to attack, but the experience of the well drilled Builth outfit came to the fore. The home side needed just one more try for a bonus point, but they were already sitting on a losing bonus point. That was snatched from them in the 79^th minute when, on a by now rare incursion into Aber territory, Thurston kicked a penalty from 30 metres. In the dying seconds Aber pressurised again on their opponents’ line, and it was with great relief that Builth fly half Luke Offa hoofed the ball over the in-goal tryline to bring matters to a conclusion.

Builth’s 5 point haul puts them in a good position to claim one of the seven promotion slots this year, but Aber must now resign themselves to finishing next to bottom. They have two away matches to finish, the next being at Cwmllynfell this coming Saturday. They do have hopes of silverware however when they appear in the Pembrokeshire & District Cup final for the second consecutive year. That will be contested at Cardigan on Saturday 5^th May when they face Tenby United.

Alan Jones