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WRU Specsavers National League Division 2 West

ATHLETIC 32 KIDWELLY 10

The club's league form this season could be easily compared to a volatile stock market with alternate 'peaks & troughs' evident. A lack of consitency in performances has without doubt, confined the Red & Blacks to the wrong end of the table, but there can be no doubting the talent in this young squad and a little more experience will surely see them ascend towards the summit.

Today's performance was in complete contrast to last week's disappointing lack lustre display against Tenby as Athletic turned in an excellent all round display in dire weather conditions.

Kidwelly were the visitors for this much anticipated local derby. Despite their lowly league position, the Ambers competed valiantly throughout and never gave up. Indeed it was the visitors who took the early lead on three minutes after a well worked threequarter move resulted in a try for speedy wing Arwel Rees. The tricky conversion was despatched by outside half Rhydian Jenkins. An arm wrestle between both sets of forwards occupied the next ten minutes before a rolling maul by Athletic was judged to have been stopped illegally resulting in the award of a penalty try. On 25 minutes, the visitors regained the lead with a smoothly struck penalty by Jenkins. From the re-start, Athletic wing Jack Hannington charged down a clearance attempt and smartly scooped up the ball to dive over in the corner. The conversion attempt failed so the homesters held a narrow 12-10 lead. Momentum remained with the Red & Blacks as they continued to pressurise Kidwelly's line and were finally rewarded when hooker Paul Gravell crossed in customary fashion near the posts. Centre Liam Price added the extras to give Athletic a 19-10 interval lead.

The second half saw conditions deteriorate with continuous rain and a swirling wind, but despite the poor conditions, errors were kept to a minimum as both sides battled on and attempted to handle the ball at every opportunity. It was the home side who looked the stronger throughout the second half with dominant displays in the set scrum and solid inter play between both forwards and backs. Two further home tries were scored, a second of the match for hooker Paul Gravell  and the fifth and final try for prop James Newnian. Liam Price added a penalty to make the final score 32-10.

Carmarthenshire Youth GMG Cup

ATHLETIC YOUTH 11 BURRY PORT YOUTH 3 

In an almighty tussle played in horrendous conditions, two very good Youth sides battled valiantly throughout the match. It was the Red & Blacks however, who progress to the next round of the Carmarthenshire GMG Cup by virtue of scoring a solitary try courtesy of Logan Davies with Tom Davies adding two penalties. There is a steely determination about this young Athletic team who have only suffered a couple of narrow losses during the current season.