Just before kick off Captain Sam Crowley was pulled out as an injury precaution, so Sam Gallagher came in at 11, Craig Lewis moved to 12 and Ryan Shoemark took over the captaincy. Pontarddulais were rumoured to be a patched up side with 8 first team players away on a stag weekend.
Pontarddulais kicked off and were immediately awarded a penalty about 35 metres out for Dunvant tackler not rolling away, and outside half Ben Davies stroked it over to put Bont into a 0-3 lead. With 8 minutes played, Aled Lewis kicked a Dunvant penalty near the corner for a lineout and then Dunvant’s pack mauled forwards to see flanker Rhys Tucker score for 5-3 as Aled Lewis was unable to convert. Within 2 minutes Dunvant broke through on the half way line and with all the backs involved debutant winger Lloyd Waller scored on the right hand side, converted by Aled Lewis for 12-3. Dunvant almost scored again when a lineout 25 metres out taken by Rhys Tucker was seized by the forwards who mauled over but were held up by some scrambled defence. On 20 minutes a penalty to Bont was reversed for backchat and from 35 metres Aled Lewis took the score to 15-3. Dunvant were now in full flow and from another penalty, Aled Lewis took a quick tap, and supported by the backs centre Craig Lewis scored in the right hand corner to lead 20-3. Maybe then, Dunvant thought they had it won and relaxed a bit, or Bont resolved to up their game. On 37 minutes, Bont stole a Dunvant lineout on our 10 metre line and scampered down the wing for wing Dean Courtney to score in the left hand corner, converted by Ben Davies for 20-10. With the last play of the first half, Bont won a penalty near our 10 metre line and again Ben Davies was successful to close the score to 20-13 at half time.
Shortly after Dunvant’s restart, Bont were awarded a free kick at a scrum near the halfway line and Dunvant outside centre Owen price picked up a loose ball, kicked and chased ahead twice and ran 40 yards in all to score under the posts, Aled Lewis converted for 27-13. On the hour Aled Lewis took the score to 30-13 with his second penalty, and then one minute later with outside half Adam Williams-Parry attacking on the half way line, he passed the ball to Aled Lewis who made an amazing run to jink through the Bont defence and score, but was inches wide with the conversion attempt in the strong wind. 35-13. Dunvant attacked again kicking a penalty for a 5 metre lineout and rolling maul. Bont were penalised in front of the posts and quick thinking by replacement flanker Jordan Jackson, Bonzo took a quick tap to drive over, Aled converted 42-13.
Bont were then given a yellow card which took them down to 14, and with Bont attacking near our 22, a mass brawl broke out the otherside of the halfway line. The referee calmed it down and brought play back to the 22, Bont thought they scored a try but were deemed to be in touch in the act of scoring. Then another yellow card for Bont saw them down to 13 men, and Dunvant scrum half came off with what appeared to be a broken nose, although I don’t know if the incidents were related. Amazingly, with only 13 men, Bont had the final say when replacement Craig Davies broke through to score, converted by inside centre Jonathan Lloyd for a final score of 42-20.
Dunvant return to league duty next weekend with an away trip to Aberystwyth, and waiting to hear their next opponents in the Swalec Plate Round 2 to be played on 14th December.
Finally, Dunvant players awarded the Dunvant Dick of the Day award to Captain Sam Crowley for pulling out in the warm up.

Scorers:
Dunvant: 42
Tries: 6 Rhys Tucker, 14 Lloyd Waller, 12 Craig Lewis, 13 Owen Price, 15 Aled Lewis, 18 Jordan Jackson
Conversions: 15 Aled Lewis (3)
Penalties: 15 Aled Lewis (2)
Pontarddulais: 20
Tries: 11 Dean Courtney, 16 Craig Davies
Conversion: 10 Ben Davies
Penalties: 10 Ben Davies (2)

Dunvant Team:
Backs: 15 Aled Lewis, 14 Lloyd Waller, 13 Owen Price, 12 Craig Lewis 11 Sam Gallagher, 10 Adam Williams –Parry, 9 Sam Evans
Forwards: 1 Ryan Shoemark (Captain), 2 Robbie Morris, 3 Toby Hurdle, 4 Lewis Buckley, 5 Jonnie Jones, 6 Rhys Tucker, 7 Sam Tucker, 8 Mark Loughlin
Replacements: 16 Alex Griffiths, 17 Tom Gigg, 18 Jordan Jackson, 19 Jonathan Arnold

Match Official: Lee Roberts

Ballboys & Scoreboard Operators: Cameron Warren, Harry Meyrick, Scott Ace & Jamie Ace

Results for Saturday 26th October
Swalec Plate Rd 1:
Abercynon 3-13 Treorchy
Aberdare 15-23 Mountain Ash
Ammanford 18-13 Tycroes
Bala 15-22 Caernarfon
Brecon 29-0 St Peters
Bro Ffestiniog 29-22 Pwllheli
Bryncoch 0-51 Glynneath
Cardigan 49-12 Llanelli Wanderers
Carmarthen Athletic 23-25 Newcastle Emlyn
Cilfynydd 14-10 Glyncorrwg
COBRA 14-20 Denbigh
Dowlais 12 -17 Glamorgan Wanderers
Dunvant 42-20 Pontarddulais 20
Fairwater P-P Gwernyfed
Garndiffaith 7-31 Abertillery B G
Gorseinon 23-24 Mumbles
Kenfig Hill 15-11 Skewen
Llandeilo 8-21 Loughor
Llanishen 24-51 Cardiff Quins
Llantrisant w/o v Pontycymmer
Llanybydder 17-31 Tenby Utd
Neath Athletic 10-17 Penlan
Newport HSOB 21-19 Blaenavon
Penallta 8-16 Nelson
Penarth 3-38 Rhydyfelin
Pill Harriers w/o v Brynmawr
Pontyberem 0-84 Kidwelly
Pontyclun 24-17 Pencoed
Pontypool United 18-0 Croesyceiliog
Resolven 13-47 Ystalyfera
Rhiwbina 37-22 Ynysybwl
Rhymney 18-24 Abergavenny
Ruthin 43-11 Dolgellau
Senghenydd 24-3 Caerphilly
Seven Sisters 44-8 Aberavon Quins
Tylorstown 3-27 Heol y Cyw
Wattstown 16-15 Gilfach Goch
Waunarlwydd 43-15 Brynamman
Whitland 13-13 Crymych
Whitland go through on try count

Division 2 West
Amman United 59 Aberystwyth 22

Carmarthen Tyres League
Bonymaen 17 Waunarlwydd 16
Carmarthen Quins 15 llandovery 3
Narberth 8 Whitland 17

Swansea & District Cup
Gorseinon Youth 50 Dunvant Youth 0