In a dour East v West Swansea derby the men from Broadacre proved streetwise enough to claim the spoils. Total rugby it definitely was not, but no one complained when Pontypool were winning.
The heavier Dunvant eight squeezed the life out of Bonymaen’s high tempo game, creating a strangle hold they found impossible to break free from. After an uninspiring encounter, dominated by the whistle of referee Gareth Simmonds both coaches were unanimous as to where the key to victory lay-the line out. In former Neath lock Mark Glover, Dunvant were able to ensure an enviable source of possession, while Bonymaen found the area more a source of bewilderment. “They did their homework” was the honest assessment of Bonymaen’s Malcolm Dacey. “Dunvant didn’t allow us to control the line-out, which we have done in previous games: they messed us about and we didn’t react to that. There was lot’s of pushing and shoving going on in there which the referee let go, but we were naïve inh that we weren’t able to sort it out”.
The almost unblemished two-handed display by Glover at the front also earned significant praise from Dunvant coach Mark Perdue. “Mark had an excellent game. We have put in a lot of work this week, not only on our ball but also putting pressure on their throw and it worked today” he said. “I am obviously pleased with the result and also pleased with our tactics. It wasn’t a particularly spectacular game, but we came here to do a job, which was to win and we did that”
With both sides on the same number of points and both enjoying a recent upturn in fortunes, something had to give. On their home patch, Bonymaen have run in 22 tries in their previous five encounters-but it was Dunvant who knew where the white line was on Saturday. Flanker Stuart Jenkins struck the initial blow after thirteen minutes following a fine break by ever improving outside half Simon Daniel. Centres Andrew John and Barry Maddocks provided the link and the strong running No 6 popped up in support to cross. Stuart Davies replied with a penalty before a timely stroke of opportunism by Dunvant hooker Euros Evans just before the interval probably the telling moment of the match. Full back Geraint Davies fielded a loose clearance and launched a speculative up and under into the Bonymaen 22. There seemed little danger when the home side regathered, but when an ambitious counter attack was attempted, Evans pounced gratefully to intercept a misjudged pass and race 15 yards with the freedom of Parc Mawr at his mercy. It was just reward for Evans, who provided an impressive all round display in his first match since breaking his leg in the corresponding match last September. But with Bonymaen’s ability to up the tempo seemingly at will in recent weeks, no-one in the Dunvant camp was taking anything for granted. Davies reduced the arrears to 6-14 after a series of determined drives to the Dunvant line threatened to turn the game on it’s head. That was Bonymaen’s chance to strike, but the killer instinct was never there.
Skipper Mark John, so often the creator, was guilty of squandering a gilt-edged opportunity when he was enveloped by a desperate Dunvant defence with a number of Bonymaen attackers lining up out wide. It summed up the home side’s afternoon. But all credit to Dunvant’s defence. American Eagle Jay Wilkerson, a revelation since his transfer to Broadacre this season, was the outstanding forward on display in the loose, while No 8 Phil Middleton and back row colleague Stuart Jenkins gave nothing away.
In contrast, Bonymaen found difficulty putting their all- action game into motion. They spluttered and stuttered but could never find the momentum which has over-powered recent visitors to Parc Mawr.
Flanker Martin Thomas battled hard around the fringes, while hooker Ieuan Jones was prominent in the early exchanges. A late try by Simon Daniel following a rare open passage of play gave Dunvant a bonus point and a margin of victory that flattered them slightly, but on the whole Bonymaen could have little cause for complaint. “I was disappointed with our performance level,” said Dacey. “Dunvant deserved the points. We lived off scraps all afternoon and gave away a soft try with that interception. But when we turned around at half-time I was reasonably confident, especially when we were camped in their half for a long time after the break. “But Dunvant tackled relentlessly, we had an abundance of chances in the second half and squandered every one.”
As for Dunvant, a top four place is the realistic aim. And who knows?
With Welsh rugby’s decision makers as predictable as the current weather , the men from Broadacre might find an opening to the top tier appearing once again. After all, last year’s trap door didn’t open until April
Robert Lloyd

Scores:
Bonymaen:6
Penalties: S. Davies 2
Dunvant: 21
Tries: S. Jenkins, E. Evans, S. Daniel
Conversions: S. Daniel 2, M. Thomas
Star choice: Martin Thomas
Bonymaen: G.J ones, P. John, C. Jenkins, M.J ohn (C ), J. Young, S. Davies, D. Hawkins, A. May (rep R. Williams, I. Jones, N. Evans, J. Bowden, C. Gittins, M. Thomas, C. Powell, A. Davies
Dunvant: G. Davies, E. Harris, A .John (rep M. Thomas), B. Maddocks, D .Evans, S. Daniel, A. Killa, J. Veitayaki (C ), E. Evans (rep D. Chick), K. Allen (Rep R. Llewelyn), I. Williams, M. Glover, S. Jenkins, P. Middleton (Rep P. Morris), J. Wilkerson
Star Choice: Mark Glover
Referee: Gareth Simmons (Taffs Well)
Previous Result 13th September 1997: Dunvant 30 Bonymaen 15

For the record: Season 1997-98 Division 1
Champions: Caerphilly
Runners-Up: Aberavon
3rd place: Treorchy
4th place: Bonymaen P30 W17 D0 L13 F656 A503 BP 9 Points 60
5th place: Dunvant P30 W17 D1 L16 F 723 A 721 BP6 Points 58