Fixture

Aberdare RFC secured a hard-fought victory with a bonus point win over St Joseph's in a closely contested match that saw both teams displaying resilience and determination. The snakes faced a formidable challenge from the never-say-die attitude of St Joseph's, who nearly capitalised on the opportunity to snatch a draw or even a win in the dying moments of the game.

Despite a strong start from St Joseph's, Aberdare's Ben Miller turned the tide with a brilliant interception, sprinting 60 meters to score in the corner and give the snakes an early 5-0 lead.

However, St Joseph's responded strongly, capitalising on a solid scrum to level the score at 5-5. The first half remained a tight contest, marked by robust defences and missed opportunities.

Aberdare had the final say of the half when Captain Thomas Roberts and Matthew Davies combined, setting up Morgan Biggins for a well-executed try. Thomas Hopkins added the extras, and Aberdare went into halftime with a 12-5 lead.

The second half mirrored the first, with St Joseph's gaining field position through scrum penalties. Aberdare's steadfast defence paid off when Rhys Shellard charged down a kick and scored, extending the lead to 19-5 after Hopkins' successful conversion.

St Joseph's fought back, narrowing the gap to 19-12 with a well-executed try from a tap penalty.

Aberdare, determined to secure the win, managed to score the crucial bonus point try through Jack Payne, making it 24-12.

However, the drama escalated in the closing moments as St Joseph's launched a comeback, scoring another try and converting to bring the score to 24-19.

The away team gained momentum and applied intense pressure, taking advantage of costly errors by Aberdare. In the final play, St Joseph's had a scrum, creating an overlap and a potential game-tying opportunity. Fortunately for Aberdare, luck was on their side as the St Joseph's winger dropped the ball, and the referee blew the full-time whistle.

The final score stood at 24-19 in favour of Aberdare RFC.

The young snakes showed resilience in the face of adversity, and their next challenge awaits them away against Ynysybwl in what promises to be another tough encounter.