Jones bags early score as Amman seal away victory

AMMAN United returned from Cefneithin’s Cae Carwyn James ground with a deserved 21-8 victory in the WRU Bowl after an entertaining encounter.

The visitors opened the scoring with a try out of the blue when an attempted clearance was charged down by flanker Dan Jones, who followed up to touch down; outside-half Tom Caddell added the conversion.

Cefn had their moments early on as lock Jackson Burnell won some good lineout possession and half-backs Morgan Davies and Richard Watts got their back line moving well.

Full-back Lee Watkin and forwards Dion Roberts, Danny Jones and Carwyn Evans got through some good work too.

After United got themselves in a defensive tangle, they were caught offside and Watts punished them with a successful penalty.

Amman, again in trying to overplay from deep, were then caught out when Caddell’s attempted long pass was intercepted and wing Jay Willingham beat the cover defence to score

Centre Chris Moore’s run almost brought more reward for the hosts, but Amman defended well, and they hit back in the very next attack.

Lock Craig Ratcliffe won lineout ball and the resulting rolling maul proved too much for Cefn and No. 8 Tom Thorneycroft charged over. Caddell added a superb touchline conversion to make it 14-8.

Amman’s back row of Dan Jones, Alun Lewis and Thorneygroft were working well as an unit, and the Amman pack almost forced another try on half-time from another rolling maul.

The home side lost influential fly-half Watts early in the second half to injury, and then centre Chris Moore received a yellow card.

Amman scrum-half Joel Foster punched holes in the home defence and from the next phase, wing Jac Evans was through under the posts but was held back as he was going to score, resulting in a penalty try.

The offender, Morgan Davies, also saw yellow and Cefneithin were down to 13 men.

Veteran Gavin Lewis came on for Amman, and he was soon in the thick of it with a trademark scything midfield break that almost put in flanker Alun Lewis for another score.

Amman welcome Tumble to Cwmamman Park on Saturday, the Magpies having beaten United in the reverse fixture a few weeks ago.