With the two sides due to face each other in the cup final, Rhayader took a weakened team to the seaside with several regulars missing for their first league game since the defeat in Newtown on November 5th 2011. Terry- John Hutchinson, Gavin Rees, Mike Cameron, Dan Goodman and Rob Evans amongst others all unavailable and Haydn O'Reilly only had a place on the bench.
With those who were available James Mad Dog Rees had to fill in at hooker, Stephen Spike Boore filled in at 8, John Foster at 10 and Matt Flat Boore at outside centre. Jack Quarterman also filled in as Captain.
It was probably due to all these enforced changes that Rhayader made such a sluggish start. Within 20 minutes, Rhayader were 15-0 down thanks to a drop goal, two tries and a conversion. Their position wasn't helped when Nathan Hammond was yellow carded for illegally stopping a quickly taken penalty. By half time the students had scored another try and conversion and led at half time by 22 points to nil.
Second half was a different story and a Jordan Smith led revival was on. The tax dodgers had no answer to the Rhayader forwards and in particuar Jordan Smith, James Mad Dog Rees and Stephen Spike Boore who sent the students backwards time after time after time.
Jordan Smith crashed over for two push over tries for his first and second for Rhayader and on this performance, the first of many more.
Aberystwyth University added two tries of their own but failed with their conversions so Rhayader won the second half by 18-10.
The game was overall shaded by the sudents who will be confident going into the cup final. Their backs looked dangerous and they were confident enough to run the ball from anywhere on the park. However Rhayader can be very optimistic however after the way the front 8 were more than a match for their Uni opponents.
Next up is Cobra at home in the league on Saturday and its the first home league game since Aberystwyth University at home way back n 8th October 2011.

Aberystwyth University 32 Rhayader RFC 18