Match Report

In the first rugby league match to have ever been held in the village of Skewen near Neath, West Wales edged a 24-18 win over East in a competitive encounter.

The result means that East Wales need a 26-point win over North Wales next Saturday at Glyncoch otherwise the title will go North for the first time.

West took the lead on six minutes when Liam Jones used his strength to force his way through. Isaac Morgan converted.

East levelled on 14 minutes as Macauley Harris dived over and Chris Harris converted.

West soon regained their lead when a good passing move ended with Scott Whitlock diving over. Isaac Morgan couldn’t land the extras.

Then just before half-time, Dylan Agar crashed over for West Wales’ third try of the day with Morgan converting to give them a 16-6 half-time lead.

East were first over in the second half after they pounded the West line for two successive sets. In the end, Shaun Watton caught a high kick and scored under the sticks. Harris added the extras.

The visitors were pressing for a score to level the game, but it was West who were over next. Jack Dacey was on the end of a good string of passes. The conversion attempt was missed.

East fought back again. Macauley Harris dived from dummy half for his second of the game and Chris Harris converted to bring the deficit to just two points.

Referee Ian Curzon gave red cards to Ben Pinnock of East Wales and Ben Rees of West Wales, plus a yellow for Ieaun Ace, for their part in a brawl with less than two minutes remaining.

But despite being a man down, West sealed the game in the final move as Whitlock ran in for his second. The conversion was missed.