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Maesteg Celtic welcomed visitors Whitland for a WRU 2^nd round Plate Match. What a game it turned out to be. Whitland who are high in division one west came determined to progress further while Celtic were in no mood to concede to anyone at the field of dreams at Garth Park. The game was played at a furious tempo with both teams asking for no quarter and giving none in return. It is difficult to mention individual players because everyone gave everything they had in the tank.

The first half was evenly contested with neither side in ascendance. Celtic opened the scoring with a penalty by outside half Scott Sainsbury. Whitland responded from the kick off and a speculative kick ahead received a wild bounce back over the Celtic full back and was caught by the wing to run in a converted try. Celtic went back ahead after furious pressure by their pack drew the visitors defence and outside half Sainsbury put centre Kristian Jenkins through to score. Sainsbury converted. The half ended when a Celtic attack in the visitors 22 was unexpectedly turned over for them to run the length of the field for a converted try.

            The second half was as ferocious as the first but Celtic front five of Man of the Match Sean Lambert, Morgan Reeves, Mark Wilkins, Rhys Bevan Jones and Kieran Power began to get the upper hand. A penalty was kicked to the corner by substitute outside half Cody John and the lineout was won by Kieran Power. The pack drove the visitors over their try line for flanker Jonathan Davies to touch down. Whitland attacked with determination but the Celtic backline of Aaron Williams, Lee Arthur, Kristian Jenkins, Neil Arthur and Morgan Lloyd were magnificent in defence. Whitland were awarded a penalty during the final move of the half which evened the score.

            The first half of extra time saw Celtic three quarters attack deep into the visitors 22 and scrum half Liam Healy passed to wing Neil Arthur coming back inside. He was high tackled and Celtic opted for a scrum. The pack drove their opponents back at pace and the visitors were forced to collapse the drive. The referee awarded a penalty try.

            Celtic sensed a great victory was on the cards and dug deep in the final ten minutes. Scott Sainsbury gave them some relief when he kicked a 45 metre penalty to open the gap to two scores. Whitland scored a long range try in the final moments of the game but it was not enough to prevent Celtic earning a worthy scalp.