Mariners struck by Cefneithin storm

However, the battle at the Cae Carwyn James ground was clouded in controversy after a home supporter appeared to enter the field and confront Milford hooker Craig Smith late on.

“The incident went on behind the referee’s back,” said Mariners coach Alan McClelland.

“The supporter took issues to the way Craig was rucking but afterwards even the Cefneithin players admitted there was nothing wrong with it.”

The incident overshadowed a tenacious battle which left the Mariners ruing a series of early chances. Two penalties from fly half Leigh Broome helped them to a 6-0 lead early on but they wasted a golden opportunity when Dean Matthews broke clean through. The powerhouse centre was offered little support and in the split second he took to look for an offload he was hauled down by the Green and Gold cover.

Moore hit back with a penalty and after Mariners second row Ben Johnson was sin binned he struck a hammer blow. Feeding of turnover ball outside the Milford 22, the prolific full back skipped through two tackles to give his side an 8-6 half-time lead they scarcely deserved.

The Mariners pressed in the second half but were left frustrated by a series of handling errors and it was from an attacking position they gifted Cefneithin the decisive score. Penalised for obstruction, they then allowed the Green and Gold’s to break the length of the field where Moore again romped under the posts.

Rusinek missed a long range penalty to reduce the deficit and the Mariners charge petered out before the late controversy. McClelland however, conceded his side had lost ‘fair and square’: “Our performance was disappointing but I have no complaints over the result.”

The Mariners now lie second but with a game in hand and the coach added the loss would remove any complacency that may have crept into his squad.

“This could be the kick we needed,” he said.