Lampeter staged a remarkable recovery in the final quarter of the game last Saturday in the first round of the Konica Minolta Cup.

They entertained fellow Division Three outfit Vardre in what was on paper going to prove a very difficult game and by mid way through the second half the home supporters were already looking ahead to next Saturdays league encounter away to Haverfordwest.

However in what will prove to be one of the most thrilling twenty minutes of rugby seen at North Road for many a season, they managed to overturn a twenty four point deficit to finish worthy winners by thirty three points to twenty four.

The day started on a sad note with the news of the sudden death of Sian Morgan, wife of Ex Lampeter Captain John “Penparc” Morgan and both sides lined up for a two minute silence as a mark of respect before the kick off.

The first half was only five minutes old when the visitors took the lead when they managed to secure a clean line out ball and drove forward with their flanker Ian McReady getting the touchdown.

They extended their lead when their No 8 Richard Hills picked the ball up from the base of the scrum and crossed from close range. Shortly before the interval, Vardre scored their third try of the afternoon courtesy of the fly half James Garland who also converted to give his side a seventeen point lead at the interval.

Lampeter fought bravely in the first half and although they crossed the visitors try line twice, they were both disallowed by referee John Griffiths for various infringements, and one felt it was not going to be their day, how wrong we were all to be proved.

Lampeters woes were increased within five minutes of the restart when they lost the services of their young prop Carwyn Jenkins and during this period, the visitors scored their fourth try, centre Gareth Noble getting the touchdown which was converted by Garland to give his side what appeared to be a winning margin of twenty four points.

Lampeters young scrum half Llyr Davies who had an impressive display in his first game for the first fifteen seemed to have broken the deadlock for his side only to loose the ball with the try line beckoning.

As the game entered the final quarter the visitors found themselves down to 14 men and Lampeter seized the advantage.Firstly Winger Kevin Thomas scored the first try which was converted by Huw Thomas and immediately from the restart Centre Jonathan Evans, who is improving by the game crashed over to score their second try again converted by Thomas.

Even though they were still ten points adrift, Lampeter had certainly seized the initiative and the Vardre were definitely on the back foot.

What was also evident was the fitness of the home side compared to the visitors and certainly all the hard work put in over the summer months appear to be paying dividends.

Lampeter continued to pile on the pressure and they were rewarded when centre Marc Saunders scored to reduce the deficit to just three points following a successful conversion by Thomas.

The home support were now witnessing a remarkable comeback and were sensing victory and when winger Kevin Thomas scored his second and his sides fourth try to put his side ahead for the first time in the game they could not believe this was the same team that looked well beaten in the first half.

The game was finally settled in the dying minutes by Centre Jonathan Evans, who broke through a weakening Vardre defence to score close to the points ensuring a comfortable conversion for Thomas to give Lampeter a final winning margin of 33-24.

This was a remarkable victory for the home team and the visitors from Vardre were speechless at the final whistle having looked so comfortable and in control for much of the game.

This performance, close on the heels of last weeks win over Newcastle Emlyn will give this young squad plenty of heart as they go in to a tricky few weeks in the league starting with next weeks away game at Haverfordwest.