The teenage centre took over conversion duties and found himself in the spotlight with the scores tied at 24-24 and only two minutes left on the clock. Somehow, he kept his cool and from half-way out on the right he hit the mark to win the game.
“We were losing for most of the game and I was terrified as I stepped up for that final conversion. The nerves were really kicking in, but I just kept my thoughts together,” said Delnevo. “It is such a big feeling having won the title. You can’t explain the joy of winning out there.”
The west Walians led almost from start to finish in a thrilling end-to-end battle and were broken-hearted at the final whistle. They were the most composed team from the start and looked good value for their 10-0 lead after tries from wing Jayden Hinds and centre Sion O’Keefe.
Hinds’ opening effort came after Lampeter worked the ball from left to right. With a penalty coming, livewire scrum half Guto Ebbsworth put in a kick to nothing towards Hinds’ wing and reaped the reward.
O’Keeffe’s try came after a Llandaff passing move broke down on the Lampeter 10 metre line. Bruce Gaskell picked up the pieces and O’Keeffe was eventually able to race 30 metres up the left touchline to score a try that made it 10-0 at the break.
Llandaff needed something and their first points came when right wing George Cottrell race over in the corner after good handling converted a three-on-one overlap situation. Hill added the extras with pinpoint accuracy and it was game-on.
From there on it was nip-and-tuck all the way. Ebbsworth scored a super, solo, side-stepping try that was converted by his half-back partner Jac Crompton, before back row man Josh Froom crashed over from a quick penalty five metres out for Llandaff. The reliable Hill added another conversion.
That score cut the gap to five points before full back Meirion Lloyd ran in at the posts for a try that Crompton again improved to give Lampeter a 10-point lead. That left Llandaff with a mountain to climb, but climb it they did as they got stronger and stronger as the game wore on.
Scrum half Ben Morgan poached a try in the corner to cut the gap to five points and, with time running out, Lampeter made a fatal mistake. Llandaff had a line-out five metres out and went for the drive, while Lampeter stood off.
The maul drove over the line and the referee, Nathan Hutchinson, awarded the try to Owain Griffiths. The scores were level for the first time and Delvono’s kick ensured Llandaff hit the front when it mattered most.
Scorers; Lampeter Town: Tries: J Hinds, S O’Keefe, G Ebbsworth, M Lloyd; Cons: J Crompton 2; Llandaff: Tries: G Cottrell, J Froom, B Morgan, O Griffiths; Cons: F Hill 2, S Delnevo
