A NEVER say die performance from Jeremy Pugh’s brave Bulls saw Builth Wells earn a deserved draw at home to league leaders Whitland.
Having been thrashed 43-13 at Whitland earlier in the campaign, the Bulls had it all to do against a side seven points clear at the top of the table.
There were signs that Builth were capable of causing a shock when wing John Thurston landed an early penalty.
Whitland hit back straight away as full-back James Stephenson steered over with an instant riposte.
However even ardent Bulls supporters feared the worst when second row Chris Davies saw red after an infringement in the ruck.
Surprisingly the Bulls refused to wilt despite their one man disadvantage, with No8 Ben Duggan and scrum-half Geraint Jones outstanding.
Builth went in at the break with a slender advantage, with another Thurston penalty providing the difference.
Whitland hoped to finally capitalise on their advantage after the break and drew level with another penalty from Stephenson.
Once again the Bulls hit back almost immediately with Thurston maintaining his 100 per cent kicking record with a penalty.
However Whitland rang the changes and two penalties from outside-half Aled Davies gave the visitors a three point lead going into the final stages of the game.
The turning point arrived when flanker Ben Pugh was sin-binned for dissent, but Davies spurned the resulting penalty kick.
Sensing a chance to seize a draw the Bulls went for broke and with three minutes remaining were awarded a penalty which Thurston converting.
Builth Wells spokesman David Jones said: “The lads played with heart and deserved a point from this game.
“Perhaps Whitland came up expecting an easy game, but we are a club playing like a side going for the championship not fighting relegation as the table suggests.”
BUILTH WELLS: M Lewis, Hughes, Taylor, Chris Davies, Morris, Pugh, Duggan, Craig Davies, G Jones, Norton, Thurston, Powell, Garrod, E Jenkins, G Jenkins. Rep Duffy