Rugby round-up

PROMOTED Newcastle Emlyn are finding it tough going in the Swalec Championship after opening the campaign with a win but crashing to four subsequent defeats that have left them two places and six points above bottom of the pile Llanharan.

After completing a hat-trick of defeats the Red and Whites were hoping to get back on the straight and narrow against visitors RGC 1404 from Colwyn Bay but in the event went down 28-16.

Trailing by 16 points at the break the homesters came back strongly during the second period but could not overhaul the visitors.

Fullback Daniel Davies fired over a penalty to nudge Emlyn in front but the advantage was cancelled by outside half James Lang.

Pressure by the visitors culminated in left-winger Carwyn Myrddyn going over in the corner and soon afterwards fullback Rhun Williams kicked through and won the race for the touchdown.

Daniel Davies reduced the arrears with his second penalty but scrum-half Efan James increased RGC’s advantage with a try from a quick tap penalty and centre Tom Hughes went over for a bonus point try converted by Lang.

Davies landed a third penalty before the interval

Early in the second half Emlyn lost lock and player/coach Arwel Davies with a serious arm injury before scrum-half Mike Jones raised their hopes with a try converted by Davies.

Lang landed a penalty to increase the visitors’ advantage leaving the Teifisiders too much to do to get aback in the game although the second half performance gave reason for optimism.

In a clash between second and third in League 1 West on-form CRYMYCH crashed 27-9 against DUNVANT at Parc Lloyd Thomas, the win enabling the visitors to take over second spot behind Kidwelly.

Visiting hooker Ceri Davies and No. 8 Jordan Jackson got first half tries for the visitors, both scores converted by outside half James Davies who also kicked a penalty.

Scrum-half Luke Rogers kept the Preselimen in contention with three penalties.

As Dunvant pulled the strings after the oranges, inside centre Danny Davies crossed for a try converted by his namesake who landed a second penalty but the visitors just failed to spring a fourth try for a bonus point.

CARDIGAN had things much their own way as they emerged 61-10 winners at basement club LLANGWM and retained third spot in Division 3 West A.

After emphatic Swalec Bowl and league victories it is sure to be a far sterner test for Llyr Griffiths and Co this coming Saturday when unbeaten leaders Haverfordwest provide the opposition at King George V Playing Field.

Llangwm went ahead in the opening quarter when Andrew Brook crossed for two tries but the Cardis replied with tries by centre Sion Hughes, lock Trystan Lewis and outside half Iestyn Crompton, the latter converting all three scores.

During the second half the visitors added a further 40 points without reply from six tries, five of which were converted by Crompton for a personal tally of 21 points.