Rugby round-up

AFTER failing to set the scene alight in early games it was not surprising that there was some trepidation among Crymych fans for the visit to unbeaten Gorseinon in League 1 West.

But supporters were celebrating as the north Pembrokeshire villagers rose to the occasion and in an exciting and entertaining contest came out on top 29-24.

Crymych host joint leaders Llanelli Wanderers at Parc Lloyd Thomas this weekend in a game likely to draw a sizeable crowd with the Preselimen hoping to double up on their triumph at the Welfare Ground.

Marred by a serious injury to a Gorseinon player, there was a lengthy delay after an hour and there were those who felt that the referee should have abandoned the game.

At that stage the visitors were leading by two points and held out for a deserved victory.

With the wind at their backs during the opening 40 minutes the visitors led 12-11 at the break thanks to tries by No. 8 Guto Davies and hooker Carwyn Davies with talented young outside half Jake Jenkins landing one conversion.

After the interval Gethin Gibby notched a try for Crymych and Jenkins landed four penalties.

Given that Newcastle Emlyn visited the former mining village of Beddau near Llantrisant without a dozen or so regulars due to unavailability and injury it was nevertheless a lacklustre performance by the Red and Whites who crashed for the second week in succession as the south Walians opened their account for the season with a thumping 69-3 win.

Bottom of the pile Newbridge are the visitors to Ddol Wyber this Saturday when the Teifisiders will be eager to put the past two results behind them and make a return to the straight and narrow.

When Emlyn visited Beddau last season the home side romped it 48-15 and in this encounter it was obvious early in the second half that the visitors would again suffer a heavy defeat.

The floodgates opened after the interval as Beddau seemed to score at will against a paper-thin defence and when Emlyn created opportunities unforced errors caused promising moves to break down.

Outside half Hywel Chatham landed two early penalties for the homesters before winger Cody Baker crossed for the first try and although Dan Davies was successful with a penalty for the Teifisiders scrum-half Carl Lewis nipped in for a try converted by Chatham, the latter bagging a total of 29 points from his kicking and two tries.

As Emlyn were put to the sword after the oranges other try scorers were fullback Callum Wheeler, Baker, winger Joe Casella (2), lock James Cashin and replacement Owen Cotton.

With Milford Haven trailing Cardigan 7-3 after the opening 40 minutes at King George V Playing Field visiting fans scented victory, but the Cardis raised their game and emerged deserved 19-8 winners to retain the leadership of League 3 West A.

No. 8 and former skipper Colin Davies, who was to the fore throughout, nudged Cardigan ahead with a well-worked try converted by outside half Luke Rogers while Craig Barnett landed a penalty for the Mariners.

During the second period lock Rob Connelly and centre Emyr Harries ran in for tries, the former score converted by Rogers while flanker Sam Dolling got a try for Milford.