Rugby round-up

SEVEN days after Newcastle Emlyn turned in a lacklustre performance in a 3-3 home draw against Skewen the Teifisiders turned in a fine all-round team performance in springing a 34-32 Championship win over Cardiff Met in

the capital and avenged an opening day of the season defeat at the hands of the students.

Crymych of League 1 West were also involved in a close game when emerging 21-20 winners at Gowerton while Cardigan kept up their challenge in League 3 West A with a 24-16 win at Laugharne.

The Emlyn versus Met clash was a highly entertaining spectacle with both teams possessing talented backs prepared to run the ball from all areas.

Emlyn bolted into an early lead and at one stage led 21-8 before the students bounced back and looked to have pinched the verdict before the west Walians pulled the game out of the fire with a last gasp penalty by impressive outside half Barry Thomas.

The visitors went ahead when lock Daniel Havard picked up and ran 22 metres to the try line and fullback Daniel Davies converted.

A similar score came soon afterwards when Emlyn No. 8 Brynmor Jones burst through and in no time winger Llyr Jones kicked on and won the race for the touchdown in the corner for Davies to convert superbly before landing a penalty.

After Emlyn lost the services of kicker Daniel Davies with a shoulder injury the students came back strongly with four tries before Llyr Jones went over for his second try which was converted from the touchline by Barry Thomas.

When centre Miles Moorhouse landed a penalty to nudge the homesters ahead 32-31 it looked all up for the Red and Whites but the visitors who were without the talented Shaun Leonard and Mike Jones, both participating in the Dubai Sevens, had the final word when Barry Thomas landed a penalty under pressure and gave his side victory by one point.

Crymych trailed 17-6 after the opening 40 minutes at Gowerton but a half-time pep talk from new head coach Neil Machin appeared to have the desired effect as the Preselimen came back strongly during the second period to win for the sixth time in ten starts, just seven points outside the promotion slots.

Outside Rhys Davies landed two first half penalties for the north Pembrokeshire side but the hosts went over for tries through No. 8 Ryan Davies, hooker Chris Jones and centre Gareth Bowen, one of the scores converted by winger Charlie Jones.

The home lead was extended early in the second period when Jones landed a penalty but tries by winger Nick Bevan and centre Jake Jenkins, one converted by fly-half Davies who landed three penalties saw Crymych to victory.

Digging deep Cardigan led 11-10 at half time in Laugharne and although the homesters came back during the second half the visitors did just enough to win by eight points.

Winger Alun Jenkins crossed for a Cardigan try early on and inspirational outside half Luke Rogers landed two penalties.

Rogers went in for a try after the interval, added the conversion and landed a penalty while centre Emyr Harries dropped a goal.