RUGBY ROUND-UP

NEWCASTLE Emlyn of the WRU Premiership crashed out of the Challenge Cup at the initial stage when thrashed 63-10 by Principality Premiership high-flyers Carmarthen Quins at The Park while Crymych's outside chance of promotion in League 1 West evaporated with a 39-3 defeat at Penclawdd.

The one bright spot on the local scene came at King George V Playing Field in Cardigan where Llyr Griffiths and colleagues sprang a 60-0 win over Llangwm in League 3 West A.

What came through loud and clear in Carmarthen was that there is a wide gulf between the Principality Premiership and WRU Championship.

Quins were beaten finalists last season and there is a growing belief among fans that their favourites can go all the way this time around.

The homesters controlled matters for most of the 80 minutes and but for elaborating could have won by an even wider margin as the Teifisiders were put to the sword.

Emlyn will be on more familiar ground this weekend when visiting Championship bottom club Dunvant and a win would guarantee safety for the Red and Whites.

Carmarthen notched nine tries against two by their opponents, the scoring charge led by left-winger Morgan Griffiths who crossed four times.

Other try scorers for the home team were outside centre Callum Price who went in for two scores, No. 8 Shaun Evans and fullback Gavin Thomas.

To their credit the visitors kept plugging away and were rewarded with two unconverted tries by Llyr Jones and Joel James.

In completing a double over the north Pembrokeshire visitors - they won 14-12 in Crymych in September - Penclawdd went in for seven tries.

Tom Devonald, Lee Gunnell (2), Matt Donahoe, Phil Tucker, Johnny Davies and Tom Howells were the try scorers with the latter landing two conversions. Rhys Davies got a first half penalty for the Preselimen.

Cardigan kept up their challenge for the one promotion slot up for grabs in League 1 West by completing a double over struggling Llangwm who went down 60-0.

Before the start everyone at King George V Playing Field stood in silence as a mark of respect for club stalwart Viv 'Bryncws' James who died during the week aged 66.

Held in the highest regard by people from all walks of life, the amicable local farmer was a trustee of the club, a former long-serving player, captain and chairman.

His funeral is being held this coming Saturday and the Cardigan club has applied for postponement of the top of the table game at St Clears.

Understrength Cardigan had few problems in brushing aside the visitors with ten tries, three of those sprung by fullback Alun Jenkins.

Other scorers were outside half Llyr Jones, left winger Ben Rogers, centre Sion Hughes and replacement winger Carwyn Thomas who bagged a brace apiece and replacement flanker Kieran Hurley with centre Emyr Harries

landing four conversions.