Rugby round-up

Delight among Emlyn supporters before half time when their favourites held what appeared a commanding lead at the Welfare Ground in Gwent evaporated as the former Welsh champions bounced back and eventually emerged 36-17 winners.

After hitting the winning trail at home against lowly Glynneath and Rhydyfelin a win hat-trick never materialised, leaving the Red and Whites perilously close to the relegation zone.

The visitors started at a frenetic pace and went ahead through prop Emrys Davies who powered over for a try converted by fullback Dan Davies.

Responding in forceful fashion Newbridge reduced the deficit with a try in the corner by centre Paul King.

Davies landed a penalty for the visitors which was cancelled out by a spot-on effort from home outside half Simon Veal before the west Walians sprang a brilliant score after half an hour.

A sublime move culminated in centre Teifion Davies racing clear for a try converted by Davies.

Just when it appeared the Teifisiders would press home their advantage they were caught napping as Newbridge took a quick penalty and centre King again crossed the whitewash for a try converted by Veal.

As half time approached Emlyn were punished for sloppy play when flanker Luke Morgan went over for a try under the posts making the conversion a formality for Veal.

Early in the second half fullback Hugh Palmer kicked through and won the race for a touchdown wide out and Veal converted with a superb kick.

Emlyn laid siege to the home try line for a lengthy period but were again caught out when centre King crowned a man of the match performance with a try converted by Veal.

Banking a bonus point was scant consolation for Crymych as the north Pembrokeshire villagers lost for the fourth time on the bounce when going down 16-15 at Kidwelly to remain basement boys in League 1 West.

Crymych fans were hopeful that a National Plate away success against Llanybydder seven days previously would galvanise the players to notch a first win.

But it was not to be despite leading by two points after the opening 40 minutes.

As the Preselimen more than held their own before the interval Jake Jenkins and Sion Colella crossed for tries, one of which was converted by Ifan Phillips.

Kidwelly stayed in contention with a try by scrum-half Alex Davies converted by points machine Gareth Rees who also landed a penalty.

During a dour second period Phillips gave the visitors hope with a penalty but that man Rees had the final say with two successful kicks.

Coming on the heels of a lamentable showing in crashing against Crymych Seconds in the National Bowl, a 41-10 League 3 West A defeat against mid-table Laugharne at King George v Playing Field was difficult to digest for Cardigan fans.

The understrength Cardis turned in another below par performance as mistakes presented the visitors with victory by a wide margin.

Hero of the hour for the Carmarthenshire visitors was flanker Mickey Williams with no fewer than six tries as a sparse crowd witnessed another poor showing by the homesters.

Williams notched four tries before the break and half as many again during the second half.

For the visitors, who led by 20 points at half time, Owain Williams also got in on the try act and the remainder of the points came from the boot of Ross Michael.

Powerful backrower Colin Davies and fullback Tomos Jones, the latter a quality effort, got tries for Cardigan but the scores were no more than academic.