Newcastle Emlyn 43 Llanelli Wanderers 18

In a winner takes all head-to-head down by the River Teifi, in-form Newcastle Emlyn turned in a powerful all-round team performance to emerge impressive 43-18 winners over Llanelli Wanderers.

The visitors had to spring a win if they were to take over the leadership, but in the event were outplayed by the Red and Whites, who went through the group stage with a 100 per cent record.

The Teifisiders go through to the knock-out involving 24 clubs, and the way in which they have performed at the group stage, few will relish a trip to the Teifi Valley.

Emlyn were without a number of unavailable and injured players, but there is a strong squad at Ddol Wyber these days as Saturday’s clash showed, with forwards and backs combining and playing entertaining rugby.

It was 17-6 after the opening 40 minutes, the home points coming from tries by winger Llyr Jones and centre Andrew Owen, with scrum-half Mike Jones converting both scores and landing a penalty.

Lewis Jones kicked two penalties for the visiting side.

Llyr Jones, replacement wing Llyr Davies and the other winger Dean James scored after the break, and Mike Jones landed a conversion.

Prop Dylan Watkins and Steff Haverston went in for Llanelli tries, and Lewis Jones landed one conversion.

Although it was essentially a team effort that carried the day, Gareth Thompson in the second row was outstanding, while Andrew Owen impressed behind the scrum.

With six wins from six matches in Group G, Newcastle Emlyn topped the table with 30 points, with Felinfoel - who beat Burry Port 22-8 last weekend - in second place with four wins and 22 points, and Llanelli Wanderers finished third, also with four wins, on 21 points. Burry Port were fourth with 11 points.

Tenby United 15 Crymych 12

A recent purple patch for Crymych in the WRU Plate District H1 came to an end when the Preseli men went down 15-12 against Tenby United at Heywood Lane.

If the north Pembrokeshire villagers had made it five-wins on the bounce it would have seen them take over the leadership from Aberystwyth, who lost 26-17 at Whitland, where former Wales international scrum-half Mike Phillips played for the hosts.

The platform for a deserved success for the Seasiders was laid up front where the forwards turned in a first-rate showing and outplayed the Crymych eight for lengthy spells.

Young lock Des Roberts was a tower of strength for United, and Jack Brown in the back row also put in a tremendous shift.

The hosts led 8-7 after the first 40 minutes, their points coming from a try by scrum-half Cameron Broadhurst and a penalty by centre Lloyd Thomas.

Centre Ifan Phillips raced over for a Crymych try, successfully converted by fullback  Adam Phillips.

During the second period Broadhurst went over for his second score, converted by Thomas, while Adam Phillips got an unconverted try for the visitors.

Whitland’s win lifted them above Crymych into second spot in the group.


St Davids 7 Cardigan 45
    
Completing their WRU Bowl District H1 fixtures Cardigan sprang a 45-17 win at St Davids with some entertaining rugby played as the forwards and backs combined to score tries.

The visitors again struggled to field a front row and normal centre Marcus Castle stepped in as a makeshift  prop and did a first-rate job in the front row.

The Cardis, who are scheduled to start their league programme on November 13, are away against Whitland and possibly former Welsh international Mike Phillips on Thursday in the Pembrokeshire Cup knockout.

The visistors led 5-0 at the interval through a try by left-winger Alun Jenkins and after the break the Carids opened up to notch a further 40 points.

The Cardigan pack impressed throughout with lock Craig Morris on his debut showing he will be a big asset to the club while behind the scrum the visitors spread the ball at every opportunity and left their opponents well-beaten.

Fullback Carwyn Vaughan and winger Jenkins sprang two tries apiece and there were also scores for Kieran Greeland, outside half Luke Rogers and No 8 Tom Taylor, with the remainder of the points coming from the boot of fly half Rogers.