Rugby round-up

DESPITE a fully-committed performance and producing some entertaining and adventurous play, Newcastle Emlyn were guilty of unforced errors and poor defending as the Red and Whites went down 52-29 against impressive second-placed Championship side Tata Steel in Port Talbot.

The Teifisiders picked up a bonus point but could have run the home side far closer and there are sure to be defensive issues addressed during training before the visit of unbeaten leaders Pontypool this Saturday.

After barely nine minutes Steel outside half Liam Popham, who switched to fullback during the second half, burst through half-hearted tackles to score a try under the posts and his halfback partner Rhodri Cole converted.

The score was followed in double quick time by a try by Cole who also added the extras.

Shaun Leonard opened Emlyn's account with a spot-on penalty from 30 yards but a lineout drive led to Tata's third try by hooker Dan Vella, converted by Cole.

Good work by scrum-half Dafydd Evans allowed prop Emrys Davies to get a try for the visitors and Leonard converted before winger Daniel Davies had a try disallowed for a forward pass.

Steel got a try against the run of play when flanker and skipper David Giggs crossed and the homesters scored again through inspirational flanker Scott Malone converted by Lewis Evans.

Scrum-half Mike Jones replied for Emlyn with a try converted by Leonard.

Just when Emlyn threatened to mount a comeback Tata sprang two tries through winger Jordan Skidmore and Popham, both scores converted by Evans.

In the final minutes Emlyn sprang a third try through winger Llyr Davies who went over in the corner and the visitors were also awarded a penalty try converted by Leonard.

Crymych recorded a fourth win from seven starts in League 1 West when emerging 47-21 winners against an ordinary Loughor side holding up the table.

Although Rhys Davies crossed for an early Crymych try the visitors replied with two scores from centre Morgan Bryant and scrum-half Peter Smiriglia, both converted by the latter.

The Preselimen led 26-14 at the break through further tries by fullback Gethin Gibby and backrower and skipper Tom Powell and scrum-half Mathew Roebuck with Davies adding all the extras.

Bryant crossed for a further Loughor score but by then the Preselimen were out of sight through tries by Dylan Davies, Guto Davies and a penalty try.

A sizeable crowd at King George V Playing Field was treated to entertaining fare as Cardigan battled to a 15-10 win over St Clears and remained joint top of League 3 West A.

The Cardis led 15-3 after the opening 40 minutes but were pushed to hang on in the second half as the Carmarthenshire visitors threw everything but the kitchen sink at their opponents who were reduced to 13 men for the final few minutes after No. 8 Colin Davies and centre John Lumb were given red cards.

With outside half Luke Rogers dictating the tempo the homesters held out for a superb win over their third-placed opponents.

Backrowers Kieran Hurley and skipper Llyr Griffiths notched first half tries for the homesters with Rogers converting one of the scores and landing a penalty.

For the visitors flanker Mathew Owen raced over for a try converted by outside half Geraint Jones, the latter also landing a penalty to earn his side a bonus point.