RUGBY ROUND-UP

Finding themselves propping up the Championship table after five defeats on the bounce Newcastle Emlyn will strive to end the losing run when villagers Bedlinog from the Taff Bargoed Valley in south-east Wales, currently in joint fourth, are the visitors to Dol Wyber.

The Red and Whites put up a gritty performance against high-flying Narberth recently but seven days later were soundly beaten 45-9 by Ystrad Rhondda at Gelligaled Park.

Both sides included a sprinkling of youngsters in their line-ups but the Rhondda Fawr high-flyers had more cohesion throughout the team as they led 17-9 after the opening 40 minutes and scored 25 unanswered points after the interval.

Emlyn have very few happy memories of their games against Ystrad who beat them in the WRU National Plate Final at the Principality Stadium in May 2015.

And the disappointments continued on Saturday despite the visitors mounting a number of promising attacks and stretching the home defence but unable to break through.

The homesters were particularly dangerous when spreading the ball wide, borne out by left-winger Curtis Williams crossing for a try hat-trick, one of the touchdowns converted by outside half Rhys Truelove.

Fullback Sean Leonard, who launched a number of counter attacks, landed three penalties for the visitors.

Last season's League 1 East Central champions moved up a gear during the second half and left their opponents a well-beaten outfit long before the final whistle.

Further tries followed courtesy of No. 8 Liam Davies, inside centre Ryan Howells, right-winger Jay Harries and Truelove, the latter converting all the scores.

League 1 West rivals Gowerton and Crymych provided a feast of rugby at the Athletic Ground where the Preselimen came out on top 31-23 to reach round two of the National Plate.

The north Pembrokeshire villagers turned in a first-rate team performance with the pack Rhys Davies, dominating for lengthy periods.

They led 25-10 at half time, the points coming via a brace of tries for dynamic flanker Sion Colella and one for centre Tomos Phillips with centre Ifan Phillips converting both scores and landing a penalty.

During the second period vastly experienced replacement outside half Gareth Davies landed two penalties while for the Swansea side lock Richard Keeffe and scrum-half Bleddyn James crossed for tries, both converted by Paul Spowart, who also landed three penalties.

Rhys Davies and Co return to the bread and butter of the league this Saturday when they visit Hendy.

With Cardigan breathing fire and roaring to an early ten-point lead with tries by fullback and skipper John Lumb and player/coach Colin Davies it looked ominous for League 3 West A leaders Neyland.

But the visiting Pembrokeshire All Blacks came back strongly to notch a 25-20 win at King George V Playing Field.

After Lumb and Davies made their mark the visitors replied with a try by hooker Gavin Campbell before young home outside half Iwan John landed a penalty to increase his side's advantage.

Winger Delmie Bateman went over for an unconverted try wide out to peg back the homesters and put his side within three points at the break.

As the All Blacks piled on the pressure during the second period winger Harry Macbeth finished off a sparkling move with a try, which was followed by abrasive scrum-half George Thomas going in for a score converted by Patrick Bellerby.

The Cardis came back when scrum-half Llyr Jones sprang an interception try converted by John but despite driving forward and going close to adding to their try count they were held out and finally beaten when Bellerby landed a penalty.

This weekend the Cardis host League 3 West B leaders Nantgaredig in round two of the WRU National Bowl at King George V Playing Field (kick off 2.30pm).