RUGBY ROUND-UP

Don’t write us off yet – that was the call from followers of Championship basement boys Newcastle Emlyn after the Teifisiders gave themselves a sliver of hope with a 20-12 win over Rhydyfelin at Ddol Wyber.

Meanwhile Cardigan chalked up a ton as they ran riot against an under-strength St Davids side and Crymych piled up the bonus points but failed to secure the result at Llangennech.

For Emlyn, banking four points was a huge relief for coaches, players and supporters and although they are still six points from safety – four clubs are relegated this time around – a good team performance has given rise for optimism.

In tasting success for the second time in ten outings Emlyn avenged a 29-0 defeat at Pontypridd on the second Saturday of the term.

The homesters excelled during the opening and final quarters of the game but at other times went off the boil and this is sure to be something that head coach Marc Lloyd and colleagues will address in training before the visit of the high-flying students of Cardiff Metropolitan University this Saturday.

In an extremely encouraging team showing special mention could be made of the front row of skipper and hooker Alex Williams and props Dai Jones and Evan James.

The Red and Whites led 12-5 after the opening 40 minutes, their points coming from tries by prop Dai Jones and winger Llyr Jones whose score was a real beauty. Fullback Sean Leonard converted one of the scores while the visitors replied with a try by fullback David Gratton.

During the second period Leonard dropped a goal and centre Steffan Evans powered over for a try while lock Kevin Briggs went over for a Rhydyfelin try converted by Gratton.

Refusing to throw in the towel when trailing by 17 points against League 1 West third-placed Llangennech at Main Field, visitors Crymych staged a grandstand finish but just failed to grab victory and went down 27-24.

A disallowed try in the closing stages by Crymych lock Iwan Mullins, who was ruled out for not grounding the ball and meant the Preselimen had to settle for two bonus points for being within seven points of their opponents and scoring four tries.

Fullback Brendan Cooper was the hero for Llan as he contributed 17 points from two tries, two conversions and a penalty while further scores came via No. 8 Richard Thomas and winger Rhys Davies.

Crymych try scorers were fullback Nick Bevan, lock Mullins, No. 8 Guto Davies and replacement lock Llyr Rees with outside half Ifan Philips landing two conversions.

League 3 West A strugglers St Davids had difficulty raising a team for the journey north to take on Cardigan at King George V Playing Field and the depleted Saints crashed 102-3.

For Cardigan, who ran in 16 tries and led 38-3 after the opening 40 minutes, scorers were skipper and fullback John Lumb, who went in for six touchdowns, centres Sion Hughes and Emir Harries who got a hat-trick apiece, scrum-half Tom Dunn bagged a brace and also on the scoresheet were prop Andrew Fletcher and winger Kieran Hurley,

Centre Harries landed eight conversions for a personal haul of 31 points and outside half Iwan John converted three of the scores.

The visitors got on the scoresheet thanks to a penalty by Mattie McLeod.