RUGBY ROUND-UP

Despite a perilous position at the foot of the Championship the saying ‘While there’s life there is hope’ was how the Newcastle Emlyn faithful summed up the situation after their favourites pulled out the stops in springing a thrilling 29-28 win over fellow strugglers Newbridge at Ddol Wyber.

It looked all over for the Red and Whites when trailing in the final stages, but the fighting spirit they showed throughout an exciting contest was rewarded with a late penalty.

Both teams belied their lowly positions with an abundance of open play appreciated by a sizeable crowd as the rivals sprang four tries apiece.

Newbridge flanker and skipper Stuart Vokes appeared to have won it for his side when going in for a late try and putting them two points ahead, but with barely three minutes left on the clock the visitors were penalised for a scrummaging offence and Emlyn winger Daniel Davies became the hero of the hour when landing the penalty that brought sighs of relief down by the River Teifi.

The basement boys, currently nine points from safety, are involved in another must-win game on Saturday when visiting Port Talbot to take on seventh from bottom Tata Steel who did their cause a power of good when emerging 42-34 winners over visitors and third-placed Narberth.

Fans at Parc Lloyd Thomas were anticipating a Crymych win against visitors and League 1 West third in the table Llangennech but the Carmarthenshire villagers drew level with a last gasp penalty.

It was essentially a forward-orientated contest with threequarter moves at a premium.

All the points came from penalties, with veteran home outside half Gareth Davies landing five kicks, a feat matched by his opposite number Tom Neale.

When Cardigan hosted bottom club St Davids in League 3 West A back in September the home side came out on top 102-3

Although the scoreline in the return was nowhere near as high the Cardis again ruled the roost with a 34-13 win.

Man of the moment for the visitors was centre John Lumb who scorched over for four tries, the best of them a brilliant individual effort from deep in his own territory.

The other visiting try scorers were winger Dafydd Owens and outside half Iwan John with Lumb landing two conversions.

Flanker Josh Strangward and centre Gabe York got tries for Saints to go with a penalty by Ewan Kimsey.