RUGBY ROUND-UP

If League 1 West unbeaten leaders Newcastle Emlyn go through with their promotion challenge and return to the WRU Championship many will look back at the exciting tussle with fifth-placed Whitland as a defining game when the Teifisiders showed their immense fighting spirit in digging deep for a 13-10 win.

Dol Wyber has seen a number of close encounters in recent seasons and they don’t come more nail-biting than on Saturday.

The four points banked by Alex Williams and Co enabled them to stay on top of the pile a point ahead of Felinfoel with the top two pulling away from the remainder.

Whitland could justifiably feel rather aggrieved in not sharing the spoils after a fully-committed showing and matching their opponents in virtually every department.

With barely six minutes remaining it appeared Emlyn would forfeit their impeccable record by being held to a draw as the score stood at 10-10.

But then up stepped fullback and star performer Shaun Leonard, who coolly slotted a penalty to seal victory.

The Borderers went ahead early on when flanker Ryan Morgan raced over for a try wide out converted by outside half Nico Setaro.

After a Setaro penalty tied the scores that man Leonard had the final say.

In the same division Crymych sank to the depths after a 28-13 defeat at the hands of promotion aspirants Felinfoel in Llanelli.

The writing was on the wall for Crymych after the opening 40 minutes with the homesters holding a 21-3 lead and cruising.

To their credit the north Pembrokeshire villagers refused to capitulate and came back at their opponents in the second half with two tries but were a well-beaten side at the end.

First half tries by outside half Aled Roberts and centres John George and Kyle Simmonite, all the touchdowns converted by Roberts put the homesters in the ascendancy while Ifan Phillips landed a penalty for the visitors.

Flanker Mathew Freebury and prop Carwyn Rees got second half tries for Crymych, but another Simmonite try made it plain sailing for ‘Foel who banked a bonus point to close the gap on pacesetters Newcastle Emlyn to one point.