RUGBY ROUND-UP

Crymych followers were downcast after their favourites had a draw snatched from their grasp in the dying moments of an absorbing League 1 West clash at Whitland.

The relegation-haunted visitors appeared to have pulled the game out of the fire with a penalty try but with the referee looking at his watch Crymych No 8 Tom Powell was adjudged to have pulled back Josh Davies off the ball and prolific points scorer Nico Setaro landed the winning points leaving the visitors with a losing bonus point.

During the opening 40 minutes home No 8 Jack Mason ran in for a try and inevitably Setaro added the extras.

The Preselimen stayed in contention before half time with a penalty by outside half Jonathan Rogers who was appearing on permit from Narberth.

Setaro kicked a second half penalty before the late drama.

In the same division Newcastle Emlyn took another step towards the title and a return to the Championship at the first time of asking after pulling out the stops in notching a 17-10 away win over Gowerton.

When the rivals met in the Teifi Valley back in October the Red and Whites emerged 52-3 winners, but it was a different story at the Athletic Ground as the Teifisiders were pushed to the limit by the homesters who languish in the bottom three.

Emlyn go into a fortnight break for the Six Nations on top of the pile from Llangennech and Felinfoel and return to league action on February 15 when hosting relegation-threatened Pembroke.

Avenging a heavy League 3 West defeat at Llanybydder earlier in the campaign Cardigan sprang a 17-12 win over their rivals at King George V Playing Field.

A try by all-action flanker Sean Owens converted by fullback Llyr Jones put the Cardis in the ascendancy after the opening 40 minutes.

Early in the second period outside half Iwan John outstripped the visitors’ defence for a try converted by Llyr Jones who also landed a penalty.

A late surge by the visitors saw centre Bleddyn Jones crossing for two tries, his second touchdown converted by outside half Llyr Tobias to give his side a losing bonus point.