Newcastle Emlyn v Cardigan

Lowering the colours of county rivals Llanybydder and Newcastle Emlyn in the space of three days kept the Cardigan promotion bandwagon rolling merrily along in Division Three West.

The on-song Cardis did the business at Parc OJ in midweek with a 10-3 win and emerged 12-3 winners at Ddol Wyber on Saturday.

The platform for victory against Llanybydder was laid up front where the visitors dominated in rucks and mauls, won quality lineout possession and with No. 8 and skipper Colin Trigger' Davies leading by example Bydder were not allowed to stamp authority on proceedings.

Behind the scrum the Cardis looked dangerous every time they spread the ball and but for the final pass going astray would have won by a far wider margin.

Delighted assistant coach Adrian Varney said afterwards "The attitude and defence were immense. We attacked at every opportunity and always looked like winning."

Whilst it was essentially a team effort by the visitors special mention should be made of lock Mathew Gibbsy' James, a tremendous workhorse and using hero, and impressive hooker Nigel Kurish who put in thunderous tackles.

It was the powerful James who opened the scoring midway through the first half when he received the ball 12 yards out and crashed over for a try with four home forwards trying to bring him to ground. Skipper Davies landed the conversion.

Outside half Barry Thomas gave the homesters hope with a penalty early in the second period but Colin Davies cancelled out the score with a spot on kick.

With outside half Iestyn Crompton invariably taking the right option and kicking superbly from hand the visitors dominated for most of the half and with a little more rub of the green would have been out of sight long before the final whistle.

Carrying on where they left off on Wednesday the Cardis outplayed the Red and Whites virtually throughout.

A sour note for the promotion challengers was the sending off of backrower Dylan Davies for an alleged dangerous tackle, and an appeal against the dismissal is being considered.

When the visitors were down to 14 men after change of ends Dafydd Evans crossed for his second try of the game and speaking exclusively to the Tivy-Side afterwards the hugely talented outside centre said: "I would like to dedicate the scores to coaches Derek Burton and Adrian Varney who are doing an outstanding job and command the respect of all the players."

Facing a gale during the opening 40 minutes the Cardis kept the ball in hand with the forwards doing the hard yards.

The only score before the break was a penalty for the home side landed by outside half Rhydian Harries.

During a bizarre incident early in the second period a penalty attempt by Cardigan skipper Davies was adjudged by one touch judge to have cleared the crossbar, but his opposite number ruled out the kick and the referee agreed.

Following up alert visiting centre Aled Jones appeared to have touched down for a try but the referee again disallowed the score and instead awarded a drop out.

Cardigan got on the scoresheet when class act Evans scythed through for a try and after Davies was given his marching orders Evans again pierced the Emlyn defence. Skipper Davies added the extras and the Ddol Wyber men never remotely looked like pulling the game out of the fire.

Cardigan host bottom of the pile Cwmgors this Saturday and will be aiming to scoop a full complement of points.

1:51pm Monday 24th March 2008

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