CARDIGAN notched their second win on the bounce in Division Three West by defeating Llangwm 19-0, and this made up for a narrow loss in the corresponding fixture at Pills Park.
The Cardis, who produced arguably their worst performance of the season, were fortunate that their skipper and No 8 Tom Taylor was in good form, with two tries, which were the only highlights of the afternoon, apart from a late score from replacement wing Cerith Griffiths.
It was Taylor who opened the home account when he scored a well-worked try in the opening quarter, but the next hour of this encounter was as bad as it gets.
If the Gollop Stand faithful had retired to the bar for an hour they would have missed nothing as the scoreline remained at 7-0, and the scrum would have been in the same part of the field as when they left, with the official in charge still blowing his whistle every 40 seconds or so.
Thankfully the game livened up in the final few minutes, with Griffiths going over the whitewash following a fine team move and good hands from fly half Iwan John. This was again converted by full back Llyr Jones who instigated this score.
Taylor ran in for his second try of the match in the dying seconds to cap a decent individual performance, and he was well served by veteran tight head prop Andrew Fletcher, who continues to belie his age - but that was about it as Cardigan failed to build on an excellent showing the previous week against Neyland.ABERAERON 29 LAUGHARNE 29DIVISION Three West A is developing into a highly competitive league, with a number of clubs vying for promotion - and it was two of the fancied teams that locked horns at a windy Parc Drefach.
Both teams prefer the open game, and the considerable support witnessed an excellent display, with the final result being a fair reflection of the afternoon.
The hosts were first off the mark, with an early penalty by Rhodri Jenkins, only for Laugharne to take advantage almost from the restart with a surge resulting in a try for No 8 Mikey Williams, which was duly converted by centre Tom Jameson.
Aberaeron’s Achilles’ heel was their lack of control and presence on the restart, and the visitors capitalised with Williams scything through the defence for his second try, converted by Jameson.
Facing an 11-point deficit, the tide turned as winger Ifan Slinger slid over in the corner, with a superb conversion by Jenkins - and following a forward surge, with flanker Aaron Lewis and hooker Ceri Wyn Davies involved, the latter took the glory to secure an unlikely lead.
This was not to last, however, as further indecision from the restart gave Jameson a penalty opportunity, which was duly converted to give his team the advantage.
The second half developed in similar fashion, and again it was Williams who was first off the mark for his hat-trick. Back came the hosts, with No 8 Tudur Jenkins dominating the line-out, and the front row brigade in the form of prop Alex Danton emulating his hooker with a close range try, converted by Jenkins.
With a draw now likely, confusion from the restart gave an opening for Laugharne for an overlap, which winger Wil Evans gobbled up with a scent of victory.
The best was still to come, however, and with Aberaeron deep in their own half Jenkins created a break, and from the 22 a superb kick ahead gave his speedy backline a glimpse of glory. Centre Dafydd Llewelyn made up 10 metres on the defensive line to touch down, and give Jenkins a simple conversion to tie the scores.
Further pressure from the hosts failed to break the deadlock and the consensus was a fair result, with three points apiece.TREGARON 32 LLANYBYDDER 36TREGARON’s local derby with Llanybydder turned out to be a cracker of a game as 11 tries were scored, and all outcomes were possible until the final whistle.
The visitors had the advantage of a strong cross-wind in the first half, but for the first 15 minutes it was the hosts that monopolised possession and worked to deny their opponents any opportunities.
Before the end of the first quarter, however, Bydder’s forwards drove hard and after a series of surges it was bulky Twm Adams who crossed the whitewash, and outside half Llyr Tobins added the extras. From the kick-off Tregaron forwards bounced back and forced a penalty, which outside half Huw Bonner kicked.
Tobias used the wind sensibly to ensure his forwards had front foot ball, and after another forward rumble it was No 8 Ricky Davies who crossed after picking an excellent line, and Tobias converted.
Tregaron responded with some lovely open rugby, with full back Ieuan Wyn Rees running effectively from deep and linking with winger Chris Wilkins to great effect. Rees scored his first try after creating an overlap on the left flank, to keep his team in touch at the interval
The second half was a crazy affair, with both teams punching and counter punching throughout. Wilkins started the try scoring with a superb individual effort, beating a number of defenders with his blistering speed, chipping over the last line of defence and gathering to score.
Ricky Davies had the next score as once more he used his bulk to cross the line.
The home team took the lead on the hour as Rees popped up at a ruck and somehow went through a gap to score, and Bonner’s conversion made it 20-19.
The Teifi Valley outfit scored twice in quick succession through Matthew Evans and Aled Evan, and a conversion by Tobias making it 31-20 with 10 minutes left.
Wilkins cut the deficit with another wonderful try, as quick front foot ball was passed quickly along the back line to beat a number of defenders to score.
Llanybydder came back once more and a good backline move released winger Carwyn Blayney to score in the corner.
With five minutes to go, Rees scored his hat-trick try as he snatched the ball from his opposite number, and Bonner’s conversion cut the deficit to four points. The home team, who had worked hard throughout, then threw everything at their opponents, but it was to no avail.
PEMBROKE DOCK QUINS 3 LAMPETER 22
TREGARON’s local derby with Llanybydder turned out to be a cracker of a game as 11 tries were scored, and all outcomes were possible until the final whistle.
The visitors had the advantage of a strong cross-wind in the first half, but for the first 15 minutes it was the hosts that monopolised possession and worked to deny their opponents any opportunities.
Before the end of the first quarter, however, Bydder’s forwards drove hard and after a series of surges it was bulky Twm Adams who crossed the whitewash, and outside half Llyr Tobins added the extras. From the kick-off Tregaron forwards bounced back and forced a penalty, which outside half Huw Bonner kicked.
Tobias used the wind sensibly to ensure his forwards had front foot ball, and after another forward rumble it was No 8 Ricky Davies who crossed after picking an excellent line, and Tobias converted.
Tregaron responded with some lovely open rugby, with full back Ieuan Wyn Rees running effectively from deep and linking with winger Chris Wilkins to great effect. Rees scored his first try after creating an overlap on the left flank, to keep his team in touch at the interval
The second half was a crazy affair, with both teams punching and counter punching throughout. Wilkins started the try scoring with a superb individual effort, beating a number of defenders with his blistering speed, chipping over the last line of defence and gathering to score.
Ricky Davies had the next score as once more he used his bulk to cross the line.
The home team took the lead on the hour as Rees popped up at a ruck and somehow went through a gap to score, and Bonner’s conversion made it 20-19.
The Teifi Valley outfit scored twice in quick succession through Matthew Evans and Aled Evan, and a conversion by Tobias making it 31-20 with 10 minutes left.
Wilkins cut the deficit with another wonderful try, as quick front foot ball was passed quickly along the back line to beat a number of defenders to score.
Llanybydder came back once more and a good backline move released winger Carwyn Blayney to score in the corner. With five minutes to go, Rees scored his hat-trick try as he snatched the ball from his opposite number, and Bonner’s conversion cut the deficit to four points.
The home team, who had worked hard throughout, then threw everything at their opponents, but it was to no avail.