HEARTACHE FOR CARDIGAN
Haverfordwest 12 Cardigan 9
Cardigan lost out narrowly in the Division Three west title showdown with Haverfordwest on Saturday but this entertaining clash could so easily have gone the way of the Cardi’s in the dying moments
Llyr Griffiths and his men looked all set to cross for a winning try in the final few minutes of this pulsating clash with the Pembrokeshire team leading by just three points and Cardigan, pounding away in the twenty two and looking to sneak a victory. With just a minute to go the ball was moved quickly wide following a bullocking run from outstanding skipper and number eight Griffiths but with the try line in sight the ball was knocked on and the final whistle was swiftly sounded seconds later. The visitors ultimately edged out by a late penalty from outside half Mike Jones to secure the title for the Blues.
If Cardigan had scored there would have been scenes of great jubilation despite the fact that they also needed to beat Milford this weekend but it was the Blues who were heard popping the champagne corks minutes later and deservedly so as they were marginally the best team on the day.
The match started badly for the visitors when veteran prop Richard Jones was forced to leave the field with an ankle injury and this had an immediate impact as the Cardigan scrum was taken apart but they took an early lead when centre Iestyn Crompton slotted over a penalty. The hosts hit back almost immediately when Jones chipped over a penalty and he increased the home lead to 6-3 when his second penalty bounced off an upright on to the crossbar and then sneaked over for three points!
Cardigan came back strongly with powerful flanker Gethin Jones and number eight Griffiths taking the ball up regularly and they ended the half in the ascendency with half backs Aaron Evans, a shoe in for the most improved player of the year and Luke Rogers taking the game to the opposition and they deservedly levelled the score when Crompton added his second penalty.
Fly half Jones kicked his team back into the lead ten minutes into the second half and his team well led by skipper Jon Mason and hard running forwards in the shape of Terry Lovell and Ilesi Vulli, forced Cardigan to defend for long periods and the Blues missed out on at least three very good scoring opportunities with players on the outside. However brave defending from the likes of centre Emyr Harries, flanker Kieran Hurley, prop Tomos Evans , full back Alun Jenkins who put in some important last gasp tackles to keep their opponents out.
Crompton hit back once again to level matters on the hour with a penalty and the match was delicately poised going into the final fifteen minutes with the hosts looking the stronger team and the most likely to score a try.
The turning point came with ten minutes remaining when Cardigan were penalised for not engaging properly at a scrum just when they were in a great attacking position and the official in charge strangely awarded a penalty and not a free kick. This took play back up the other end of the field and a minute later the Blues were ahead when Jones added his fourth penalty of the game and more importantly the match winning score.
Cardigan threw everything at the Blues in the dying seconds with every player giving his all but they just ran out of time and Haverfordwest were promoted to division two whilst the Cardi’s will have to stay in division three for at least another season under coach Colin Horscroft who has done a fine job in his first season at the helm.