Division 3 West.
Cardigan 19 Milford Haven 8
Billed as a potential title decider even at this early stage in the season this game lived up to all expectations with Cardigan producing a powerful and highly charged performance which earned them a well deserved win.
It may only be September with many months of slog to come but there are only three teams in with a realistic chance of getting out of division three and these head to heads with the likes of Milford and St Clears are the games that are going decide who wins the title in April. Other teams in the form of Neyland and Pembroke will test the Cardi’s away from the King George and are capable of upsetting the applecart but if Horscroft and co have a bit of luck with injuries they will be the number one team in the division.
Coach Horscroft was generally pleased with the overall performance of his team and the amiable rugby man who is proving a popular choice at Cardigan RFC was not getting carried away with this success and said:”I was chuffed with the win and thought for most of the game we played very well but I was disappointed with both our approach and tactics in the first half with the strong wind advantage that we had.
“But I thought our second half performance against the wind was very good and we executed our tries very well.”
The Cardi’s who were well beaten by their opponents back in April came out with a pumped up attitude and steely determination that hasn’t been seen for some time and for the final hour of this game they were far better than their Division 3 title rivals.
Coach Colin Horscroft was able to pick his strongest squad since he took charge at the start of last season with number eight and skipper Llyr Griffiths, normally a shoe in for a starting place left on the bench.
Cardigan though did not start well and with the strong wind advantage took far too many risks deep in their own territory when a long kick down field would have been the best option and they were penalised several times in the opening fifteen minutes and went behind when full back Craig Barnett slotted over a penalty after the hosts were penalised for ill discipline at the break down.
Minutes later worse was to follow when second row Dean Harries was shown the yellow card for killing the ball and any thoughts of promotion this season were starting to look a little premature.
However prompted through the likes of outstanding number eight Colin Davies who took an early blow to the head, tight head prop Richard Jones, flanker Dylan Davies and scrum half Aaron Evans, Cardigan started to find their rhythm and they took the lead when Davies claimed a try from a pushover scrum. Fly half Luke Rogers then duly slotted over a superb conversion from the touchline in the swirling wind.
It was all Cardigan in the last ten minutes of the half as their front row of Jones, hooker Rhys Brock and fast improving young loose head Will Bryce really took command and put the Mariners scrum under huge pressure and this took the normally impressive Milford back row out of the game for long periods as they were starved of any ball on the front foot and another home try would have arrived had the referee not blown his whistle for half time.
Barnett had an early chance to reduce the deficit with a long range penalty that just missed the target before second row Rob Connolly ghosted his way over a try when the Cardi’s caught their opponents out with a sucker blow from a line out.
The front peel line out move which has caught out much better teams than the Mariners caught the visitors with their pants down and Rogers once again converted brilliantly from the touchline to make it 14-3 to Cardigan.
Milford came back through the likes of centre Jamie Barnett and the occasional run from winger Marc Wonnacott and forwards in the shape of back rower Ryan Mansell and Tom Manning carried well but the home defence was organised and very rarely breached with skipper Emyr Harries and co centre Marcus Castle solid and Cardigan went further ahead when Harries who had led superbly throughout emerged from the bottom of a rolling maul to claim the killer try instigated by fresh legged replacement Llyr Griffiths. Further changes saw the introduction of flanker Gareth Clifford and prop Ifan James as Cardigan took advantage of a strong bench.
With the game in the bag and a number of visiting forwards noticeably tiring, Cardigan went for the jugular but the Mariners to their credit came back strongly and they poached a late try through number eight Sam Dolling but it was not to be their day as they lost their 100% record and Cardigan were generally better in all departments.
The foundation for this win was laid firmly at the feet of the front row trio of Jones, Brock and Brice with veteran Jones a commanding figure at tight head and superb in defence and the ‘Sportsline’ man of the match.
Scrum half Aaron Evans who has a battle on his hands to keep his shirt with Luke Rogers, a strong candidate to play in the same position, was superb and he was the sponsors man of the match.
Dylan ‘Rambo’ Davies was imperious at the front of the line out winning every throw and pinching a few crucial line outs off the Mariners, whilst second row Rob Connolly had one of his best ever games for Cardigan.
This weekend Cardigan travel to Neyland.
