WRU National Bowl-Round two
Cardigan 45 Laugharne 29
Cardigan bounced back with a win following a disappointing show away at Neyland and Llyr Griffiths and his team played some enterprising attacking rugby against a Laugharne team that came to spoil the party.
This WRU National Bowl second round tie proved to be very entertaining for the decent crowd that attended with plenty of tries but this was often down to some sloppy defending by the hosts rather than the creativity of the Cocklemen.
Supporters at the Gollop Stand will have enjoyed some of the wonderful touchdowns created by their side but they will be genuinely worried with main title rivals St Clears coming to town in a fortnight as some of the defending was as poor as has been seen at the King George for some time. Three of the tries conceded were really sloppy and Cardigan will have to tighten up against the saints or they will be put away.
The home side started off with positive intent and it was not long before attacking full back John Lumb made one of his trademark breaks from deep and up front the Cardi’s also started well and managed to put some real pressure on the visitors scrum.
Unsurprisingly it was Lumb who opened the hosts account when he broke from deep and a long sweeping move was finished off by winger Rhydian Jenkins. Scrum half Luke Rogers was unlucky with the conversion as it hit one of the uprights.
Stand off Llyr Jones added a second try after an initial burst by skipper Llyr Griffiths which was then taken on by hooker Rhys Brock, but Rogers again missed with his conversion as it was charged down.
Openside Mike Williams,one of the stand out performers for the visitors hit back with a try after a good period of pressure and the conversion by centre Tom Jameson took the score to 10-7. A minute later the scores were level at 10-10 when scrum half Owen Thomas slotted over a drop goal.
The hosts responded after the interval with a try almost from kick off when flanker Sion Hughes was on hand to take the ball off centre Emyr Harries following a fine break and this was converted by Rogers.
The scrum half crossed himself for a try soon afterwards when he was on hand to round off a superb try with prop Tomos Evans and centre Harries having made the inroads with great breaks from deep and this was also converted to put Cardigan 24-10 ahead.
Back though came Laugharne with a try from loose head prop Rhys Thomas but some of the hosts tackling was woefully poor and this was converted from the touchline by impressive centre Jameson
Coach Colin Horscroft shuffled his team in the final quarter and brought on Colin Davies to replace blind side Gareth Clifford who had another good game and within a minute Davies was instrumental in putting Rogers over for his second try of the match.
Lumb added a second soon afterwards after he was put away thanks to a sublime inside pass from Cardigan’s best player Harries but Laugharne responded once again with a try from second row Gary Jones which was converted to bring the visitors closer at 38-24.
Replacement flanker Kieran Hurley grabbed an opportunist charge down try in the closing minutes which was converted by Rogers but it was the visitors who had the final say when flanker Williams rounded off a fine individual performance with a try to complete the scoring at 45-29.
Coach Horscroft will take the win but he has plenty of work to do over the next couple of weeks as he prepares for the challenge of St Clears who are unbeaten to date with four wins from four starts. His biggest challenge may well be deciding which is his best starting line up as there is pressure for of places with players returning.
