Division 3 West A.
Pembroke 25 Cardigan 25
Cardigan were denied a win in the final few minutes of this pulsating match when Scarlets blind side Dom Colman powered his way over for a try under the posts and the conversion from Luke Hartland secured a draw.
The Cardi’s were leading for a large part of this game and were well ahead midway through the second half after full back John Lumb had crossed for the try of the match to make it 25-13 to the visitors.
Pembroke though spent most of the last quarter camped in the Cardigan half and probably deserved a share of the spoils especially as they will point to a blatant penalty try that should have gone their way.
Cardigan took the lead early on in this top of the table clash when centre Emyr Harries slotted over a drop goal before Pembroke responded with a try from young scrum half Tom Lewis and the conversion by full back Luke Hartland gave the hosts a one point lead. Hartland then added another penalty to put his team further ahead.
The visitors hit back when scrum half Aaron Evans crossed for a try but the lead changed again soon afterwards when Hartland fired over a penalty and he added another to put the Scarlets 13-8 in front and deservedly so.
Cardigan who lost the services of skipper Llyr Griffiths through a neck injury took the game to the opposition with some powerful driving by replacement Colin Davies, hooker Bedwyr Davies and centre Harries and they regained the lead when second row Rob Connolly scored a try from a front peel move from a line out and this was converted by Rogers to put Cardigan 15-13 ahead at the interval.
Pembroke started the second half positively but they were hit on the counter when full back Lumb broke from deep and eluded several would be tacklers before he touched down for a superb score and this was converted by Rogers to put the Card’s 22-13 ahead and they looked on their way to a win. They added to this soon afterwards when Rogers slotted over a penalty but the hosts hit back almost immediately with a try from powerful back rower Dom Colman after good work from his colleagues in the pack and it was all Pembroke after this as they went in search of a converted try to at least grab a share of the spoils.
The visitors made a number of changes with Ifan James taking the place of Tomos Evans at loose head prop and Aled Phillips taking over at hooker with Bedwyr Davies moving across to the back row in place of Kieran Hurley and the Cardi’s were forced to dig deep to keep the Scarlets out.
With just a few minutes remaining and just ten metres from their own try line the Cardigan scrum was pushed off its own ball with contemptuous ease and heavyweight Colman picked up and walked over for a try just near the woodwork and the conversion by Hartland secured the draw.
Both teams will no doubt look back and feel they should have won this game as they were both in winning positions at different times and the hosts should really have gone for the jugular in the final moments. Cardigan will feel they should have put this game to bed when they were on top and twelve points ahead.
However nothing changes at the top of the division with both teams locked on 26 points apiece although the Scarlets have a game in hand.
Next up for Cardigan is a home fixture against Pembroke Dock Quins on November 26t
