CARDIGAN JUST A GAME AWAY

WRU Bowl Quarter Final

Cardigan 16 Milford Haven 6

A superb try scored by full back John Lumb sealed a well-deserved win for the Cardi’s and with it a place in the last four of the Bowl. Writes Andrew Clarke.

The touchdown by the former Cardigan Town footballer brought a huge roar from a packed Gollop Stand as this score midway through the second half put the match to bed to leave the Cardi’s just one game away from a showdown at the National Stadium.

This was a brutal game at times and there was a flurry of red and yellow cards late on but it was not a dirty game. It was though a niggly affair with a number of cheap shots missed by excellent referee Daniel Harries and the large crowd that flocked to the King George were treated to an entertaining match with the home team providing most of the attacking flare.

Cardigan set their stall out early with centres Emyr Harries and Marcus Castle hitting their opponents with some bone crunching tackles and back rowers Colin Davies and captain Llyr Griffiths taking the ball up at pace and ploughing their way through the Mariners defence. It came as no surprise when the hosts went ahead in the opening minutes when from a superb break from second row Dean Harries, Cardigan were awarded a penalty and young fly half Llyr Jones who had a fine game, slotted the ball over from in front of the posts.

Milford hit back when full back Craig Barnett fired over a penalty after Cardigan had been penalised for a number of infringements and their ill-discipline was a major issue in the opening quarter. Minutes later centre Harries was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on but his team mates saved his bacon as they didn’t concede a point in the ten-minute spell.

The visitors though continued to threaten and would have scored had it not been for a superb tackle from full back Lumb. Cardigan absorbed the pressure and they hit back with a superb run from right winger Alun Jenkins and a try soon followed when left winger Dafydd Watkins crossed in the club house corner after an excellent break from centre Castle and a sublime pass by blind side Davies in support. Stand off Jones was unlucky with his conversion which hit an upright but the Cardi’s were well worth their narrow 8-3 lead at the break.

Cardigan dominated the next quarter with their back row of Griffiths, Davies and Kieran Hurley outstanding and creating several turnovers and the hosts went further ahead when Lumb scored the vital try with the visitors a man down for another yellow card offence. Lumb almost scored again a few minutes later when from a break by back rower Davies Lumb was unable to hang on to a pass that would have seen him cross in the corner.

Fly half Jones kicked Cardigan further into the lead when he chipped over a simple penalty after scrum half Arwyn Wilson had been felled with a high tackle to make it 16-3 but a succession of substitutions at a time when the game was still in the balance cost the Cardi’s their rhythm as it so often does with teams at all levels. Milford came storming back with some powerful running by both forwards and backs but they were reduced to fourteen men following a red card for a high tackle on replacement flanker Gareth Clifford. Cardigan had a chance to put the game well out of reach with a penalty in front of the posts but Jones was just off target

Another red was to follow soon afterwards and a needless one when home centre Harries received his second yellow when he tackled late and the final ten minutes were very tense with the stakes so high. Milford reduced the deficit with a second penalty from Barnett but they never really looked like scoring a try as the home defence was very solid and they held out for a win that was very well deserved with a fine all round team performance with Cardigan better than their opponents in most departments.

The back row trio were outstanding, young stand off Jones produced a mature display at ten and confirmed that he has what is takes for the big match occasion whilst alongside him centre and man of the match Castle had probably his best ever game for Cardigan.

This was though very much an all round team show and both players and supporters will be eagerly awaiting the draw for the semi finals which will be drawn tomorrow.

Cardigan join Caerphilly,Cilfynnydd and Amman United in the semi finals.

Post match interview with man of the match Marcus Castle and captain Llyr Griffiths.