Division 3 West A
Cardigan 46 Laugharne 10
Cardigan coach Colin Horscroft had been hoping for a real test in readiness for the WRU Bowl showdown with Amman United in a fortnight but when opponents Laugharne turned up with two men short it was always going to be a walk in the park.
The estuarymen were almost forced to pull out of this fixture as they struggled to get enough players to make a side for the third time this season and the long term future for this respected club must be in some doubt at the moment.
The hosts sportingly provided a couple of players from the second team to boost the visiting ranks but there was only going to be one outcome.
One of the men to put his hand up to play was Cardigan RFC stalwart Charlie Gill at the tender age of 52 and he had no worries in volunteering to take on the likes of Richard Jones, Aled Phillips and Ifan James in the front row as he has seen it all before!
Cardigan with several players needing to put in a big performance to cement a place in the starting line for the semi-final against Amman, came out of the blocks quickly and went ahead when open side Gareth Clifford burst through to score a try and further tries soon followed through full back Alun Jenkins, number eight Colin Davies and two from powerful inside centre Marcus Castle.
Fly half Iestyn Crompton, restored to his natural position, added two conversions
Laugharne managed to cross the white wash late on in the half when flanker Mike Williams sneaked over for a try which was converted by Tom Jameson and he also added a penalty but the hosts were almost out of sight at the interval leading by 24-10.
It was very much one way traffic after the break and the Cardi’s added to their score when hooker Aled Phillips crossed for a try and this was followed by a third from centre Castle before replacement back rower Llyr Griffiths, completed the try rout.
Scrum half Llyr Jones added the extras to complete an easy win for his team and the season double over the cocklemen.
Cardigan are now six points behind division three leaders St Clears but crucially they have two games in hand over the saints. The two teams clash on the first day in April and this could well be a winner takes all affair.
