PAINFUL BLOW FOR CRYMYCH

Division 1 west

Llanelli Wanderers 46 Crymych 12

Relegation battlers Crymych looked well set at half time against the Wanderers as they were leading by 12-10 but the Preselimen lost their way during an ill tempered second half, not helped by some mystifying refereeing decisions.

The Pembrokeshire side who were still on a high from the previous weekend when they defeated Penallta in the WRU Plate and who had trained well for this game opened their account with a try from number eight Guto Davies, making his first start since late November and they added another try through full back Tomos Phillips which was converted by centre Ifan Phillips.

The hosts hit back with a penalty from Jon George and they crossed for a try just before the break when scrum half Josh Weeds sneaked over for a try converted by George but the visitors had done enough to suggest that there were better things to come in the second half despite having to defend for long periods.

The Preselimen who like to play a quick tempo game were frustrated for long periods of the first half as the hosts played the ref well and managed to slow the ball down but Crymych went in at the break in a confident mood. However their hopes were dashed after they conceded two breakaway tries from winger Lewis Jones and centre Dafydd Daniel and the half deteriorated from then on in with tempers boiling over and the visitors and their supporters getting frustrated as a succession of penalties went against them.

Prop Jason Nicholls took a heavy blow in an off the ball incident which according to some observers was a cheap shot which resulted in a severely swollen eye for the front rower and to add insult to injury he was yellow carded a few minutes later and this sparked a flurry of hand bags shortly afterwards as the official in charge lost his way. Further tries followed through number eight Nick Harries, full back Lloyd Thomas, fly half George and inside half Weeds with George adding three more conversions as the Wanderers finished strongly to complete the victory.

Crymych have now been cut away from the main pack at the foot of the table and are ten points adrift of the nearest team above them in Tycroes but they have a game in hand. Rhys Davies and his men have eight homes games to play and if they can win the bulk of these they still have a chance of staying up although it looks a very tall order. This weekend they entertain Kidwelly at Parc Lloyd Thomas.