Division 1 west
Aberystwyth 19 Crymych 15
A late try from Aberystwyth winger Ian Ellis in the dying minutes denied Crymych a win on the road but skipper Rhys Davies and his men can count themselves very unlucky as they played well.
The Preselimen appeared to have done just enough to return home with the bragging rights as they were ahead with just a few minutes to go of this hard fought local derby match but Ellis used his pace to deny the Pembrokeshire side right at the death.
Crymych made a superb start and went ahead early when after putting the home side under a great deal of pressure they were awarded a penalty five meters from the home try line and number eight Osian Davies was given a chariot ride to the try line and duly did the honours. Ifan Phillips added the extras and he and his side were well worth their lead.
Aber came storming back through the likes of Lee Gower, Llyr Thomas and Bryn Shepherd and they came very close to scoring their opening try from a five metre lineout but Crymych defended well and launched a counter attack to ease the pressure on their line.
Crymych went further ahead when a cross field kick from Phillips was collected by flying left winger Laurence Headlam and he raced over to score his team’s second try. Phillips missed the conversion but his team looked good for their twelve point lead.
The Plascrug men bounced back on the half hour mark when from some quick ruck ball stand off Steff Rees found full-back Matthew Hughes on the burst near the touchline and he went over for the hosts opening score.
Aber maintained this momentum and the back row of Dan Binks, Lee Gower and Tom ‘Kenko’ Evans were very influential at the breakdown and another try followed from a turnover when new scrum-half Dylan Morgan scampered his way over and the conversion by Rees levelled the scores at 12-12.
There was little to choose between the teams after the break as both sides made some fine individual breaks but it was the visitors who were next to score when Phillips slotted over a penalty from just outside the 22 metre area albeit off an upright and Crymych were ahead once again.
With just a few minutes to go and the pressure cranking up, the seasiders launched several attacks from deep with flanker Paul Stubbs and Arwel Lloyd prominent and the ball was eventually passed out for Ian Ellis to use his pace to go over for a match winning try. Fly half Rees then upgraded this score with the conversion to complete a 19-15 success.
Pics by Mike Binks.
