CARDIGAN DOWNED BY ALL BLACKS

Division 3 west

Cardigan 20 Neyland 25

The Pembrokeshire All Blacks eventually clinched the honours in this very entertaining game but the outcome was in the balance right up until the dying minutes with both teams in with a chance of victory.

League leaders Neyland who made it four wins from as many starts fully deserved to edge this one as they were the best team overall and their greater fitness levels in the final quarter proved to be a telling factor as Cardigan were forced to defend for long periods and eventually ran out of steam.

The hosts though could not have wished for a better start with a super try in the opening minutes and they could well have been out of sight before the break as they were unlucky with two try scoring opportunities.

Skipper and full back John Lumb crossed for a fantastic individual score after only three minutes when he fielded an up and under near to his own posts and he then weaved his way inside and outside several players before he touched down at the other end. A second try looked on just a few minutes later when left winger Dan Purnell broke the initial tackle and sprinted for the line but his dive for the whitewash was just inches short. Cardigan though added to their score on twenty minutes when powerful number eight Colin Davies picked up from the base of a scrum going forward and dived over for a try.

Stand off Iwan John looked set to pounce for try number three minutes later when he broke into the twenty two with the try line at his mercy and support inside him, but a superb ankle tap put paid to the attack as he hit the deck.

Neyland stormed back and piled on the pressure and they were eventually rewarded when Gavin Campbell sneaked over following good work by his colleagues in the pack. Cardigan responded when they added three more points with a penalty from fly half John but Neyland kept their composure and crossed for a second try when winger Delme Bateman took advantage of some very sloppy defending to dive over in the corner to make it 13-10 at the break.

The visitors seemed to get stronger as the game progressed and spent most of the second half camped deep in Cardigan territory and they kicked intelligently into the corners and kept the hosts pegged back and a third try eventually followed. Winger Henry Macbeth was the scorer and he put his team 15-13 up after the Cardi’s were turned over at a scrum close to their own line.

Another defensive lapse cost Cardigan a fourth try soon afterwards when from a breakaway from half way and a chip ahead the ball was allowed to bounce when it should have been claimed and scrum half George Evans helped himself to a simple touch down.

Cardigan looked dead and buried at this stage but to their credit they dusted themselves down and hit back with an interception try by Llyr Jones and the conversion from John set up a tense final few minutes with the score at 20-22 in favour of the visitors.

However a late penalty from Patrick Bellerby, who made amends for several he had missed earlier in the game, put his team 25-20 ahead and sealed a well deserved success. This was though a home performance warmly received by the Gollop Stand faithful who were able to see some of the good work being carried out by the coaching team of Colin Davies, Iwan ‘Blaenwaun’ Davies and Neil Morris.

Cardigan head coach Colin Davies told Sportsline that he had been disappointed with the way his side fell away towards the end of the game but there were plenty of positives and added:

“We were a bit sloppy and careless at times and conceded some soft tries but we were also unlucky with several other chances which on another day we could well have scored.

“ I was pleased with a lot that we did and I feel that we are going in the right direction and we will continue to try and play some positive rugby.”

Davies was a very influential figure in the pack as was blind side Tom Taylor who carried well and hooker Will Brice who has switched from loose head, whilst second row Dan Evans put in some thunderous hits. Behind Llyr Jones at scrum half enjoyed a fine game and centres Marcus Castle and Emyr Harries had a feisty battle with their All Black counterparts.