WRU Championship
Newcastle Emlyn 23 Bedlinog 17
Newcastle Emlyn finally bagged the win their recent efforts have deserved when they accounted for Bedlinog at Ddol Wiber.
A huge cheer resounded around the ground when the final whistle was blown to signal their first Championship win of the season and this success was very welcome after a difficult few weeks.
With the strong wind advantage the Emlyn forwards set up camp in the visitors twenty two metre area and with scrum half Mike Jones running matters they showed great composure and patience as they went through a series of drives before Jones himself was driven over by promising prop Lewys Jonathan for the opening try.
Emlyn full back Shaun Leonard then extended the home side’s lead with a well struck penalty on the twenty five minute mark, but the visitors’ defence was proving difficult to break down. On the half hour a lovely break by Mike Jones from the half way line saw him link with Leonard, but the full back was unable to get the scoring pass in to winger Llyr Jones and he was eventually brought down some five metres short of the line.
The next score was not long in coming and from a line out the ball was taken on by the pack through a couple of phases. It was then transferred along the line and Leonard entered at pace and put in a grubber kick behind the defenders. The ball went deep into the in-goal area and it was speedy winger Llyr Jones, returning from injury who won the race for the touchdown for an unconverted try.
Emlyn’s third try came as half time approached and was an absolute gem. Owain Powell, captain for the day, broke through Bedlinog defence and found Andrew Owens in support. The centre made ground and with the cover coming across at him passed the ball back inside to Jones, to score under the posts for Leonard to convert.
After the break it was the hosts turn to defend as Bedlinog used the wind to pin the red and whites back. The work of the home tight five in defence was to be commended as the heavier visitors pack were unable to dominate at either scrum or lineout, as Bleddyn and Emrys Davies alongside Jonathan, Griffiths and Lloyd worked tirelessly to halt drives from rucks and mauls. When Bedlinog did move the ball wider they found the Emlyn back row of Powell, number eight Gareth Thomson, and Osian Davies, excellent scavengers for the loose ball at the tackle. When Powell was replaced with some fifteen minutes to go his replacement Jon Hill was equally effective at turning the ball over at the tackle area.
Bedlinog opened their account after fifty minutes when winger Daniel Davies sold an outrageous dummy to stroll through a huge gap to score under the posts and they added a second try on the hour mark when from a series of rucks in the home twenty two lively visiting hooker Ieuan Morris sold a dummy and he crossed the whitewash.
Another try followed when a visiting scrum drive was halted, but following a series of rucks second row Darryl Rooney crossed for a try converted by Daniel Davies to bring them within three points of the home side.
Fortunately for the hosts Bedlinog elected to run the ball back at Emlyn from the restart and were tackled on their twenty two line. The red and whites were awarded a penalty at the ruck and Leonard stepped up to convert the kick and extend his teams lead to six points. With time running out it was a very relieved home side who were awarded a penalty from the restart which they kicked to touch to bring the game to an exciting conclusion.
Pics by Gethin and Gwilym Vobe.
