FISTS FLY IN CUP BRAWL

WRU Bowl

Cardigan 8 Nantgaredig 29

Some of the worst scenes of violence ever witnessed at the King George field caused a number of supporters to leave the Gollop Stand early on Saturday as both teams went at it in a series of nasty punch ups. Writes Andrew Clarke.

The official in charge was forced to stand back and blow hard on his whistle as fighting took place in front of the stand and the only thing missing was some spaghetti western music playing over the tannoy.

This cup game which was sponsored by the Cardigan junior section was eagerly awaited especially as the visitors were coached by former Cardigan back rower Derek Thomas but there were no winners on this occasion. The crowd which included several junior players and their mums and dads were left stunned.

Play was stopped on five separate occasions as fighting broke out and the referee could do little to stop it. The man in charge Mr Rhodri Morgans flashed a few yellow cards but he should have brandished a few reds as several players should have been sent packing regardless of the mass nature of the brawling.

On the rugby front there was very little to cheer for the home side as they gifted the opposition three very soft tries, two of these from interceptions and Nantgaredig were worth their victory as they showed more attacking intent although Cardigan were missing several key players in their back line.

It was the Cardi’s who opened the scoring when outside half Iwan John slotted over a penalty after just three minutes but this lead did not last long as the visitors responded with a try following a break from centre Bleddyn Williams who walked through the Cardigan defence before spreading the ball wide to right winger Gethin Davies.

The Carmarthenshire team increased their lead soon afterwards when a looping pass from centre Alun Williams held up in the swirling wind and was intercepted by winger Davies in his own twenty two metre area and he raced in for his second try. This was converted by fly half Dafydd Lewis to make the score 12-3 at the break.

Nantgaredig crossed for their third try of the game just a minute into the second half when Davies intercepted another poor Cardigan pass with home centre Llyr Jones the unlucky player on this occasion and Davies raced in unopposed for a hat trick.This was also converted by Lewis to all but kill the game especially with the visitors enjoying such a huge wind advantage.

Centre Gethin Dyer rubbed further salt into the home wounds when he sliced through for a well taken try on the hour but Cardigan to their credit came back strongly and were rewarded with a consolation try from replacement Kieran Hurley.

It was Nantgaredig though who had the final say when left winger Rhys Edwards crossed the whitewash out wide to complete the scoring at 29-8.

A thoroughly disappointing afternoon for a Cardigan side that missed the cutting edge of centre Marcus Castle and full back and skipper John Lumb and centre Emyr Harries who was forced to leave the action early with a hand injury.

However the visitors must have thought it was Christmas with all the points they were gifted although there was a marked absence of goodwill to all men!