CARDIGAN SNEAK NARROW WIN

Division 3 west A

Cardigan 21 Llanybydder 20

Supporters were treated to an exciting local derby affair with the result right in doubt until the final play of the match when Llanybydder were pressing hard for a winning score only to be denied at the death when the ball was knocked on in front of the posts.

This brought a huge sigh of relief from the Gollop Stand faithful as they had watched their side concede a 21-0 lead in the final half hour and if former Cardigan outside half Llyr Tobias had slotted over the final conversion of the match he and his team would have sneaked the verdict.

Tobias had one of those unlucky afternoons that he will long remember as his conversion to win the game bounced back off the woodwork and the same thing happened to him with his attempted conversion of the opening Llanybydder try. To cap it all he also missed one conversion from in front of the posts. On another day he would have probably kicked them all such is the fine margin in sport.

Cardigan who were without influential coach and number eight Colin Davies started well and Emyr Harries slotted over a couple of early penalties to put his team in the driving seat and they added to this with a splendid try when a powerful burst from number eight Tom Taylor saw the ball spun out to Aaron Tompkinson and his superb pass put hooker Luke Palmer Davies away for a try.

Cardigan looked to be running away with the game at this point and especially so when Harries added a monster of a penalty to increase the lead just before the break. Had they taken more of the excellent opportunities that they created they would have built a very big lead.

A second home try followed five minutes into the second half when number eight Taylor burst through on a superb angle to set up Tompkinson for a score out wide and the conversion by Harries put Cardigan almost out of sight at 21-0.

However Llanybydder had other ideas and they came storming back with a try from a forward drive and claimed by skipper Ricky Davies. Tobias missed the conversion but his team added another try two minutes later when the ball squirted out of a scrum on the blind side and scrum half Thomas scampered over to make it 21-10.

Cardigan lost the services of blind side Bedwyr Davies to a yellow card and Llanybydder made the most of their advantage with a third try when Davies powered his way over for his second score to put his team within sight of victory and the sudden quietness in the Gollop Stand reflected the drama unfolding.

Llanybydder added their fourth try late on when Aled Evans barged his way over and Tobias was presented with a golden opportunity to put one over his old club with the conversion. However his well struck effort hit the woodwork and Cardigan were able to breathe again. The visitors however gave it one final shot and just as they were setting themselves up for a score the ball was spilled and the game was over.

This was a tense encounter but a good old fashioned derby match played in great spirit and one that kept the decent crowd on their toes until the final whistle.