Division 3 west A
Cardigan 46 Neyland 15
The Gollop Stand faithful were treated to a feast of tries as Cardigan ran amok against the Pembrokeshire All Blacks to rack up their third success of the campaign.
Wins have been hard to come by for this very young Cardi team but coach Tudor Harries has kept faith with the new kids on the block and their work in training is shining through and their confidence levels are increasing. Some of the tries scored were outstanding and given time this team will get better. Making a welcome return to the fold after a long absence were two former captains in Dylan Rambo Davies and Llyr Griffiths and they were given a run out in the final quarter. If Cardigan could field these type of rugged forwards every week they would be much higher up the division as their young players would benefit hugely from their experience and ball carrying ability.
The visitors who like their opponents have enjoyed a mixed season to date were well off the pace from the outset and Cardigan created several scoring opportunities as they dominated possession but some sloppy passing cost them dearly with overlaps squandered. One of these came following a superb break by second row Toby Neilson-Dry and loose head Will Brice and the second from a fine run by veteran tight head Andrew Fletcher, who later in the game ran fifty metres to put in a try saving tackle.
However the hosts eventually broke the deadlock when full back Llyr Jones slotted over a penalty from just inside the Neyland half and this was followed up by a splendid try from winger Ceryth Griffiths after a great burst and pass from Jones. Skipper and number eight Tom Taylor broke from the base of a scrum to run in the second try following a long period of pressure and the conversion from Jones put the Cardi’s 15-0 ahead.
The visitors hit back with a try from loose head Chad Monk before Cardigan increased their lead when Taylor and full back Jones combined to put winger Griffiths over to make it 25-5 at the break. Cardigan though should have been out of sight at this point as they butchered several decent chances which only needed a simple pass on the outside.
Impressive young centre Kieran Greenland burst through to score the first try of the second half following a fine break by hooker Ben Cox which was again converted by Jones and the latter bagged his second try of the game soon after when he was set up by his captain Taylor and at 39-5 it would have been easy for Neyland to throw in the towel. However the visitors worked their way back into the game and threatened the home line on several occasions and they were eventually rewarded when full back Henry McBeth crossed for a try and this was followed up by a third touchdown when outside half Shane Phillips waltzed his way over.
It was Cardigan though who enjoyed the final word when Llyr Jones completed a fine performance with a try under the posts which was unseen by many as there was a huge dust up taking place on the half way line, sparked off by a cheap shot thrown by the young Neyland scrum half. Jones added the conversion to complete the scoring at 46-15.
A welcome win for this young team and they have a chance to end the season on a high with Llangwm next up this weekend and a chance for Taylor and co to get their own back after losing at Pill Parks earlier in the season. Two weeks later Cardigan travel to play bottom side St David’s and maybe an opportunity to make it three on the bounce.
A minute silence was held before this game in memory of former club captain Bobby Bird who passed away last week. Bob was a second row for Cardigan in the late sixties and early seventies and he would have been pleased to see his former team put one over a club he regularly did battle with many years ago in the old Pembrokeshire League.
