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11 January 2015 / Team News

Emyn win exciting local derby

NEWCASTLE EMLYN 29 CRYMYCH 13

What a game and what an occasion! In front of the BBC Scrum V cameras and probably the largest crowd ever seen at Dol Wiber for a League match, Newcastle Emlyn and Crymych served up a veritable feast of rugby in this Division One West match. There was very little between the two sides but the home side seemed to rise to the occasion and thrilled the crowd with some wonderful rugby.  

The Emlyn scrum, which had been given a torrid time down in Crymych, held up very well and gained at least parity, with tight head Gethin Davies anchoring the scrum very well for the home side. The lineouts were a completely different story with Emlyn second row and player coach Arwel Davies having an outstanding match with top quality two handed takes. Along with his second row partner Dyfed Morgan they not only won their ball but stole a number of Crymych throws. Credit must also be given to the accurate throwing in of hooker Alex Williams who again had a fine game carrying the ball in broken play.

Crymych, with their enthusiastic Welsh 7’s coach Gareth Williams back on duty patrolling the touchline with a constant stream of advice, came at Emlyn from the first whistle. Playing with a strong cold wind at their backs a clever kick off caught Emlyn napping and they not only won the ball back but two phases later were awarded a penalty on the Emlyn twenty-two metre line which outside half Sam Phillips converted to open the scoring.

The home side seemed rather confused with referee Dewi Phillips’ interpretation of the tackle area and soon after conceded another penalty enabling Phillips to extend Crymych’s lead. Captain Dai Jones showed his experience by obtaining an explanation from Phillips and ensured that all his players were aware of what the consistent Phillips required them to do. To their credit Emlyn took his advice and only conceded one more penalty at the tackle situation.

Despite being six points down this did not deter the home side and they soon settled into a nice rhythm playing into the strong breeze.

The Emlyn back row of flankers Gareth Patterson and Brynmor Jones, along with number eight Luke Kendall really came into their own carrying the ball strongly at their opponents. With scrum half Owain Powell directing his runners effectively Emlyn managed to make progress down the field. From a maul just inside the Crymych twenty two, full back Shaun Leonard appeared in the outside half position, made a lovely break and linked with centre Alun Howells who looked certain to score until brought down short of the line. From the resulting scrum a back row move nearly saw Brynmor Jones cross by the posts but determined tackling by Crymych kept Emlyn out.

The opening try for the red and whites came after some twenty five minutes from a line out on Crymych’s twenty two metre line. Under pressure from Emlyn jumpers Davies and Morgan, Crymych decided to throw the ball long. Unfortunately for them, Emlyn flanker Patterson caught the ball and needed no second invitation to go charging at their line. He burst through three tackles and as he was brought down short of the line the ball rolled backwards. Crymych were unable to grasp the  rolling ball but quick thinking Emlyn scrum half Owain Powell pounced to pick up the ball and score a try converted by Dan Davies.

Crymych used the wind effectively in gaining territory but were unable to capitalise on their territorial dominance due to the lineout control Emlyn had through Davies and Morgan. Half backs Powell and Rhidian Harries organised the strong running Emlyn forwards very well as the red and whites drove downfield into the wind. From one of these surges just before half time, centre Viv Jenkins fed hooker Alex Williams who was brought down five metres short of the line.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first with Crymych exerting early pressure in the Emlyn half. Unfortunately for them a promising attack broke down in the Emlyn twenty two area. Some quick passing by the Emlyn backs saw the ball transferred to winger Dan Davies who broke through a couple of weak tackles to run some seventy metres for an excellent try which he converted.

Crymych led by their captain centre Elgan Vittle and their excellent number eight Joe Powell were not deterred and came back at Emlyn from the restart. They were awarded a penalty on the ten metre line and elected to kick to touch. From a lineout five metres out they won the ball and had two drives infield and then cleverly switched the ball to the blindside for speedy winger Tom Turner to cross in the corner and run round to the posts to make the conversion for Phillips relatively easy.

Emlyn’s third try came shortly after and was an absolute gem straight from the training ground. Another fine lineout catch by Davies saw the pack drive the ball forward into the Crymych twenty two. The ball was moved out to the backs for Leonard to hit the line at pace between the two centres and cross under the posts for a try converted by Davies.

The game really opened up now with Crymych throwing caution to the wind and running well at Emlyn. Their forwards inter passed well as they strove to break through the Emlyn defence. Well marshalled by centres Jenkins and Howells, Emlyn are proving a very difficult side to score against these days and have the best defensive record in the League. Time and again Crymych’s attacks failed to breach this red and white wall.

The fourth try was probably the best of the game. From a lineout on their own twenty two metre line, another two handed catch by Davies saw the forwards drive the ball up to their ten metre line. With everyone expecting the ball to be moved out to the backs flanker Brynmor Jones burst out of the maul and charged forward. Flying winger Llyr Jones appeared almost from nowhere to support the flanker who perfectly timed his pass to enable Jones to sprint some thirty metres to score in the corner.

Crymych to their credit kept trying to play rugby and kept coming at Emlyn in their efforts to score but by now the red and whites were playing really well and Crymych had difficulty getting out of their own half. The final score of the game came with some five minutes left when Emlyn were awarded a penalty just inside the Crymych half near the touchline. Full back Shaun Leonard stepped up and kicked an excellent forty eight metre penalty goal to round off what was a very impressive performance by the red and whites.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30772901

            

 

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