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NEWCASTLE EMLYN 52   CARMARTHEN ATHLETIC 5

Emlyn warmed up for their WRU Plate semi-final clash with Penallta this coming Saturday at Loughor RFC’s ground with a seven try victory at Dol Wiber. This win also ensured that they remain hard on the heels of Division One West leaders Kidwelly in their quest for the League title. The last few games of the season promise to be extremely exciting as the red and whites seek a League and Cup double, something never previously achieved by the club.

Emlyn started in a very positive manner and quickly set up camp in the Atheltic half but found themselves up against a very determined defence. The first score came from an unexpected source when Emlyn outside half Rhidian Harries, having seen a number of attacks flounder against the Athletic defence, put in a delicate chip over the oncoming defenders. Emlyn’s chase was excellent and the bouncing ball eluded the Athletic defender allowing centre Viv Jenkins to fall on the ball over the line for the opening try, converted by Shaun Leonard.

Athletic obviously decided that their best tactic was to slow down and disrupt the home side’s possession as much as possible. Unfortunately the excellent refereeing of Dewi Phillips from Aberystwyth ensured that this was not going to happen and Leonard extended Emlyn’s lead with a well struck penalty awarded for the Athletic killing the ball at the ruck.

Emlyn forwards, led by the ever impressive number eight Brynmor Jones, began carrying the ball powerfully in the loose. Their discipline was excellent and the Athletic were forced to defend desperately as wave after wave of Emlyn attacks were launched at their line. It was Jones who initiated the next score when he stole the ball from a maul on the half way line. Three rucks later the ball was transferred quickly along the line for winger Owen Francis to cross for the try, well converted by Leonard.

The next Emlyn score followed shortly after when again following a series of rucks outside half Rhidian Harries attacked the gain line, delayed his pass until the Athletic defence opened up like the Red Sea and put centre Alun Howells over without a hand being laid on him, for Leonard to convert.

The all-important bonus point try came just before half time when from a maul after a lineout, prop Gethin Davies burst through some weak tackling and perfectly timed his pass to captain and hooker Alex Williams who crossed for the home side’s fourth try, converted by Leonard. A feature of the game was the excellent goal kicking of full back Shaun Leonard, with normal kicker Dan Davies injured, Leonard proved to be an able deputy.

With the bonus point safely in the bag, coach Marc Lloyd made a few changes around half time with Teifion Davies coming on for Llyr Jones, Bedwyr Davies for Alex Williams, and Gareth Patterson for Gethin Phillips. Patterson with his driving play in the loose and powerful counter rucking made quite an impact in the second half.

As often happens with such a commanding lead Emlyn went off the boil at the start of the second half and it took until the half hour mark before the game really came alive again. Emlyn did have a couple of opportunities but Teifion Davies was unable to hold on to a pass with the line at his mercy and replacement hooker Bedwyr Davies lost the ball in a tackle short of the line.

With ten minutes to go Emlyn seemed to wake up from their torpor and treated the large crowd to some exhilarating running rugby. Second row Dyfed Morgan, who got through a great deal of hard work in the loose, crossed by the posts after a series of rucks for Leonard to convert.  An excellent series of forward surges then saw the ball passed smoothly along the line for winger Francis to hand his opposite number off and cross for his second try, well converted by Leonard.

Athletic showed commendable spirit to come back at the red and whites and it was fitting that their best player, scrum half Ifan Beynon, crossed for their try after an excellent fifty metre run. This seemed to galvanise the red and whites even further and they came back at the Athletic with a series of powerful runs. Replacement prop Emrys Davies crossed for a try converted by Leonard and in the dying seconds the mobile prop had the ball knocked from his hands with the line at his mercy.

The final whistle came as some relief to the visitors but for the home side it signalled the end of a match where they returned to the form they showed at the beginning of the season. With a mounting injury list it was pleasing to see the strength in depth of the squad with wingers Owen Francis and Teifion Davies making noteable contributions to the game.