Spirited show sees Crymych secure championship joy

IT was celebration time for Crymych with a 23-10 win againsttitle rivals Mumbles at Underhill Park enough to secure the divisionthree west championship.

The Preselimen have made steady progress since becoming full WRUmembers in 1995 and further improvement could be in the offing.

After the most momentous day in the club's history, delightedsecretary Gordon Eynon said: "It has been a superb effort, withcoaches Lyn Williams and Elgan Vittle doing a great job. What isespecially pleasing is that 11 regular players are under 21 whichaugurs well for the future."

Crymych are now aiming to go through the season with a 100 percent record -- their remaining games are against Penclawdd (away)and Gorseinon (home).

The character prevalent in the side this term was typified nearthe end at Underhill Park as the visitors defended with 13 men afterreplacement flanker Tommy Jones and full-back Dyfan Dafydd were sin-binned.

Centre Ianto Griffiths opened Crymych's account with a penaltyand converted a try by wing Nick Bevan after a break by scrum-halfRhodri Davies.

Mumbles replied with a penalty, but the score was cancelled outby a second successful kick by Griffiths.

Fly-half Gareth Davies dropped a goal for the visitors early inthe second period, but a converted try put the Swansea side rightback in contention.

As the 13 men held out, a breakaway saw Nick Bevan kick ahead andRhodri Davies won the race for the touchdown. Griffiths converted tospark the Crymych celebrations.

With Crymych on the way to division two west they could be passedin the other direction by Newcastle Emlyn, whose survival depends onthe outcome of games involving Aberavon Quins, who are currentlyseven points adrift of the Teifisiders.

A 58-15 defeat in their final outing left the Red and Whites'hopes hanging by a thread, and with Quins still to face fellowstrugglers BP Llandarcy and relegated Pontyberem the trapdoor isajar.

Emlyn were without six regulars at Pandy Park but on a brightnote three players who are still in the youth squad, lock BleddynDavies, scrum-half Michael Jones and centre Gethin Davies, weredrafted in and acquitted themselves well.

The visitors held their own in the scrums but had few answers tothe powerful running of the home backs and conceded four tries inthe final ten minutes.

Flanker Mathew Owen and full-back Leighton McKenna notched uptries for Emlyn, one of which was converted by fly-half Aled Davies,who also landed a penalty.

The fate of Cardigan in the division four west promotion race isalso out of their hands as they prepare for the final game againstnewly-crowned champions Tenby United at King George V playing fieldthis Saturday.

As it stands Dylan Davies and Co are 13 points ahead of AmmanUnited and with their rivals likely to pick up points against bottomclub Cefneithin and lowly Neyland, nothing but outright victoryagainst the Seasiders will suffice.

The Cardis made it 12 victories on the trot as they brushed asidevisitors Trimsaran 48-10 and with a bumper crowd expected for thevisit of Tenby a grandstand finish is on the cards.

Full-back Michael Diggle set the home side on the way with apenalty, before putting backrower Colin Davies over for a try. Thefull-back then went over for a second try before fly-half ArwynWilson intercepted a wayward pass and sprinted in for a third score.

During the second period further tries were scored by scrum-halfTom Turner, wing Rhydian Jenkins and Colin Davies.