Rugby News . . . from PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

 

Pembrokeshire Knock-Out Final:

 

Holders Crymych beat Aberystwyth in KO Cup Final

 

Aberystwyth 18 - Crymych 25

 

Referee: Wayne Davies.

Assistant Referees: Colin Phillips and Jason Ludgate.

Venue: Aberaeron.

 

Crymych completed a  league Division Three (West) championship and Knock Out Cup double as they followed their unbeaten league season with retention of the KO Cup against an Aberystwyth side which started as favourites but which in the final analysis found the Preseli Men too sharp and committed  for them.

But Crymych were pushed all the way by an Aber side which was bigger up front and had pace aplenty behind the scrum but sometimes preferred the battering ram approach when a little more subtlety might have paid dividends. As a result they often encountered a Crymych defence in which every player was totally committed, from full back Dyfan Dafydd through to veteran prop John Davies, and the Preseli men were also sharp in seeking out chances of their own as Rhodri Davies and Ianto Griffiths called the shots at half back.

Great start for Crymych

Aber skipper Iestyn Tudur Jones opted to play into the breeze in the first period and might have regretted that fact within three minutes of the start because Crymych found a platform at a scrum in the Aber 22 and skipper Simon James picked up from his No 8 berth and linked with Rhodri Davies in sending winger Guto Griffiths over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Aber were level after just eight minutes when they launched a counter from which Llywarch ap Myrddin set up the chance for winger Rhodri Richards to score in the left corner. Jamie Rees missed the conversion and went close from a powerful surge but made amends after 14 minutes when Crymych were marched back 10 metres by ref Wayne Jones and Rees notched the resulting penalty.

Back came Crymych for Ianto Griffiths to notch a left-foot penalty midway through the period and after making a hash of a dropped goal attempt the young fly half kicked his side into the left corner to put pressure on Aber. It paid off because a concerted drive involving John Davies, Jason Nicholls, Cennydd James and Rhys Davies saw hooker Trystan Griffiths crash through to score a try which Ianto Griffiths did well to convert.

A real battle in the second half

Crymych had Cennydd James yellow-carded from the final move of the half but the Preseli Men were good value for a 15-8 lead – and Aber were rocked back on their heels soon after the resumption as they had Llywarch ap Myrddin and Rhodri Richards placed in the sin-bin within two minutes of each other.

During their absence Crymych added another try as skipper James powered through as reward for his industry alongside Tom Powell and Richard Sharpe-Williams – but Aber refused to submit and responded with a try from prop Prys Lewis which Jason Rees converted.

It set up a tense period where Aber desperately sought another try but co-coach Elgan Vittle and Steffan Phillips tackled well alongside Trystan Griffiths and the rest of the Crymych team to keep them out in the left corner over a sustained period of pressure. The Preseli Men also had Sharpe-Williams sin-binned but by then they had grabbed another try from a lineout drive where John Davies emerged from a pile of bodies to claim an unconverted try.

Jason Rees did manage a penalty which cut the lead to seven points but Crymych were never going to surrender that advantage and the final whistle saw them as worthy winners – and able to celebrate victory in real style!

Aberystwyth: Sion Summers; Rhodri Richards; Bryn Evans; Jason Rees; Richard Read; Llywarch ap Myrddin; Ifan Thomas; Prys Lewis; Eifion Jones; Geraint Rowlands; Dafydd Evans; Iestyn Tudor Jones (Capt); Lee Gower; Gareth Flynn; Llewelyn Evans. Replacements: Tom Evans; Rhydian Harries; Rhys Jones; Steffan Nutting; Gethin Hughes; Deiniol Evans; Matthew Green.

Crymych: Dyfan Dafydd; Nick Bevan; Steffan Phillips; Elgan Vittle; Guto Griffiths; Ianto Griffiths; Rhodri Davies; Jason Nicholls; Trystan Griffiths; John Davies; Rhys Davies; Cennydd James; Richard Sharpe-Williams; Tom Powell; Simon James (Capt). Replacements: Josh Clarke; Rhys Richards; Griffith Howells; Dylan Harries; Martin Edwards; Iwan James; Gavin Thomas.

 

PHOTOS: Above, top to bottom.

Delighted winners Crymych.
Crymych skipper Simon James holds the cup aloft.

Runners-up Aberystwyth.
Referee Wayne Davies (centre), Jason Ludgate and Colin Phillips.
Man of the match Ianto Griffiths with sponsor Huw Hughes.

Crymych coaches Elgan Vittle and Lyn Williams are definitely pleased!

Pictures taken by Bill Carne of Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk