Cardigan 12.

Crymych 0.

Cardigan came out on top in a cracking local derby against Crymych.

This crunch derby was a credit to division three rugby as both sides showed total commitment, plenty of skill and pace, big hits aplenty and excitement galore for their partisan supporters.

So tight was the margin between these neighbours that the scoresheet was still blank at the interval . It took 63 minutes before Cardigan broke the deadlock with a strike against the head in a scrum and quick hands by Iestyn Crompton, Nathan Murphy and Carwyn Thomas allowed winger Guto Crompton to cross in the corner, although his brother Iestyn was unable to convert.

The second Cardigan score, which sealed the game’s fate, came when Crymych tried to spread play wide and the ball went to ground for Cardigan full-back Phil Leighton to pounce upon. He switched play via Murphy and Thomas for winger Huw Davies to score a try which Iestyn Crompton goaled to set the seal on victory for the Teifisiders.

Yet Crymych could have swung the game in their favour during that first period as they had three attacking scrum fives which came to nought and believed that winger Noam Davey had scored but the referee turned down those claims.

A feature of the match was the No 8 battle between opposing skippers Colin Davies (Cardigan) and Richard Llewellyn, while the front-row play was equally as demanding with neither side would give an inch. The Preseli Men will be disappointed to lose to their closest rivals but the Teifisiders will be boosted by this performance after two successive defeats previously.

Cardigan: Phil Leighton, Huw Davies, Nathan Murphy, Carwyn Thomas, Guto Crompton, Iestyn Crompton, Mike Diggle, Owen Evans, Nigel Kurish, Dai Jones, Matthew James, Dylan Davies, Marcus Heighton, Gonzales Lucena, Colin Davies (Capt). Replacements: Richard Jones, Barry Davies, Rob Connolly, Jack Lynch.

Crymych: Eurig Davies, Osian Griffiths, Martin Jones, Carwyn Phillips, Noam Davey, Gareth Davies, Huw Rees, Jason Nicholls, Trystan Griffiths, John Davies, Cennydd James, Rhys Richards, Andrew Phillips, Mark Beasley, Richard Llewellyn (Capt). Replacements: Martin Edwards, Robert Davies, Iwan James, Carwyn Lawrence.