Cardigan 22.
Pwllheli 21.
A last-gasp penalty from outside half Iestyn Crompton sent Cardigan into the draw for round three as won by a single point and sent Pwllheli on the long trek back to north Wales with nothing to show for their efforts.
Yet such a close contest seemed unlikely early in the second period as the Teifisiders led 19-7 and were looking good value for victory. But they eased off the accelerator and almost paid the price as Pwllheli fought back with two converted tries which took them ahead before Iestyn Crompton’s timely late intervention.
Cardigan made a positive start as their pack played well with the wind at their backs. Robert Davies put them on the attack with a raking kick which saw Pwllheli fail to clear. Quick hands from Jack Lynch and Jack Griffiths allowed Iestyn Crompton to put brother Guto in and add the extra points with a well-judged conversion.
But Pwllheli used their big forwards to good effect. When they spread play wide it led to a try from left winger David Roberts which fellow winger Elgan Rowlands converted.
Back came Cardigan, however, for Guto Crompton to score his second try following a well rehearsed blind side move where No 8 Dylan Roberts and scrum half Aled Phillips combined to give him the space. Brother Iestyn was unable to add the extras on this occasion.
Leading by 12-7 at the halfway stage, Cardigan made a good start to the second half as Jack Lynch set up a ruck from which Dylan Roberts and Gonzalo Lucena set up the try for replacement Mike Diggle, on for Guto Crompton, with Iestyn Crompton converting.
The Teifisiders had chances to kill the game off but failed to turn pressure into points and were punished as the North Walians hit back with tries from centre Rhys Hawkins and outside half Rob Davies.
Both were converted by Rowlands and the second kick nudged Pwllheli into the lead for the first time.
It looked as if Cardigan would bow out, but in the second minute of added time at the end of the game they earned a penalty some 25 metres out and 15 metres in from touch.
Iestyn Crompton kept his nerve to slot the all-important three-pointer unerringly between the uprights to secure Cardigan’s success.
Cardigan: Arwyn Wilson, Robert Davies, Jack Griffiths, Jack Lynch, Guto Crompton, Iestyn Crompton, Aled Phillips, Richard Jones, Owen Jones, Dai Jones, Dylan Davies, Matthew James, Colin Davies (Capt), Gonzales Lucena, Dylan Roberts. Replacements: Stuart Davies, Rob Connolly, Marcus Heighton, Mike Diggle.
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