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NEWCASTLE EMLYN 2NDS      5      LLANDYBIE    20

Emlyn gave Llandybie a good welcome after making the long journey to play their Second fifteen who had been struggling to get matches.

Llandybie arrived with a bare fifteen but still put out a good side.  A penalty early on for the visitors was missed but another soon after was slotted by Chris Powell. Llandybie kept Emlyn pegged in their own half for long periods with their pack outstanding. The scrum for Llandybie was dominant with front row of Dai Lloyd, Rhys Cann and Matthew Meredith in control. Scrum half Richard Davies was very vocal with his instructions to the pack and they responded superbly. The visitors won a lot of ball at the line outs with Layton Davies and Merlyn McClelland in particular stealing a lot of the home throws.

Fifteen minutes in a good drive from the pack gave the backs the room and with winger Ben Featherstone dragging the cover wide gave centre Aled Tommason space to dummy inside to score, Powell converting. Emlyn missed a kickable penalty in front of the posts. The tackling with Llandybie was of the highest standard and although put under pressure at times didn’t take a backward step. Some late probing by the home team could not find a way through the Llandybie defence. Hooker Rhys Cann took a pass from scrum half Davies to charge thirty yards with the home full back making a good tackle. Another passage of play by Llandybie, kept recycling the ball to put it wide and with flanker Shon Davies again pulling the cover out to the wing Ben Featherstone had the strength to cut inside to score . Llandybie led 15 – 0 at half time.

The second half saw Newcastle Emlyn start with a head of stream and Llandybie were lacklustre for a ten minute spell which saw the home team grab a try wide out.  Llandybie captain  Rhydian Jones rallied his troops and again kept the visitors going forward with some fine carries. Flanker Dan Brooks , normally a hooker made a lot of good tackles. Centre Johnny Harris returning after three injury plagued seasons, swerved outside the cover to find  three forwards outside him. Shon Davies to Rhydian Jones and hooker Cann outside to sprint fifteen yards to  slide home to score.  The pitch by now was cutting up badly after the incessant rain but the home side never gave up. Llandybie from one to fifteen gave their best team performance of the season. Outstanding for Llandybie in the line out and in the loose was Merlyn McClelland. Llandybie ran out winners by 20 points to 5.