Whitland 13 Crymych 13

Division One sides Whitland and Crymych, who had drawn each other in the Welsh Cup, played the game last Saturday at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn.

With the strong wind at their backs, Crymych made the perfect start where from the kick-off, Whitland forwards were guilty of not releasing and Rhys Davies kicked the resulting penalty. Just three minutes later, a good break and linking play by Whitland backs and forwards took play into the opposition 22 where they won a penalty for off-side. Nico Setaro kicked the penalty to take the score to three-all.

Both sides missed a difficult penalty each before good work against the wind from the Whitland forwards, keeping the ball tight and dominating the smaller Crymych pack, drove to within five metres of the try line. Tight head prop Alan Proctor got his hands on the ball and drove over the line to score the first try of the game on 20 minutes. Nico Setaro missed the conversion.

Using the wind to their advantage, Crymych kept the ball deep in the Whitland half, gaining a line out on the home five metre line, winning the throw and moving the ball quickly along the backs. Mike Georgiou, the Whitland inside centre, was guilty of pulling back off the ball for which he received a yellow card and Crymych were awarded a penalty for Rhys Davies to put over. Minutes later, Crymych were awarded another penalty for a high tackle on the half-way line. This time, Davies missed the long range kick.

The half-time score was 8-6 to the home side.

Playing with the wind in the second half, Whitland started well with the forwards turning over a ruck ball and quickly getting the ball to their best back, left wing Duncan Evans, to score score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

The impressive Crymych back line, where Rhys Davies at nine and Gavin Thomas at 15 were exceptional, ran the ball at every opportunity, and after electing to run a penalty in the Whitland 22, they were unlucky not to score, the ball having been judged as held up over the line.

Crymych by this time were looking the better side and from another five metre scrum, they firstly attacked blind before switching the ball back to the open side for Gavin Thomas to score under the posts. Rhys Davies added the extras to take the score to 13-all.

With their tails up, Crymych threw everything at Whitland. With pressure beginning to tell, the large Crymych contingent in the crowd began to sense another score. Indeed, it was only last ditch defending and a good clearance kick from Nico Setaro that kept the visitors from scoring another try.

The Whitland forwards decided to keep it tight with good control. The pack carrying phase after phase meant the Crymych backs spent the final seven minutes defending, keeping the home side out and earning a credible draw, but going out of the cup as Whitland go through to the next round by virtue of scoring two tries to one.

Both sets of coaches felt that their team did enough to have won the game outright and will be confident their team will come out on top when the two side meet in the first league game at Crymych on December 28, as will both sets of the large partisan crowd who will have pencilled that game in as part of their Christmas festivities!

Whitland Youth

The Whitland Youth Welsh Cup game against Aberdare last Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. It is now due to played at the park in Whitland tomorrow (Saturday, November 2) at 2.30 pm. Whitland Youth would be grateful for your support.