Borderers bag epic win (From Western Telegraph)

Borderers bag epic win

Cross Keys 6 Whitland 12

Four penalties by fly half Daniel Griffiths saw Whitland home to an epic win over Cross Keys at Pandy Park but this was much more than a personal triumph for the Borderers kicker because it showed real raw courage from the entire team against a Keys side which was just as desperate for points. In the first half the Borderers tackling was immense and they were level at 3-3 to show how close things were at half time.

The second half was just as unrelenting but Whitland were able to hold onto their advantage through a frenetic last quarter as skipper Phil Morgan led by example in the tackling stakes, closely followed by Rob Norton, Steve Gerrard and every man in the Whitland team to give them a rare double since they had won by 15-11 at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn.

Griffiths gave Whitland the lead in the eighth minute before opposite number Gethin Worgan replied for Cross Keys. Both missed another chance each and already the Whitland cover, organised by Domenico Setaro, was immense.

Whitland went 9-3 in front as Griffiths found the target after the break - but he and Worgan missed other kicks before Worgan grabbed his second three-pointer.

Griffiths took the Whitland lead back to six points from the kick off and in the last ten minutes Cross Keys tried to use big forwards like Steve Gardner, Chris Perry and Matthew Beader - only to be repelled time and again by a Whitland side which understandably looked shattered at the end - but clearly delighted by another vital win which deservedly hauled them off the foot of the table.

Whitland: Wayne Lewis: Gavin Morris; Domenico Setaro; Mike Buckingham; Lee Butchers: Daniel Griffiths; Andrew Jenkins: Dai Jones; Steve Gerrard; Gareth Williams: Anthony Jakeman; Fakataha Molitika: Rob Norton; Phil Morgan; Randall Williams. Replacements: Rob Phillips; Lee Banfield; Simon Rogers; Dafydd Lewis; Dai Ebsworth; Wayne Higgon; Ricky Davies.