Crymych cause cup upset (From Western Telegraph)

Crymych cause cup upset

Pembrokeshire Knock-out Cup quarter final Crymych 25 Haverfordwest 12 Two opportunist tries by powerful centre Emyr Williams helped Crymych move to within one step of a second successive KO Cup Final as they came back from an early seven-point deficit to beat Haverfordwest.

Crymych started the match as underdogs but took their chances well as Haverfordwest squandered theirs, and their reward is a semi-final tussle away to Neyland.

But it was Haverfordwest who made the early running with the breeze at their backs. Hooker Gareth Green twice featured in a move on the left alongside skipper Matthew Lewis before bustling flanker Rob Norton reached the line and full back Mike Venables added the extra points.

The Blues had other platforms from which to launch attacks but they took the wrong options or spilled the ball as Crymych covered well via Andrew Morris, Cennydd James and Richard Llewellyn, with Eurfyl Davies anchoring the scrum alongside Gareth and Robert Davies.

The Preseli Men managed a to gain a foothold in Haverfordwest territory from which centre Williams pounced for his first try.

There seemed little danger as a long pass went to ground but Williams hacked the ball forward and won the race for the touch-down as he made his physical presence count.

He added his second try after 36 minutes when Gareth Bryan and Matthew Hill made just enough space on the right flank and he waltzed past Matthew Davies and Mike Venables on a strong run to the line, rounding things off at the posts so that Gareth Davies could add the extra points.

Haverfordwest attacked again before the break when Marc Jones brushed through a tackle and sent Gareth Green and Norton away again. But on this occasion the Crymych cover held up well through Eurig Davies and Dan Phillips.

The Preseli Men went further ahead right on the break as Williams showed his kicking prowess, launching a 35 metre penalty between the sticks to give his side a 15-7 interval lead.

Crymych continued to take the initiative after the break as Robin Davies (junior) and Rhys Richards were regular ball-winners, despite the lineout expertise of Blues skipper Matthew Lewis.

They added a third try within minutes of the restart as Robin Davies (junior) put Matthew Hill away and the Crymych captain sped up the left flank before slipping the scoring pass to winger Andrew Thomas, Williams adding the conversion.

This further reverse seemed to sting the Blues into raising the tempo because the got right on top in terms of territory, scoring a try into the elements after Matthew Davies was just denied from a charge-down and chase to the line.

But from the resulting scrum the visitors scored an unconverted try when play was spread right and Marc Jones received the scoring pass from Andrew Thicker.

In this dominant patch they could have added three more tries as Darren Salmon, Ceri Jones and Mike Venables all spilled difficult chances near the home line.

But Crymych covered well and a Dan Phillips interception put them back on the attack for Gareth Davies to drop a goal which set the seal on an excellent win for the Preseli Men.

Coaches Glyndwr Richards, Robin Davies and Llanellis John Davies (helping out with the pack) delighted by an excellent win.