Cardigan win at St Davids in Division Three West A but have two players sent off late on

Cardigan overcame a real war of attrition with St Davids as they notched a bonus point win – but it came at a price as The Teifisiders were given two late red cards.

With the wind behind them, a much-improved Saints side took the lead when a long kick downfield from outside half Scott James pressurised the visitors into conceding a penalty that home centre Matty Mcleod goaled.

Mcleod was then wide with a second attempt from 40 metres, but then through some strong carries from No 8 Llyr Griffiths and flanker Osian Rees, The Teifisiders got a foothold and a set move in midfield saw winger Casey Walters surge under the posts after a clever pass from No 10 Llyr Jones. Skipper Emyr Harries converted.

And it was centre Harries himself who added a second try with a strong burst from 20 metres out before again adding the simple extras.

St Davids were then left to rue a period of pressure that saw Cardigan flanker Gareth Clifford yellow carded, and after home No 8 Anthony Davies was held up on the line from a set scrum, No 10 James had a try disallowed for crossing in midfield.

The second half was tight as both packs battled hard, but with 15 minutes left, the visitors went down to 14 men when hooker Luke Palmer-Davies was red-carded for foul play.

But it was still Colin Davies’ side who grabbed the two tries that sealed a bonus point, first a penalty try when the Saints infringed from a close range scrum – before Clifford found himself out wide and barged over in the corner.

But St Davids, for whom hooker Noel Lyons and flanker Andrew Groves stood out, finished on the front foot and after Cardigan second row Sion Phillips also saw red for an off the ball incident, some good handling allowed young winger Luke Brooks to dive over out wide.

St Davids: Rhys Evans, Fraser Watson, Matty McLeod, Gavin Smith, Luke Brooks, Scott James, Rhys Owen Price, Will Davies, Noel Lyons, Dan Murphy, Rhys ‘Loshin’ Price (capt), Gethin Bateman, Andrew Groves, Dafydd Williams, Anthony Davies. Replacements: Zak Morgan, Mathew Bennett, Ben Evans, Jack Dudley.

Cardigan: John Lumb, Ross Hassler, William Delve, Emyr Harries (capt), Casey Walters, Llyr Jones, Tomos Jones, Will Brice, Luke Palmer Davies, Ben Hughes, Sion Phillips, Dean Harries, Gareth Clifford, Osian Rees, Llyr Griffiths. Replacements: Richard Jones, Ifan James, Geraint Fermor, Steffan Crompton, Dafydd Owens.