Crymych 22
Milford Haven 6

Crymych picked up the Pembrokeshire Knockout Cup for the first time in their history, fending off a concerted challenge from a Milford Haven side which played a big part in producing an excellent final.

Both teams were clearly intent on victory and there was no shortage of commitment from either side.

Crymych were ultimately successful because they took their chances when it mattered, scoring three very good tries, and defending really well when Milford had long periods of pressure.

They managed to lead 8-6 at the interval when the Mariners could well have been comfortably ahead.

Crymych had the first chance to score, but Ianto Griffiths missed a penalty before they opened their account in the fifth minute. Flanker Tomos Jones joined forces with full back Carwyn Jones on the left and player/coach Elgan Vittle rounded off the move with a little shimmy and hand-off on his way to an unconverted try.

The Mariners responded after good work by the front row of Mike Cockburn, Chris Spillane and Gareth Jones earned a penalty for full back Leigh Broome to claim three points.

Crymych replied soon after however with a Ianto Griffiths penalty on 22 minutes.

Milford then got on top for the final 18 minutes of the half as pacy winger Craig Thomas twice went close in the right corner after clever chips into space by pivot Jim Farr.

When the Preseli Men had former Welsh prop John Davies sin-binned the Mariners spent long periods near their opponents’ line, but they failed to break open the obdurate Crymych defence and all they had to show for so much effort was a second Broome penalty. They might still have led at the interval after being awarded a penalty, but instead of taking the kick they opted for a scrum five, which came to nothing.

Crymych made a bright start to the second period as they brought on fresh legs up front in Jason Nicholls and Andrew Phillips. The Preseli Men then scored a cracking solo try after 53 minutes when talented young scrum half Rhodri Davies received the ball just outside the 22 and his arcing run took him to the posts for Ianto Griffiths to add the extra points.

Guto Griffiths also went close with a pacy run down the right, but he was halted just short of the line. Number eight Simon James also had a good chance from a push-over attempt, but knocked on at a vital time.

At the other end Broome just missed a penalty as Milford refused to submit.

Crymych again went close from a Tomos Jones surge and eventually set the seal on their victory late on when centre Nick Bevan pounced for an opportunist try after Milford tried to break out of defence and the ball went loose. Ianto Griffiths converted.

The last try was the icing on the cake for Crymych and it was appropriate that they received the silverware from Pembrokeshire and District Rugby Union chairman Gordon Eynon, who is also Crymych’s club secretary. He congratulated both teams on a cracking final and the Preseli Men were thrilled to receive the knockout cup for the first time.

Despite the disappointment, Milford Haven can take considerable consolation from the fact that they played really well against a team that is a section above them in the league set-up.

Coaches Alan McClelland and Larry Spillane will also be pleased with the performances of the talented young players, with 19-year-old Rhys Thompson taking the man of the match award, supported well by second row partner Aidan Laxton, Gareth Fawcett, Ben Johnson and Mark Wonnacott.

Crymych: Carwyn Jones; Guto Griffiths; Nick Bevan; Elgan Vittle; Andrew Thomas: Ianto Griffiths; Rhodri Davies: Robert Davies; Owain Richards; John Davies: Cennydd James; Mark Oakman: Richard Sharpe-Williams; Tomos Jones; Simon James. Replacements: Martin Edwards; Jason Nicholls; Andrew Phillips; Rhys Davies; Iwan James; Dyfan Dafydd; Eurig Davies.

Milford Haven: Leigh Broome: Craig Thomas; Wayne Sprowell; Dean Matthews; Lee Riley: Jim Farr; Tom Arnold: Mike Cockburn; Chris Spillane; Gareth Jones: Rhys Thompson; Aidan Laxton: Gareth Fawcett; Ben Johnson; Mark Wonnacott. Replacements: Scott Walters; Mark Russell; Andrew Ling; Paul Evans; Rhys Holmes; Ioan Dolling; Tom Bullivant.

Referee: Mark Davies. Touch judges: Tony Pratt and Adrian Lewis.

Ball sponsors and the man of the match trophy providers were HNO Hughes and Associates.

Before kick off a minute’s silence was observed in memory of well-known former rugby players Andrew John and Gwynfor Howells.