Division One West:

Whitland 26-13 Crymych

YOUNG winger Ryan Davies inspired Whitland to a derby win over Crymych as he grabbed four tries in atrocious conditions at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn.

The win was Whitland’s first over the Preseli Men since both teams entered the division in the 2013/2014 season, and in truth, The Borderers adapted much better to the adverse weather as Davies struck twice in each half to also a secure a vital winning bonus point.

It was the home side who pressed early on as veteran scrum half Andrew Jenkins set up a number of forward drives, and after prop Jamie Styles made inroads in the Crymych 22, outside half Nice Setaro broke down the blind but his pass to Deian Augustus was behind the winger.

Setaro then had a try disallowed as referee Justin Williams blew for obstruction, and moments later, the No 10 was off target with a long range penalty.

The home pressure continued as Setaro, who turned the Crymych backline frequently in the early stages, put in a grubber kick which away winger Dylan Thomas was forced to take over his own line under pressure from opposite number Davies – but the subsequent five metre scrum came to nothing.

The visitors themselves were guilty of trying to play too much rugby from deep in the difficult conditions, and sure enough, their enterprise ultimately gifted The Borderers the opening try 26 minutes in.

An attack which started in the Crymych 22 saw No 8 Joe Powell surge over the half way line, but with numbers out wide, outside half Rhys Davies’ long pass was intercepted by Whitland namesake Ryan, who raced in for a try that Setaro converted.

And just three minutes later, the same player struck again when a loose ball was picked up by Whitland centre Rhys Schiavone, who drew the cover defence before putting Davies over in the corner for an unconverted score.

But in the closing stages of the half the Preseli Men began to threaten, and No 10 Davies broke down the left wing before being bundled into touch by the cover defence.

Winger Thomas then surged into the Whitland 22, and after the home pack was penalised, Crymych scrum half Luke Rogers kicked the penalty into the corner.

From the resultant line-out, the visitors put together a concerted forward drive which saw flanker Richard Sharpe-Williams touch down. Rogers was off target with the conversion as his team went in 12-5 behind at the break.

The No 9 landed a 25 metre early in the second half to further reduce the deficit – but 48 minutes in, Setaro set up Davies for a hat-trick when his grubber kick was hacked on by the youngster who then won the race to the touch-down. 

However, after Setaro landed the conversion, Crymych struck back immediately when a kick up-field by Tomos Lewis deflected off a Whitland hand into the path of the now on-side Rhys Davies, and the second row then booted ahead himself and flanker Tom Powell chased determinedly before pouncing on the ball to score. Rogers struck the post from out wide.

Trailing 19-13, the Preseli Men began to press and Tom Powell was again in the thick of it has he broke clear down the right, but his pass inside to namesake Joe just failed to go to hand.

With 10 minutes left, the pressure on the home side intensified when centre Connor Edwards was yellow carded, but frustratingly for the visitors, twice they spilt the ball in possession when camped just metres from the try line.

And then with four minutes remaining came the decisive moment, as Crymych centre Carwyn Phillips, broke the first line of defence, only to see the ball spilt in midfield from the resultant attack and Davies, on his home debut, showed great composure to hack the ball from deep towards the try line, before gathering and diving over.

With Setaro off injured, No 9 Jenkins added the extras and sealed a win which takes The Borderers up to ninth and now above the Preseli Men in the table.

“Conditions were terrible but our forwards really stepped up today,” said Whitland head coach Richard Jones.

“There was a real collective desire from the team and it showed.”

Crymych assistant coach Robin Davies added: “We had enough possession and territory to win the game.

“But I think we tried to play too much rugby. They got it right by kicking well and turning us and played the conditions better than we did.”

Whitland: Jonathan Thomas, Ryan Davies, Connor Edwards, Rhys Schiavone, Deian Augustus, Nico Setaro, Andrew Jenkins, Nathan Price, Shane Webster, Jamie Styles, Raff Williams, Ryan Banner, Dewi Williams, Danny Evans, Callum Tree.

Replacements: Adam Davies, Aled Jones, James Thomas, Alan Proctor, Zac France-Miller.

Crymych: Carwyn Jones, Tomos Lewis, Tomos Phillips, Carwyn Phillips, Dylan Thomas, Rhys Davies, Luke Rogers, Ifan James, Aled Harries, Lewis Davies, Gruffudd Howells, Rhys Davies, Richard Sharpe-Williams, Tom Powell, Joe Powell.

Replacements: Gareth Davies, Jason Nicholls, Rhys Richards, Guto Davies, Dion Gibby.