Having not played Cardigan for many a season, it was almost like new territory for Laugharne. Cardigan won the toss and decided to play with the advantage of the stiff breeze going diagonally into the left hand corner. From the kick off the early exchanges were torrid with both packs trying to out muscle each other and both sets of backs probing, but perhaps Cardigan showing more prudence by kicking sensibly into the corners to put Laugharne on the back foot. It took a good 10 minutes for the first score which was taken by Cardigan skipper and No.8 C. Davies with a penalty from the Laugharne 10m line for not binding in the scrum. Laugharne fly half Ross Harries restarted the game but once again, Laugharne found themselves back in their own half with Cardigan kicking cleverly over the top of the advancing Laugharne backs. Cardigan were beginning to gain the upper hand up front and thus prevented the potent Laugharne backs having any meaningful possession and more often than not were left tackling the beefy Cardigan back row who were picking up from the base of the scrum and running into the heart of the Laugharne midfield. However, they did not bargain on the heroic efforts of Laugharne No.8 John Bowen and flankers Chris McIlwrick and Kevin Pearce who put their bodies on the line to thwart promising Cardigan movements. However, Cardigan were duly rewarded for their efforts with a 2nd penalty by No.8 Davies in the 20th minute for Laugharne killing the ball under their own posts. Davies repeated the medicine in the 30th minute with his 3rd penalty from 35m for a Laugharne player holding on to possession in the tackle.

 Laugharne were still doing well to keep the score to within 9pts against the breeze and just before half time they opened their own account with a `gem` of a try to silence the vociferous local Cardigan support. From a scrum just outside the Cardigan 22, Laugharne scrumhalf Adam Davies darted around the blind side and hared towards the Cardigan tryline. With the fullback to beat he drew his man to perfection with a timed pass into the hands of wing Mark Stephenson who needed no second opportunity to score in the corner and bring the half time score to 9pts-5pts in Cardigan`s favour.

Cardigan restarted the 2nd half and again posed questions of the Laugharne defence by kicking astutely sometimes for position and sometimes to keep Laugharne guessing. Despite playing against the wind, the Cardigan eight had `their tails up` as they sought to use their weight advantage to keep Laugharne penned in their own 22. No.8 Bowen kept them at bay by picking up the ball and securing possession as the scrum in front of him disintegrated. Scrum half Davies and half back partner Harries played their part by clearing their lines when the need arose, but back came Cardigan at every opportunity. After this sustained pressure, Laugharne pressed the panic button as they shipped desperate passes to each other. After a further series of scrums the Laugharne defence was stretched sufficiently for fullback D.Evans to squeeze over half way out for Cardigan`s solitary try, which was duly converted by No.8 Davies.

20 minutes into the half and No.8 Davies heaped more problems on Laugharne with another fine effort from the 10m line for a Laugharne player being penalised for questioning and back chatting the referee. Laugharne eventually put their house in order and began to play a more expansive game with them beginning to get a fairer share of the ball. They worked their way into the Cardigan 22 and with centres Deian and Nick Thomas probing and keeping possession it allowed the Laugharne forwards led by lock Phil Brown to push forward. They won a penalty which flyhalf Harries kicked to touch and from a set move from the lineout, jumper McIlwrick passed to No.8 Bowen on the charge around the front of the lineout. He was finally stopped by some desperate last ditch tackling but from the ensuing ruck with Cardigan interfering with the ball and player with the line at Laugharne`s mercy, the referee went straight to the Cardigan posts to award the penalty try. Fullback Chambers made no mistake with the straight forward conversion to close the gap to within 7pts and give Laugharne a crucial losing bonus point. Cardigan had one final chance to deny Laugharne their point when the accuracy of ace kicker Davies finally deserted him as his penalty attempt sailed wide and then to close the game at 19pts-12pts in Cardigan`s favour. Laugharne have an opportunity to make amends when they entertain Cardigan at home in the final match of the season on Saturday May 3rd.

 

Next week Laugharne entertain Amman United at Wooford field, k.o 2-30pm

 

Alun Jenkins Team Manager Laugharne R.F.C.