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16 September 2018 / Team News

Much improved Emlyn suffer injury blows

CARDIFF MET 41 NEWCASTLE EMLYN 29   

Games between these two sides in Cardiff have always been high scoring affairs, and on Saturday both teams served up another feast of attacking rugby. The red and whites performance bore no resemblance to the poor fare they had served up in the previous two games. Emlyn were committed and skilful in everything they did, and thoroughly deserved their try bonus point. The downside for them had to be the injuries they picked up with two players, Llyr Jones and Steffan Evans, ending up in hospital with serious ankle injuries. With the local derby against West Wales rivals Narberth on the horizon the coaches could have done without injuries to these two important three- quarters, along with hard working flanker Luke Hansford and second row Dan Havard.

It said a great deal about the attitude of the Emlyn players that, with only three minutes to go, they had the try bonus point in the bag and were within a penalty goal of picking up a second losing bonus point. This was despite playing for thirty minutes of the second half with number eight Brynmor Jones and replacement flanker Gareth Thomson having to alternate out in the backs due to the injuries picked up at the start of the second half. Unfortunately Emlyn conceded a penalty on their twenty two and Steve Martin converted the kick to leave the visitors needing a try to get within seven points. It nearly came about as the red and whites completed the game attacking the Met line for all their worth.

To their credit this was probably the strongest Met side Emlyn have played, they fielded a massive pack brimming with quality and some big powerful backs. Their key player was undoubtedly their Exeter Chiefs academy product at scrum half, Matt Marsh, who orchestrated matters at pace behind his pack. They opened the scoring after five minutes when Marsh took a quick tap penalty, linked with his forwards and, from the resultant ruck close to the Emlyn line, he put winger Zach Clow over for a try converted by Harry Johnston.

With a strong breeze behind them, Met set up camp in the Emlyn half but found it difficult to breach the Emlyn defence. The Emlyn forwards, led by Brynmor Jones and second row Haydn Baldwin, got stuck into the Met forwards and competed for everything. Their front row of props Emrys and Gethin Davies, along with hooker Lee Griffiths, more than held their own at scrum time and all were active around the field, especially Griffiths who had an excellent match. It took until midway through the half before the home side added to their score and they had to work hard for it. Emlyn managed to stop a driving maul and the students went through a series of rucks until big centre Luke Northmore managed to take a short pass from Marsh and crash over for a try.

From the restart Emlyn pressurised the catcher and were awarded a penalty, which Arthur Lennon converted to open Emlyn’s account. With Steff Evans orchestrating things from outside half Emlyn came far more into the game. Quick ruck ball supplied by the forwards with Dan Havard, Emrys Davies and Brynmor Jones running purposefully in the loose and well supported by flankers Hansford and Callum Evans as they continually stretched the home defence. When Evans decided to break himself he found inside centre Andrew Owens on his shoulder to carry the ball powerfully, and the centre proved to be a continual thorn in the Met defence. It looked to be only a matter of time before the red and whites managed to score a try.

Emlyn won a line out on the half way line and Owens carried the ball hard at the Met defence. The back row ensured the ruck ball was won quickly and transferred to Evans who mesmerised the home defence with a lovely outside break and he found full back Arthur Lennon on his shoulder. With the ball in his hands the full back accelerated away from the defence and crossed for an excellent try which he duly converted.

Unfortunately from the restart Emlyn’s injury jinx struck. Winger Llyr Jones collected the ball and sprinted away downfield, was tackled into touch on the half way line but had his ankle trapped underneath him in the tackle and had to leave the field with a suspected broken leg, to be replaced by Dafydd Evans.

The home side then subjected Emlyn to a period of sustained pressure as they strived for their third try. After a series of drives and rucks, scrum half Marsh spotted a tiny gap in the Emlyn defensive wall and dived over close to a ruck for a try converted by Johnston to extend their lead. Emlyn came back at the home side from the kick off and a series of drives and rucks took them deep into the Met twenty two. Another break by Evans saw him feed Havard and unfortunately the big second row looked inside to pass to his support not realising there was a man free outside him. From the resultant ruck Emlyn were harshly penalised for going over the top and the students were able to clear their lines.

Such was the pace of the game and the willingness of both sides to run the ball from anywhere that it came as no surprise when, on half time, the students crossed for their fourth try - and it was an excellent score. Under intense pressure from the Emlyn defence Met managed to move the ball out wide and full back Tom Benjamin picked up a pass on his toes to cross for a try converted by Johnston.

Half time saw flanker Luke Hansford having to leave the field of play with a groin injury, to be replaced by Gareth Thomson. The first ten minutes of the half proved to be an absolute nightmare for the red and whites as they had to use their three remaining replacements. Prop Gethin Davies left after three minutes to be replaced by Lewys Jonathan, Havard left with a dead leg to be replaced by Osian Davies and finally Steffan Evans was carried from the field with a suspected broken leg to be replaced by hooker, and captain, Alex Williams. The reshuffle meant that Dafydd Evans came into scrum half with the speedier Mike Jones moving out to the wing, Lennon moved up to outside half, Williams went to number eight, and Jones and Thomson alternated between the forwards and the backs.

Things looked decidedly ominous for the red and whites when the home side extended their lead with tries by hooker Jack Samuel and centre Northmore with Johnston converting one of them. Emlyn did not allow their heads to drop,however, and showed tremendous character by continuing to run the ball at the home side. Dafydd Evans at scrum half was inspirational and the forwards responded to his cajoling and it was no surprise that he was instrumental in the next score. Met tried attacking from their own twenty two but Evans intercepted the pass, realised he did not have the pace to go all the way and fed Lennon who sped over the line for a try which he converted.

On the half hour mark some more excellent driving play by the red and whites took play deep into the Met twenty two. Showing a great deal of patience and control, eventually Alex Williams crossed wide out for an unconverted try. With time beginning to run out Emlyn realised that they were within striking distance of a try bonus point and continued to run the ball back at the home side. Centres Andrew Owen and Teifion Davies really came into their own with some excellent carries and mazy running, with Davies looking to be back to his elusive best. With five minutes to go, from a scrum in the Met twenty two, outside half Lennon switched from the open to blind side and used winger Thomson as decoy runner to cross for his third try and Emlyn’s fourth, which he duly converted.

One more score would give the red and whites a second losing bonus point but from the kick off an Emlyn forward gave away a needless penalty at a maul on their own twenty two and the home side had no hesitation in kicking the penalty to make Emlyn score a try to get within seven points. Try as they might the home defence just managed to keep Emlyn out in a frantic final few minutes.

This was a much improved performance by Emlyn but the mounting injury list must be of concern to everyone associated with the club and with at the last count sixteen players unavailable for selection for the Narberth match getting a competitive side on the field will be a challenge for the Emlyn coaches.

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