THERE was heartbreak for Cardigan as Wales legend Shane Williams helped guide his home club Amman United to the final of the Swalec National Bowl with a 29-3 win at Lampeter.

Williams is now set to make an emotional return to the Principality Stadium, despite picking up a hairline fracture to his jaw in a very keenly contested clash against the Ceredigion men.

Wales’ record try-scorer and former World Player of the Year, who recently turned 40 years old, came on after 18 minutes to help guide Amman into the final on 16 April, where they face Caerphilly.

Despite spending most of Saturday night at hospital with his jaw injury, Williams said he was relishing Amman playing in the final.

“It is brilliant for the club and the village to reach the Principality Stadium,” commented Williams

“I always said I would try and play a couple of games with my brother for the Amman, before I hang up my boots for good, and they asked me if I wanted to be considered for this semi-final match.

“I think I just managed to scrape a seat on the bench, to be honest!

“We knew Cardigan would be a physical side, they’re in the semi-final for a reason, we expected it.

“We haven’t got the biggest pack, but we managed to deal with them.

“Cardigan kept coming back, but the lads just put in a massive effort and we took a couple of shots, but that is part and parcel of the game.

“It was a great game, and in fairness to Cardigan they kept coming right to the end, but I think that our boys deserve to go into the final.

“It will be a fresh challenge, but it’s one the players will want to enjoy. Big occasions don’t come around often, and we will want to make the most of the occasion.”

Cardigan needed to produce the performance of the season against an Amman side that is unbeaten at the top of Division Three West B, and they started the game brightly.

Outside half Llyr Jones missed two penalty kicks at goal and centre Marcus Castle looked as if he was through for a try under the posts, but a desperate tackle stopped him, and there was no support on his shoulder to finish the move off.

Things changed after this with the introduction of former international star Shane Williams, as his sheer presence seemed to bamboozle the inexperienced Cardigan team.

They lost their way from there and the team never really looked like crossing the whitewash again, despite a committed performance.

Williams was put under severe pressure after replacing his brother-in law, full back Gavin Lewis, and he dropped a couple of high balls.

The veteran star settled into the game, however, and made some telling breaks, leading to a try.

Amman, having rode their luck in the early stages, bounced back with a try from Rhys Thomas wide out, after Cardigan had been turned over at a defensive scrum, just prior to a superb break from Williams.

This score was then converted by scrum half Joel Foster, who also added a penalty soon afterwards.

Cardigan hit back with a penalty from the boot of Jones, but they were caught with a sucker blow just before half-time when prop Liam Mangan barged over after side-stepping full back John Lumb.

Cardigan coach Colin Horscroft threw on experienced back rowers in Colin Davies and Gareth Clifford to inject a bit of urgency and go forward, but within a minute Amman winger Dean Williams, Shane’s brother, sliced through a flat footed defence to kill the game off at 20-3.

Foster added the extras to add further salt to the wounds, and centre Mathew Brayley made it four tries to nil late on, with the conversion by Foster completing a solid win.

Props Richard Jones and Tomos Evans, skipper Llyr Griffiths and second row Davies all put in big shifts for Cardigan, but their backline sorely missed Emyr Harries.

“I was very proud of the performance and the way we played,” reflected head coach Colin Horscroft.

“We started well and enjoyed quite a lot of territory in the first half, and the second half, but we couldn’t quite make it count. I can’t fault our effort or commitment.

“Fair play, Amman are a very good side, and good luck to them.”