SUPPORTERS leaving the Gollop Stand shook their heads in disbelief after they had just seen their team get knocked out of the WRU Swalec Bowl by 10-5 to local rivals Crymych Seconds.

Cardigan, who reached the semi-final stage last season, before bowing out to Shane Williams’ Amman United, are a shadow of the side that enjoyed a memorable journey last term - but Crymych were superb and did not play like a second team, and were well worth their win.

They had in Trystan Llyr Griffiths and Dylan Phillips two players who led the way, and the rest followed, and they had a simple and very effective game plan.

They kicked intelligently into the corners and let the opposition play themselves out of the danger areas, and they did it well. They strangled Cardigan into submission, and Emyr Harries and his men never left their half after the break.

The hosts though started positively and powerful back rower Gethin Jones rounded off a driving maul just 10 minutes into the game, to put his team 5-0 up and it appeared plain sailing for the hosts.

That was the closest they got to scoring for the rest of the match, however, as Crymych, inspired by blind side Phillips and number eight Griffiths, started to let rip.

The Preseli men came back strongly after conceding the early try, and they were soon in under the posts themselves when influential number eight Griffiths crossed for a try, converted by Llyr Edwards.

The rest of the half was all Crymych, with the home scrum falling apart, and the visitors should have added to their try count with two very good opportunities.

Centre Edwards had an easy chance to increase the visitors lead, but he scuffed his penalty kick, whilst at the other end full back Llyr Jones was unlucky with a drop goal that hit an upright, bounced on to the crossbar, and fell the wrong way.

The second half was all Crymych and they were like a pack of hounds as they turned the ball over whenever the opposition built up a head of steam, with Phillips and second row Osian Evans outstanding.

Outside half Tomos Rees kicked sensibly into the bowling club corner and Cardigan were on the back foot for long periods, and nearly always in their own 22.

Player-coach Colin Davies who was sorely missed, put former skipper Llyr Griffiths on at the break, along with loose head Scott Payne, and they managed to steady the ship a little, but Griffiths, who has just come back from a holiday abroad, has been unable to train and his introduction unsuprisingly had little impact.

Cardigan tackled their hearts out and played their part in an entertaining game, despite what the scoreline suggests, with young stand off James impressing under some extreme pressure, and teenage flanker Dafydd Rotie also playing well.

For Crymych, there were none better than Griffiths, whilst Phillips was impressive at six and formed a well balanced trio with open side Osian Rees. Second row Evans showed a huge appetite for tackling, and fly half Rees orchestrated matters intelligently - but this was an all round team effort and one to be proud of.

For match reports of all the Swalec Bowl and Plate involving Ceredigion sides see this week’s South edition.