A VICTORY over Haverfordwest has always been difficult for Cardigan to achieve over the past 40 years, and their 20-8 success was no different with the Cardis having to pull off their best performance of the season.

The visitors were missing a few regulars but they put the Cardis under intense pressure, especially in the opening half with a very strong wind advantage.

Emyr Harries and his men were forced to tackle their hearts out, and it was this ability to tough it out against the elements that effectively won the game, as their 10-3 advantage at the break proved to be crucial in difficult playing conditions.

Home skipper and centre Emyr Harries put Cardigan ahead early on with a penalty, but the Blues came storming back and outside half and skipper Matt Phillips kicked his team deep into opposition territory as they pushed hard for a score.

Some very timely turnovers from the likes of second row Sion Phillips and number eight Llyr Griffiths saved the day on several occasions, and half backs Llyr Jones and Tom Dunn were able to clear.

Stand off Phillips levelled matters with a penalty on the half hour mark, before home winger Sion Hughes claimed a superb individual try after he had collected his kick and chase, following good work by outstanding full back John Lumb, who converted to put his team ahead by 10-3, to cap a very resilient first half display.

Cardigan went further ahead 10 minutes after the break as substitute winger Owain Rees pounced onto a loose ball for the easiest of tries, after hard work carried out by Lumb and centre Marcus Castle.

Lumb started proceedings off with a pin point kick into the clubhouse corner and he and Castle pressurised the visiting defender into making a mistake, and the ball ran loose for a simple but important try.

Haverfordwest enjoyed a fruitful period, which culminated in a try for prop Terry Lovell after excellent work by the forwards, but Cardigan killed the game off with a late try from hooker Luke Palmer Davies, after huge pressure in the scrum from the home eight, to cap another promising game by the teenage hooker.