NEWCASTLE Emlyn went into their Championship game with Newbridge knowing that nothing less than a five point victory would suffice in their effort to climb out of the relegation zone.

The cheer that greeted the award of a penalty kick to Emlyn, with the home side trailing by two points deep into injury time, said a great deal for the tension.

The silence was palpable as Dan Davies lined up what was undoubtedly a kick at the posts at the very limit of his range, and Dol Wiber erupted when the kick just scrapped over the bar to give them a 29-28 lead for the first time in the match.

The excellent referee Dylan Wyn Jones deemed there was still time for the restart, and fortunately for the hosts the ball was caught, a maul set up and scrum half Dafydd Evans hoofed the ball into the stand to end the game and bring a much needed victory to the red and whites.

Trailing at half-time by 28-12 a home victory seemed far away as, despite some nice build ups, Emlyn were guilty of squandering clear cut opportunities.

Some woeful tackling by Emlyn eventually saw second row Anthony Symons cross for a try under the posts, converted by full back Lewis Hudd, who proved to be thorn in Emlyn’s side all afternoon.

It took the hosts until nearly midway through the first half before they managed to put together a concerted series of attacks, which finally saw outside half Sion Edwards cross for a try, converted by Dan Davies to bring the scores level.

Newbridge’s reply was almost immediate as Emlyn made a hash of gathering the restart and gifted possession back to the visitors, leading eventually to a try for their hard working openside flanker Luke Morgan, converted by Hudd.

They extended their lead shortly afterwards when an Emlyn attempted penalty kick to touch fell short of the touchline, and excellent handling by the forwards and backs saw the ball moved across the field to left winger Tyler Lewis, who sprinted some 30 metres, without a hand being laid on him, to score a try in the corner, excellently converted by Hudd.

Emlyn were finding it difficult to make any inroads against a well-organised Newbridge defence, but their patience was eventually rewarded when, after a series of rucks close to the visitors’ line, hard-working scrum half Dafydd Evans spotted a gap on the blindside and darted over for an unconverted try in the corner.

Newbridge however got their fourth bonus point try when number eight Mike Preece stretched out over the line to score a try, successfully converted by Hudd.

Outside half Sion Edwards had to leave the field at half time with a leg injury to be replaced by Teifion Davies, which led to Steff Evans moving to outside half, and the whole dynamic of the game altered.

On the quarter-hour, Davies rounded a couple of defenders and created space for his support runners outside him. The final pass to winger Llyr Jones was woeful, but Jones got one hand on the bouncing ball, managed to keep it in play and control it long enough to score in the corner.

Dan Davies added the extra points, with an excellent touchline conversion.

Hard-working props Ifan James and Lewis Jonathan had worn their opponents down with some solid scrummaging and when they were replaced by Dai Jones and Dexter Thomas, Newbridge found their scrum continually retreating.

Penalties at successive scrums close to Newbridge’s line saw Emlyn captain Alex Williams sensibly opt for a scrum each time and eventually number eight Brynmor Jones managed to pick up the ball, as yet another scrum wheeled, and drive over for a try, converted by Davies to bring the home side within two points.

The visitors came back at Emlyn strongly and left winger McGovern looked certain to score until Emlyn winger Dan Davies caught him from behind and brought him down some five metres from the Emlyn line. The referee deemed the tackle high and yellow-carded Davies.

Newbridge declined the kick at goal from in front of the posts, and fortunately a Newbridge forward then knocked the ball on to compound their decision.

Then, with time running out, a strong burst by Brynmor Jones took play just inside the Newbridge half, and when they were penalised at the ruck, Davies stepped up for the match-winning kick.

Fortune was certainly on the side of the red and whites in the second half and one can only hope that they are able to build on this victory and approach their remaining matches with a certain amount of confidence.

Next up is a visit to the steel men of Port Talbot, Tata Steel, always a difficult task but one the red and whites must win to stand any chance of escaping the relegation battle.