NEWCASTLE Emlyn lost their proud 100 per cent record in Division One West as they went down 26-19 away against a well-drilled Penclawdd outfit.

In wet and windy conditions it was the home side that came out on top, after utilising the elements much better than their opponents. Even though Emlyn were missing a number of key players, the home side deserved to run out as the winners, scoring four tries in the process and picking up a bonus point.

Playing into a very strong wind, the Red and Whites made a good start and were in command for the first 10 minutes of the game, with two good line breaks from centre Andrew Owens. Following the second break into the 22, the home defence was penalised for killing the ball, and their inside centre was yellow-carded.

Emlyn full back Shaun Leonard stepped up to kick the penalty, but the wind pushed the ball passed the upright and their ever-alert prop and captain Emrys Davies was first to pounce for the touchdown, which Leonard successfully converted.

The home team’s response was excellent and they used the wind to their advantage, pegging their visitors into their own 22. It’s extremely difficult to face opponents who have not lost on their own stomping ground for 18 months, with a full team, but playing for half an hour with only 14 men, made the task a lot more difficult when Emlyn No 8 Aled Jones was sent to the bin.

Penclawdd took full advantage and scored three excellent tries in the remainder of the first half from flanker Fergus Kneath, scrum-half and skipper Lee Gunnell and Tom Howell, who also landed two conversions.

A solitary Leonard penalty was Emlyn’s only reply to make it 19-10 at the interval.

In the second half, with a strong wind behind them, the away team started well and were soon pressing inside the Penclawdd 22. The home team were penalised, and Leonard slotted another penalty.

A further Leonard penalty followed, but then came the turning point in the game. At the time, Emlyn were down to 14, after Osian Davies had been harshly penalised for offside.

Penclawdd made a break down the blind side, and when full back Leonard went for an interception, knocking the ball forward, the referee deemed this to be deliberate. Not only did he produce the yellow card, he also awarded a penalty try.

Emlyn made inroads into the opposition’s half on a number of occasions, but failed to cross the whitewash. With five minutes remaining, however, Leonard scored his fourth penalty, giving Emlyn at least the consolation of a losing bonus point.

GORSEINON 27 CRYMYCH 11

WITH just four minutes to go of their Division One West match, Crymych were only 13-10 down at Gorseinon, only for the home side to grab two late tries.

The Preseli men led 11-10 at the break, with their try coming from scrum half Dafydd Phillips, after No 8 Richard Sharpe-Williams had picked up from a scrum 40 metres out and linked with Jon Hill, who in turn put the number nine away to score the try.

Outside half Ifan Phillips also kicked two penalties for Crymych, but the Swansea side kept in the game with a try from centre Nicky Jenkins and a conversion and penalty by Liam Popham.

Popham nailed another penalty in the second half, and then with the game still in the balance, scored from an interception and added the extras to seal the win.

There was still time for a third Gorseinon try when flanker Kyran Craig touched down, and Popham again converted, and despite great individual displays from Hill and the front row of Ryan Rees, Ifan James and Carwyn Rees, the Preseli men were left wondering what might have been.

The defeat sent the north Pembrokeshire side plummeting to second-from-bottom in the league table, and facing a relegation battle.