FOLLOWING some questionable performances on the road this season, Newcastle Emlyn finally showed what they are capable of as they overcame the challenge of Bedlinog in the Swalec Championship.

The visit to Bedlinog was viewed with some trepidation, with the home side unbeaten at home and renowned for having an excellent power game.

Nine points down early on, it took Emlyn 15 minutes before they had a set piece in the Bedlinog half and when the opportunity arose they grasped it with both hands.

An excellent throw by skipper Alex Williams was passed on to scrum half Mike Jones. With outside half Barry Thomas calling the shots, Emlyn went through a series of rucks before powerful prop Emrys Davies, who had another fine game, burst through a tackle, drew the full back and timed his pass perfectly to send second row Ryan Morgans charging towards the line for an excellent try.

Things looked bleak for Emlyn half way through the half when inspirational number eight Brynmor Jones had to leave the field with a groin injury. His replacement, Dan Havard who slotted in the second row following a reshuffle, was a revelation and his ball carrying and work in the loose was exemplary.

Bedlinog’s Iain Smerdon and Emlyn’s Dan Davies exchanged penalty kicks before Smerdon increased the home side’s lead with his fifth penalty kick.

Emlyn’s front five were beginning to match their opponents up front and provided a solid platform and quality ball for the backs to use.

From a scrum the backs executed a lovely three quarter movement and full back Shaun Leonard timed his entry into the line to burst through a gap and, with the cover coming across, he fed speedster Llyr Jones who crossed in the corner for an unconverted try to bring the scores level at half time.

Read the full match report in this week’s Cambrian News