IN terms of their league season, Newcastle Emlyn’s 19-7 win over Tata Steel was an important win for the Red and Whites as they look to ensure their participation in the Championship.

The adverse weather ensured that it was never going to be a classic, free flowing encounter as a strong cross wind, allied with a heavy drizzle for most of the match meant that flowing three-quarter movements were almost non-existent.

Emlyn started purposefully and were soon nine points ahead courtesy of three penalties, by winger Dan Davies, within the first 10 minutes. Two of these were awarded at the ruck area, as Emlyn tried running the ball at Tata Steel, and the third was for a late hit on full back Shaun Leonard on his own 22 metre line.

Tata obviously remembered the impact that Leonard had on the previous encounter when he scored two tries and a drop goal, and decided to single him out for some special attention to their cost.

As far as the Newcastle Emlyn supporters were concerned, that basically was it as far as action and attacking rugby went for almost the remainder of the half.

Tata Steel’s huge pack of forwards took complete control of the game, driving the lighter Emlyn pack back metres at a time in the scrum, and putting together very effective driving mauls from the line-out.

Emlyn’s defence just about managed to hold out. Scrums were half wheeled, and driving mauls brought to ground as, led by second row Dylan Morgan and flanker Joel James, Emlyn defended desperately.

At Tata approached the try line with the ball at their captain and number eight’s feet, scrum half Ross Pritchard attempted to pick up the ball and knocked it on.

The pressure finally told on 35 minutes when referee Stuart Kibble decided enough was enough and awarded Tata a penalty try, converted by Steve Lewis.

Reaching the half way line for the first time in a long time galvanised Emlyn into action, and when Tata were penalised at a line out Leonard was just wide of the target with his attempt into the wind.

From the drop out a high Emlyn kick was not caught initially by Tata, but when it was cleared, they failed to find touch and veteran Emlyn hooker Bedwyr Davies charged down the touchline. Unfortunately when he was tackled some five metres from the line the Emlyn forwards were penalised at the ensuing ruck.

With half time approaching Emlyn were gifted a try when, from a line out in their own twenty two, Tata decided to run the ball using their three-quarters. The pass from the outside half to the centre went behind him, and the Emlyn backs were quickly up on the mistake. Centre Mitchell Jones dribbled the ball over the line and fell on it for his first try for the club, which was converted by Dan Davies.

With the wind turning to more of a diagonal slant in Tata Steel’s favour and their pack very much in the ascendancy at the set piece, things looked ominous for Emlyn at the start of the second half.

In order to try and nullify Tata’s powerful scrum, coach Lloyd introduced prop Gethin Davies, and the powerful scrummager had an immediate impact when after his first scrum Tata’s loose head Jon Bamsey left the field with an injury.

His replacement, Mathew Llewelyn, lasted about two minutes before he and Emlyn prop Dai Jones were held responsible for a huge punch up on the half way, and both were given a 10 minute rest.

On his return Llewelyn lasted a very short time before he too left the field and the visitors had to opt for uncontested scrums, which to be perfectly honest suited the home side more than the visitors.

Emlyn coach Marc Lloyd then also introduced flanker Gareth Patterson, who had a huge influence with his powerful driving through mauls, as time and again he disrupted the Tata driving maul.

Working effectively with his fellow flanker Joel James, and with second row Dylan Davies dominating the front of the line out, Tata’s scoring options basically disappeared against a resolute defence.

Two failed long range penalty efforts were all Tata had to show for a second half which, with the wind in their favour, and with their territorial dominance, should have yielded more points.

With their pack unable to function in the same manner as the first half and their backs looking disjointed, Emlyn came a lot more into the game as the half progressed. With five minutes to go the Red and Whites extended their lead when Dan Davies kicked another penalty, which turned out to be the last score.

This weekend, Emlyn play their postponed Swalec Cup tie against Ebbw Vale at Dol Wiber, with a 2.30pm kick-off.