Crymych cruise to KO Cup Final success

PHOTOS:
Winners Crymych RFC
Man of match Crymych's Rhys Davies
Match officials Adrian Slade, Chris Oliver and Colin Phillips
Tomi Jones crosses the whitewash
Rhydian Thomas dives over for a try
Picture by Brian McKehon




PHOTOS:

JT Autos Pembrokeshire KO Cup final:

 
Referee: Chris Oliver.
Assistant referees: Adrian Slade and Colin Phillips.
Man of the match: Rhys Davies (Crymych)
 
Crymych were crowned worthy winners of the 2015/2016 Pembrokeshire KO Cup after a dominant win over Tenby United at Haverfordwest RFC where they established a 36-3 lead until the closing stages, when The Seasiders fought back with two converted tries.

Ironically, the now champions were playing their first game in the competition this season after a bye and two walkover wins, but they ensured the opportunity did not go to waste as they outplayed a Tenby side for whom defeat compounded a miserable campaign.

The Preseli Men went into the game having already beaten the relegated Seasiders twice in Division One (West) this season - and the favourites pressed hard from the outset as their pack established early superiority.

 
In the opening minute, after a series of forward drives, hooker Aled Harries was adjudged to have been high tackled – and scrum half Rhys Davies landed the subsequent 35 metre penalty.

Ominously, the Crymych pack earned another penalty chance moments later from a dominant scrum, and Davies was again on target with a much more difficult attempt from out wide on the left.

But The Seasiders pulled three points back when Tom Lewis chipped ahead and was impeded by Crymych flanker Joe Powell – and the No 10 picked himself up to land the simple points.

The kicking contest continued as The Preseli Men’s No 7 Tom Powell won turnover ball after Tenby No 8 Rob Weston had picked up from another retreating scrum, and the pressure that followed resulted in a third penalty chance that Davies kicked to make it 9-3.

 
However, Tenby responded again as centre Scott James broke through in midfield only to be hauled down metres short by the cover defence, before Lewis missed a tough chance to pull a further three points back when he was short with a penalty from near half way.

But then the contest began to drift away from the underdogs as they continued to concede penalties in strategic positions, as the ubiquitous Rhys Davies took a quick tap penalty 10 metres out, and dived over in the corner after the Tenby backline had been caught offside.

Just moments later Crymych had their second try when The Seasiders’ full back Luke Conbeer spilt a high ball, and Crymych centre Rhydian Thomas gathered before putting winger Tomi Jones away to score and Davies again added the extra points.

 
Crymych continued to press and winger Nick Bevan was just beaten to No 10 Carwyn Jones’ crossfield kick by Conbeer, before Tenby No 9 Dan Thomas was yellow carded for killing the ball with his side under pressure again.

The Preseli Men then opted for a five metre scrum, from which No 12 Thomas charged over and Davies again converted to make it 28-3.

Full back Tomos Phillips went close after a break from winger Jones, and to make matters worse for Tenby, James was also sin binned as they went down to 13 men shortly before the break.

 
The Seasiders did appear to come out with renewed purpose after the break, but after Lewis kicked a penalty to the corner, the ball went loose and Crymych No 10 Jones instigated a counter attack that went the length of the field and culminated in Davies adding another three points from a penalty.

Joe Powell then burrowed over from close range for an unconverted try – before outstanding No 8 Rob Weston’s surging run for Tenby went to waste as he lacked support at the crucial moment.
 

 
The final quarter became somewhat disjointed as both sides emptied their replacement benches, but despite further Crymych pressure it was Tenby who finally grabbed a consolation score as the Preseli Men suffered a dose of ‘white line fever’, allowing Seasiders’ winger Jordan Asparassa to intercept a pass in his own 22 and raced all the way to the posts for a consolation try that Lewis converted.
The Seasiders struck again late on after both second row Andrew Phillips and replacement Richard Sharpe-Williams went in the sin bin for The Preseli Men, as centre Mark Heywood crashed over just minutes after coming on.

Lewis converted with the game’s final kick, but in truth, the late tries failed to mask a one-sided contest as Crymych were able to celebrate a first cup win since the 2010/2011 season.
 

 
Afterwards, Crymych skipper Tom Powell received the silverware from John Purser, President of the Pembroke and District Rugby Union, and scrum half Rhys Davies was presented with the man of the match award for his total involvement and kicking skills.

PDRU Secretary Charles Davies also congratulated both sides and rightly thanked hosts Haverfordwest RFC for providing an excellent playing surface and a warm welcome as KO Cup Final hosts.

The game brought the curtain down on the Pembrokeshire 15-a-side senior season, but what the future now holds for the cup competition remains to be seen after a disrupted campaign where only five of 13 scheduled ties took place.
 
Crymych: Tomos Phillips, Nick Bevan, Carwyn Phillips, Rhydian Thomas, Tomi Jones, Carwyn Jones, Rhys Davies, Ifan James, Aled Harries, Lewis Davies, Rhys Richards, Andrew Phillips, Joe Powell, Tom Powell (capt), Guto Davies.
Replacements: Carwyn Rees, Jason Nicholls, Dion Gibby, Arwel Davies, Tomos Lewis, Richard Sharpe-Williams, Rhys Davies.

Tenby United: Luke Conbeer, Tom Dennis, Mathew Fleming, Scott James, Jordan Asparassa, Tom Lewis, Dan Thomas, Lyndon Jones, Wes Bonner, Rob Clark, Luke Dedman, Alex Thomas, Timoci Kaumaitotoya, Luke Hansford (capt), Rob Weston.
Replacements: Dan Allen, Ethan Morgan, Wyndham Williams, Ieuan Powell, Jimmy Davies, Will Crockford, Mark Heywood.


Runners up Tenby