CARDIGAN 37 PEMBROKE DOCK QUINS 8CARDIGAN avenged their 25-10 away defeat suffered at the hands of Pembroke Dock Quins earlier in the season with a fine all-round team performance, which produced some excellent tries.

Three months ago many were doubting whether the Cardis would have enough players to field a first team by the end of February, such was the state of play at the Gwbert Road club - but to their credit the players and coaches have rolled up their sleeves, worked hard and are reaping the benefits with six wins from eight games.

Coach Tudor Harries and his assistants have been forced to blood a large number of kids just out of the youth team, and following a shaky start they are now finding their feet - and despite the recent dreadful weather, the Gollop Stand is beginning to fill up again.

The King George pitch was in a remarkably good condition, despite the torrential rains, and Cardigan started positively. They were soon ahead, when full back Llyr Jones, who enjoyed another assured performance, slotted over a penalty kick at goal.

Pembroke Dock responded soon after with a three pointer from the boot of Kieran Machin. Then, minutes later, there was a huge punch up in front of the stand, and once the dust had settled the referee dished out a yellow card to a player from each side.

Cardigan regained the lead just before the half-time interval, when Jones added another three points with a penalty, and the half-time lead of 6-3 was a decent one as the hosts had been playing into a fiercely strong wind.

The home team spent most of the second half camped in the Dock’s twenty-two metre area, and they were duly rewarded on the hour with a penalty try, following a succession of collapsed scrums, with the visiting pack unable to cope with the pressure.

Jones added the extras, before his team went further ahead when young replacement Toby Neilson-Dry crashed over under the posts following a fine passage of play, with fly half Luke Rogers showing good hands and the back rower picking a great angle to beat his defender. Jones added the conversion and Cardigan were well worth the 20 point lead.

The visitors hit back with a try when scrum half Gethin Bradney made the initial break, and he fed big powerful centre Thomas, who walked through his opposite number, before putting co-centre and skipper Jack Price in for a simple touchdown.

The visitors were then reduced to 14 men following some more scullduggery, and Cardigan took full advantage with their third try when prop and man of the match Andrew Fletcher dummied his way over.

This was again converted by Jones, before fly half Rogers secured the bonus point try when he outsprinted his opposite number - and a superb touchline conversion by full back Jones completed the home scoring at 37-8.

• This weekend, Cardigan will travel to face Laugharne in their rearranged Division Three West A game, whilst Aberaeron are also at home against Haverfordwest this Saturday, and Llanybydder will play hosts to Llangwm.

The Division Three West A schedule then takes a fortnight’s break, before clubs resume after the Six Nations on Saturday, 21 March with the following league fixtures:

Lampeter versus St Clears; Llangwm versus Laugharne; Llanybydder versus St Davids; Pembroke Dock Quins versus Haverfordwest; and Tregaron versus Cardigan.