Immaculate Ifan stars for Crymych in a hard fought Pembrokeshire Knockout Cup victory over Whitland

Pembrokeshire Knockout Cup – Round 1

Crymych 42 - Whitland 25

Sensational outside half Ifan Phillips collected 32 points to guide Crymych to a hard fought Pembs KO Cup victory over arch-rivals Whitland on Wednesday night.

Phillips, who has just turned 19, played with maturity way beyond his years, he didn’t miss a kick at goal all evening, landing seven penalties, three conversions and also crossed for a cracking second half try.

The final score line was not a true reflection on how close this cup-tie was, and how well Whitland had pushed the Preseli Men.

Phillips kicked an early penalty, giving the Preseli Men an early lead, but it was short lived as Borderers outside half Nico Setaro levelled matters with a three pointer.

Minutes later Phillips was successful with a second penalty, and then scrum-half Rhys Davies raced clear 30 metres out for the game’s opening try, Phillips added the extras, making it 13-3.

Just before half time the Borderers responded when No 8 Jack Mason crashed over from five metres, Setaro added the conversion, and the visitors were awarded a penalty as back chat from Crymych forwards to referee Adrian Slade was punished fully as Setaro landed the resulting kick from halfway to level the scores 13-13 at half time. 

Shortly after the break and Whitland centre Liam Price received a yellow card, despite down to 14-men the visitors grabbed a second try, as hooker and new skipper Marc Jones was driven over the whitewash by veteran second row Dai Ebsworth. Setaro missed the conversion wide out as the visitors led 18-13.

Poor discipline by the Borderers was punished fully as Phillips kicked three successive penalties, and the fly-half crossed for a well worked try, a move started by his Ifan’s brother Tomos, the full back cleverly chipped ahead and gathered from deep, which he also converted to open up a 29-18 lead.

Phillips kicked another long range penalty, before the Borderers struck with a close range try for replacement scrum half Adam James, Setaro kicked the conversion as the visitors trailed 32-25.

However, the home side had the final say as left wing Gethin Gibby crossed for his team’s third try, Phillips converted and kept his impressive 100% kicking record intact.

Crymych have progressed to the quarter final where they will face the winners of the Aberystwyth v Haverfordwest tie, which is due to be played this Saturday, August 26.

Crymych: Tomos Phillips, Tomos Lewis, Marcus Castle, Carwyn Phillips, Gethin Gibby, Ifan Phillips, Rhys Davies, Ifan James, Lee Griffiths, Steff Harries, Dion Gibby, Rhys Davies, Osian Davies, Guto Davies, Aled Harries. Replacements: Zac Francis Miller, Lewis Davies, Arwel Davies, Gethin James.

Whitland: Scott Newton, Scott Candler, Liam Price, Jonathan Thomas, Sion cole, Nico Setaro, Thomas Parry, Tom Evans, Marc Jones, Jacob Dewhurst, Dai Ebsworth, Raff Williams, Ben Kirk, Daniel Evans, Jack Mason. Replacements:Michael Ryan, Tom Windsor, Adam Davies, James Lewis.

Referee: Adrian Slade.

http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/sport/pembrokeshire_sport/15493308.Immaculate_Ifan_stars_for_Cymych_in_a_hard_fought_Pembrokeshire_Knockout_Cup_victory_over_Whitland/