Betws 25 Newcastle Emlyn 0

Betws secured the Section B championship with an emphatic win in this winner takes all showdown.

The stakes couldn’t have been higher with both sides boasting identical playing records and Emlyn being the only side to have lowered Betws colours this season.

Playing with the wind Betws exerted early pressure and forced a couple of penalties one of which was converted by flanker Keith Evans.  Strong Emlyn defence and some marginal forward passes frustrated the Betws attack though until Evans’ strong run put fly half Paul Griffiths through under the posts.  They couldn’t add to their lead though until shortly before the half when winger Mario D’Angelo scooped up a ball from his bootlaces and crossed out wide.

Newcastle Emlyn weren’t prepared to give us the title with out a fight and with the wind behind them in the second half they camped in the Betws 22.  The Betws team were somewhat baffled by some of the referee’s decisions and also Emlyn’s decisions to spurn kickable penalties with the score only 13-0.  However defence has been a feature of the side this season and even when down to 14 men they held their lines with Paul Jones and Lee Moulton putting in some crucial tackles.

As the half progressed Betws ventured further down field.  Veteran Gwynfor Evans and Man of the Match Gethin Harris frustrated the Emlyn line out while hard working front row of Alan Thomas, Leighton Rees and Gwilym Lewis managed to edge the scrums.

Betws finished the game in style when scrum half Owen Williams managed to escape down the left flank for a try that clinched the game, championship and also the award for league top try scorers.

The title was one with a collective effort from all involved as evidenced by a fantastic defensive effort across the season.  The team will now look forward to the challenge of section A rugby next year.