Boxing Day rugby match reports and pictures
Boxing Day Rugby:
Otters’ Seconds recapture the Dairy Crest Churn
Narberth Seconds 18 - Whitland 5
Narberth Seconds showed the club’s strength in depth as they recaptured the Dairy Crest Churn from Whitland, who had won it the previous season but were unable to turn their pressure into points as The Otters led 5-0 in a hard-fought first half before centre Iwan Thomas claimed 13 second-half points.
It says much for The Borderers’ resolve that they kept plugging away until the final moments and were finally rewarded with an unconverted try by prop Aaron Mayne, playing on permit from Milford Haven and popping up on the wing to nicely round off a good move by Whitland’s backs.
Narberth’s pack was in excellent shape as hooker Rhys Jenkins caught the eye alongside flanker Henry Foster, plus props Declan Cole and Jac Norcross.
For The Borderers there was no shortage of effort from Cian Evans, Mark Beasley and vice-captain Dan Bennett, with half backs Gino Setaro and Rhys Nicholas trying to keep their pack going forward as they restricted The Otters to a solitary first-half unconverted try by outside half Harri Harries, who linked well with Matthew Foster, Shane Rossiter, Luke Conbeer, Jake Philpin and skipper Will Davies in attack and defence.
As both teams made changes after the interval The Otters advanced their points tally by 13 points, all claimed by centre Iwan Thomas as he sliced through for a try which he converted as well as landing two penalties.
Whitland had the final word as Mayne crossed the whitewash and a large crowd showed its appreciation afterwards to the large number of players who fancied a run out just a day after Christmas.
In the clubhouse after it was Whitland’s Dan Bennett who handed the Dairy Crest Churn to Narberth skipper Will ‘Pop’ Davies and their coach, Richard ‘Stag’ Jones, provided The Otters’ men of the match awards to joint winners Rhys Jenkins and Henry Foster.
Narberth: Shane Rossiter: Jake Philpin; Iwan Thomas; Will Davies; Luke Conbeer: Harri Harries; Matthew Foster: Declan Cole; Rhys Jenkins; Jac Norcross: Henry Foster; Tom Parsells: Ryan Cole; Yori Morgan; Sam Davies.
Replacements: Richard Watkins; Gareth Clifford; Osian Phillips; Wil Nicholas; William Reed; Elliot Evans; Jack Codd; Morgan Rees.
Whitland: Dan Richards: Gethin Davies; Deian Davies; Dom Davies; Morgan Lewis: Gino Setaro; Rhys Nicholas: Aaron Mayne; Shane Webster; Jack Worthing: Geraint McGoan; Trystan Bowen: Dan Bennett; Cian Evans; Mark Beasley.
Replacements: Trystan Rees; Thomas Iraias; Owen Griffiths; Marc Jones; Zac France-Miller; Tom Windsor; Chris Smart; Andrew Jenkins; Gareth Davies; Dafydd Edwards.
Scarlets win Jenny Gibby Cup
Pembroke 29 - The Exiles 12
A huge crowd flocked to Crickmarren to watch Pembroke take on The Exiles, composed of former Scarlets players now living away but back for the Christmas holidays - and although they battled hard, they had to settle for second best against a determined local lot who were very intent on winning the Jenny Gibby Cup.
The trophy was presented a number of years ago and since then Jenny, who was a wonderful worker for The Scarlets, has sadly passed away but the trophy has a place in everyone’s hearts who has played for the club, as evidenced by the fact that the score line was still blank at the interval as both sides had half chances but were denied by the opposition’s big hits in the tackling stakes.
Another emotional touch on the game with the fact that The Scarlets also lost another great servant a while ago in Basil James and so it was appropriate that both his sons, Matthew and Nicky, were in The Exiles’ team and his widow Mary, who does a great job in charge of the gate at the ground, was in attendance to cheer them on.
Another nice fact was that included in the Exiles’ squad was former Milford Haven and Pembroke centre Peter Davies, who played at outside half for 20 minutes alongside his prop son Theo, despite being 59 years old!
In that equally entertaining second half The Exiles managed tries from Danny James and Jack Smyth whilst The Scarlets ran in five tries through Ryan Bolton (2), James Allen, Barrie Alderman-John and Will Edwards.
It was highly appropriate that the presentation of the trophy to Pembroke’s outstanding skipper Lloyd Davies was undertaken by Jenny’s husband Jay Gibby, his son Richard, who used to play for the club, and grandson Lewys, who is currently starring with Narberth in the WRU Championship (West).
Blues retain the Bishop Cup
Llangwm 3 - Haverfordwest 47
Haverfordwest retained the Bishop Cup with a convincing win at Pill Parks where The Blues were already 21-3 ahead at the interval and finished up with seven tries as The Wasps could only muster a Harry Makepeace penalty despite a lot of effort, especially from a pack that were always under pressure but never gave up trying.
The game was played in typical Bishop Cup style in from of a large and vociferous crowd, with The Wasps giving a run out to an amazing 34 players during the course of the game and The Blues had 26 players involved at some stage.
Harry Makepeace had a good game at outside half for the home side whilst the first-half back row of Ashley James, Dave Reynolds and James Lewis covered really well and Jack Roberts also caught the eye with his cover tackling.
But the Blues’ pack, had the edge, with skipper Karl Busch, Matty Phillips, and Jamie Zambas amongst their best players, and with prop Dan Berry deserving praise for remaining in the front row for the full 80+ minutes.
Wasps lead early on but The Blues take control before the break
After Makepeace had kicked the homesters ahead early on The Wasps were still three points in front after almost half an hour before The Blues claimed three tries in the final ten minutes of the half from skipper Karl Busch, after he had burst to the posts, winger Scott Candler in the corner after a good handling move and prop Jamie Zambas, who later showed his versatility by switching to prop, ploughed over from close range.
All three were converted by Archie Thomas, who was replaced as kicker after the break by Mikey Jones, and the outside half converted the first try of the second half when Candler sped through for his second try.
Jones also converted a good try by outstanding flanker Matty Phillips, who was later adjudged as man of the match and received his trophy from Gelly James on behalf of the family in memory of his late father Roy - and then second row Paul Dungey grabbed two tries as reward for his support play, the first converted by Jones.
Sadly, there was a nasty knee injury to popular Llangwm forward Gethin Thomas which resulted in a lengthy delay and
PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wishes him a speedy recovery - and record gate receipts and some thirsty Boxing Day fans in both camps meant that The Wasps disappointment at the result was eased somewhat by the financial rewards that can accrue from local derbies like this long-standing traditional one!