Pembrokeshire KO Cup - First Round:

 

Llangwm 13 - Haverfordwest 24

 
Referee: Tom Carew (Milford Haven)
 
The first round of the Pembrokeshire Knockout Cup was finally brought to a close as Llangwm entertained Haverfordwest under the floodlights on the seconds’ pitch at Pill Parks and although some pundits felt that the venue wasn’t ideal it could easily be countered by the fact that it was the same for both teams!
 
In the final analysis, a large crowd turned out to cheer their chosen club on under the floodlights and it was real local derby stuff as no quarter was asked for or given, there were big tackles aplenty – and a player from each side was shown a red card when they were given their marching orders as referee Tom Carew kept a tight control on events.
 
Both teams were without some key players but that mattered little as play swung from end to end in the first half, where the teams were locked at 13-all before The Blues pulled ahead afterwards and will now have a trip to old rivals St Davids in the first round of the plate competition.
 
And it was Haverfordwest who made the better start with an early eight points as full back Owain Roberts, making a welcome return after missing matches because of work commitments, landed a penalty and then rounded off some good handling initiated by Liam Eaton, Gabe Tucker and Jack Codd allowed him to slice through to the line.
 
But The Wasps are bonny battlers and with Ieuan Power, Callum Jenkins and Joe Newton giving 100% in the set-pieces for the lively Ashly James Jake Thomas, Morgan Scott-Walker and Jordan Cornick to use it was Yale Grice, converted from centre to flanker, who powered over for a try which Harry Makepeace converted.
 
The Blues bounced back with a second unconverted try as Jack Codd made a break from inside his own half, linked well with Thicker and Eaton, who supplied the scoring pass for young winger George Hopkins, one of six members of last season’s youth team, to speed to the line.
 
As Llangwm kept plugging away there was always a threat posed by Jack Roberts and George James as half backs Steff Thomas and Harry Makepeace provided the platform, with the latter notching two penalties to tie things up at the break.
 
Play was no less committed on either side in the second period but it was The Blues who grabbed 11 points without any response from The Wasps.
 
Owain Roberts added two penalties from his trusty left boot, the first from long range and the second close to the final whistle - and neatly sandwiched in between was an unconverted ty by another ex-youth player in second row Teifion Owen after good work by skipper Jamie Zambas and co up front saw The Blues through.
 
Llangwm: Rhys Llewellyn: Ollie Garson; Josh Griffiths; George James; Jack Roberts: Harry Makepeace; Steff Thomas: Ieuan Power; Callum Jenkins; Joe Newton: Jake Thomas; Ashley James: Yale Grice; Morgan Scott-Walker; Jordan Cornick. Replacements: Matthew Rees; Dan Woodward; Gavin Jones; Ieuan Grey; Will Ridge; Dan Ridge; Dylan Philpott.
Haverfordwest: Owain Roberts: Leon Gainfort; Gabriel Thicker; Jack Codd; George Hopkins: Liam Eaton; Isaac Kelso-Jones: Jamie Zambas (Capt); Iestyn Bevan; Andrew Edwards: Teifion Owen; Rhydian Watkins: Dylan Williamson; Jamie Phillips; Jake Evans. Replacements:  Karl Busch; Gethin Bateman; Fraser Hughes; Kiran Mason.
 
Revised Draw - Round Two (Deadline 30^th November):
St Davids v Haverfordwest
Whitland v Aberaeron
Narberth v Aberystwyth
Fishguard v Tenby
 
Plate Competition – Revised Draw (Deadline – 30^th November):
St Davids v Llangwm
Pembroke v Pembroke Dock Quins
Narberth v Aberystwyth
Fishguard v Tenby