Pembrokeshire KO Cup - Plate Semi-Final:

 
 

Cardigan 5 - Whitland 21

 

Whitland moved into the 2024 final of the Plate Pembrokeshire KO Cup with this hard-fought Thursday-night victory over Cardigan at The King George Vth Ground in abject weather conditions where both teams deserved credit for trying to play positive rugby before two tries and Geraint Jones, powerful place kicking saw The Borderers through.
 
The Teifisiders never gave up their commitment to the cause, however, and the loudest cheers of the night came after 77 minutes when coach Colin Davies came on as replacement and scored an unconverted try from close range.
 
The first-half typified the match as both teams tried hard to master the conditions as well as the opposition and the only score came when Trystan Rees cut through and Jones added the extra points.
 
It was a similar story after the break as Whitland had Cian Evans, Lewis Tingay and Zac France-Miller leading their forward effort and the Teifisiders trying hard to counter their ball-winning efforts via Tom Taylor, Jackson Tucker Lynch and Aaron Tomkinson – but The Borderers had the edge in the ball-winning stakes due to the experience of Marc Jones, Raff Williams and skipper Benji Kirk.
 
Jonathan Thomas directed matters in his assured way and three penalties from Jones took them further forward before they set the seal on victory with a try from Rhys Nicholas.
 
Cardigan had the final word when Davies crossed the whitewash but it was The Borderers who moved through to the Plate Final against Milford Haven after the Mariners were given a walk-over against Llangwm.
 
Cardigan:  John Lumb: Alun Jenkins; Kieran Greenland; Llyr Harries (Capt); Jack Taylor: Llyr Jones; Matthew Roebuck: Will Brice; Luke Palmer-Davies; Nathan Bowen: Sion Phillips; Kester Adams: Aaron Tomkinson; Jackson Tucker Lynch; Tom Taylor. Replacements: Dan Cope; Kieran Hurley; Geraint Williams; Iwan John; Callum Woodley Wyn Williams; Colin Davies.
 
Whitland:  Geraint Jones: Morgan Lewis; Dom Davies; Trystan Rees: Owyn Griffiths: Jonathan Thomas; Rhys Nicholas: Lenny Watkins; Marc Jones; Trystan Bowen: Raff Williams; Benji Kirk (Capt): Lewis Tingay; Cian Evans; Zac France-Miller. Replacements: James Goldsworthy, Henry Wilson; Tomos Watkins Cian Williams.