Feature Division - Division Four (West) A:

 

Rothero stars as depleted All Blacks win well 

 

Neyland 29 - Dreigiau Emlyn 8

 
Neyland maintained top spot with this excellent home win over a strong Dreigiau Emlyn as they led 14-3 at half time and kept Emlyn’s potent backs from scoring a try until influential full back Deiniol Rees sped over in the corner for a deserved late try to go with his first-half penalty, writes Bill Carne.
 
The All-Blacks’ win was all the more worthwhile because they had a number of key players out and had a front row that comprised veteran second row Mark James, flanker Owain Evans and centre Adam Peel, who all did well in the scrummaging and with Evans leading all three in some great foraging in the loose.
 
They also had second row George Evans (who also plays at outside half!) and Iestyn Evans yellow-carded as they fell foul of experienced referee Colin Phillips for persistent high tackles, something that has to be snuffed out in the game, although this correspondent doesn’t like the oppositions’ almost persistent appeals for penalties for that important facet, especially in the first half in almost every passage of play, when some were clearly in the chest area and rightly ignored by the official!
 
Neyland’s hero was undoubtedly fly half Oli Rothero, with 24 points but this was a team effort because the home team’s tackling was superb as Emlyn had plenty of attacks but all came to nothing, other that Rees’s three-pointer which cancelled out a similar penalty by Rothero.
 
Rothero immediately added two other long-range attempts, one via the crossbar, and then applied his running skills to good effect as he fielded an attempted long clearance from The Dragons and he diagonal run left saw his side-step two defenders and a sprint up the touchline for the last 30 metres for a high-quality try that he was for once unable to convert.
 
To be fair to the visitors, that interval score didn’t reflect their part in an absorbing clash as their big pack, in which Aled Jones, Celt Jones, Osian Davies and Edryd Jones caught the eye alongside Teifion Davies and skipper Celt Davies – but the powerful tackling of Andrew Slark, Luke Griffiths-Dawes and particularly Dan Hart, kept them at bay.
 
And The All Blacks grabbed a vital second try soon after the restart as Liam Rees, Patrick Bellerby, Henry Macbeth and Owen Hamer combined to work Josh Watts into the clear and the pacy winger sped through almost unopposed for an excellent try which Rothero had no trouble converting.
 
Rothero was involved in all that Neyland did and he landed another penalty and claimed his second try from another brilliant break where he ghosted through a stretched Dreigiau defence.
 
The visitors deserve every credit as they kept plugging away and it took some yeoman Neyland defence to prevent Emlyn coming back into contention but they had a small reward late on as Deiniol Rees finally found a gap in the stretched home cover and raced through to round off a fascinating battle where no quarter was asked for or given.




 
Neyland:  Liam Rees: Josh Watts; Patrick Bellerby; George Williams (Capt); Henry Macbeth: Oli Rothero; Owen Hamer: Adam Peel; Owain Evans; Mark James: George Evans; Andrew Slark: Luke Griffiths-Dawes; Dan Hart; Iestyn Evans. Replacements: Lewis Hallett; Neil Wilson; Jasper Endean; Craig Power.
 
Dreigiau Emlyn: Deiniol Rees: Dafydd Adams; Celt Davies (Capt); Teifion Davies; Sion Griffiths: Llew Morgan; Cian Jones: Dan Irving; Edryd Jones; Rhodri Evans: Celt Jones; Osian Dafis: Dylan Davies; Sam F Evans; Aled Jones. Replacements: Meirion Thomas; Adam Smith; Twm Jones; Gwilym Jones; Aron Davies.





 
 
 

Quins edge home in tight Pembs’ derby 

 

St Davids 17 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 21

 
There was late tension at St Davids as Pembroke Dock Harlequins held on to a crucial win after a tight and physical 80 minutes, writes Fraser Watson.
 
Despite the home pack being on top for much for the afternoon, it was the Dock who proved more clinical as Harry Owen, Tom Donovan, and Damian Miller scored tries before the visitors had to withstand heavy pressure in the closing stages.
 
It was Owen who opened the scoring 10 minutes in after No.8 Taylor Rees burst through 20 metres out, and although he was hauled down, he managed to get the offload away for this fellow back rower to go under the posts. Ben Hathaway converted.
 
But the Dock line-out was struggling to function in the strong winds, losing three in a row of their own throw, and the Saints soon responded as Morgan James landed a penalty to reduce the deficit.
 
However, after the full back then kicked his team into the corner it was the hosts who lost their own line-out ball, and the Dock duly launched a clinical counter attack with centres Jack Price and Craig Barnett linking - before the latter’s floated pass sent Tom Donovan on a run to the corner for a try that Hathaway again converted.
 
Just moments later history nearly repeated itself as another home attack broke down and again the away side broke upfield, but this time Barnett was denied by Harvey Lavin’s cover tackle.
 
But just before the break St Davids finally did make some pressure tell, as flanker Aaron Foster went close before Bob Froy slipped the scoring pass to skipper Nathan Foster to score and James converted.
 
At 14-10 half time the game was in the balance and after Dock No.7 Dannie Wilkes was sin-binned for an off the ball incident, the Saints went to the corner but despite a concerted forward drive, the away pack managed to hold them up over the line.
 
Then with 15 minutes left Miller seemed to have settled matters when he finished brilliantly out wide for another seven-pointer, but in the dying moments St Davids reduced the deficit again when Owen’s cynical offside by his own line led to both a yellow card and a penalty try.
 
And in a dramatic final minute, the Saints were given a penalty on half way and after Dock dissent put them forward another 10 metres, James kicked to the corner and a line-out and series of close- range scrums followed.
 
When the hosts went wide though it was Jack Price who secured the crucial turnover to end matters, with St Davids replacement George Raymond then also being yellow carded after the final whistle as frustrations boiled over. 
 
It all meant a fourth league win of the season for the Dock ahead of a Saturday off next weekend, while the Saints have the chance to bounce back with another home game against Pembroke.
 
St Davids: Will James: Harvey Lavin; Rhys Meredith-Barrett; Will Savage; Bob Froy: Owain Swain; Michael Gurney: Ethan Griffiths; Chris Cooper; Adam Williams: Iestyn Owen; Owain Morris: Aaron Foster; James Goldsmith; Nathan Foster (Capt). Replacements: Dan Murphy; Rhys Price; George Raymond; Morgan Griffiths; Zak Morgan.
 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Ben Hathaway (Capt): Damien Miller; Craig Barnett; Jack Price; Tom Donovan:  Euan McDonald; Liam Eaton: Dan McLeod: Jordan Palmer; Tommy Clarkson:  Mark van Rhyn; Rhys Doyle: Liam Scourfield; Danny Wilks; Tyler Rees. Replacements: Lewys Scourfield; Ryan Neilson; Callum Jones; Owain Tyrner; George Bellmaine; Byron Hughes; Harry Owen.



 
 
 

Speedy Scarlets make it four wins in a row

 

Pembroke 38 - Teirw Crymych 24

 
Pembroke continued their winning streak as they fended off a strong come-back attempt by Teirw Crymych in an entertaining and high-scoring tussle at Crickmarren.
 
The Scarlets played some excellent rugby in the first half and were deservedly 23-3 ahead as Jared Sharratt orchestrated a pacy back division as young half-back partner Josh Greenwood linked well with his forwards and in the final analysis their game played at pace saw them earn a bonus-point victory.
 
They had two tries apiece from powerful full back Lewis Davies and winger Darcy Langston, back on permit from Tenby and scoring two tries for his previous club, after Zach Evans was a late withdrawal.
 
Rhys Johns with the other home try scorer after he had come on as a replacement, with Sharratt pouching 13 points from his two conversions and three penalties, and with Dai Rogers as man of the match after his dynamic display in the Pembroke back row  in partnership with Rhydian Eynon and Robin Badham.
 
Crymych outside half Adam Phillips scored their only points in the first half with a penalty but their play was transformed after the oranges when coach Aled Harries joined the fray at No 8 and ploughed over for two tries alongside another for full back Hedd George, all three converted by No 10 Phillips.
 
But The Scarlets held their nerve and finished strongly to make it four wins on the trot as they leap-frogged the Bulls into third place in the table- and left Crymych making the journey home without even a single bonus point as reward for all their efforts.
 
Pembroke: Lewis Davies: Darcy Langston; James Allen; Jack Nicholas; Barry Alderman-John: Jared Sherratt; Josh Greenwood:  Lloyd Davies (Capt); Seamus Wiseman; Jamie Brayford: Scott Powell; William Edwards: Dai Rogers; Rhydian Eynon; Robin Badham. Replacements: Kieran Cookson; Johnny Palmer; Deryn Williams; Jack Oliver; Rhys Johns; Dan Davies.
 
Teirw Crymych: Hedd George: Steffan Rees; Tomos Rees; Elgan Wilson; Declan Harries: Adam Phillips; Owain Rees: Lloyd Hughes; Sion Wilson; Will Delaney: Luke Freebury (Capt); Steffan Morris: Osian Rees; Griff Lloyd; Osian Thomas. Replacements: Liam Barber; Steff Davies; Jonah Laidlaw; Aled Harries; Dylan Bowen.
 
 
 

Wasps unable to raise a team

 

Narberth Athletic P-P Llangwm

 
**The Wasps are unable to raise a team because of injuries and work commitments – and The Athletic sportingly agreed to replay the fixture later in the season.**
 
 

Premiership Division:

 

Otters battle their way to a surprise victory

 

Brecon 12 - Narberth 15

 
Narberth claimed a second win the Premiership Division as they travelled to Brecon and came away with a narrow, but deserved success against a team in the top half of the table.
 
They still found themselves back at the foot of the table following Newcastle Emlyn’s bonus point home win over Bargoed but both narrowed the gap on the sides above them – and showed that they can improve their status if they continue to play with this commitment.
 
The Otters conceded an early unconverted try by Huw Jones but quickly regrouped and defended well as the back row of Caleb Salmon, skipper Tom Powell and especially No 8 Roy Osborn caught the eye alongside half backs Lewys Gibby and Jon Rogers.
 
Harrison Griffiths also featured alongside centre partner Hedd Nicholas and showed he could be a potent force in attack too he chased down a clever Rogers’ chip near half way and sliced through to the posts for Rogers to add the extra points.
 
A 7-5 interval lead was soon extended by a Rogers’ penalty at the start of the second half and after 67 minutes of fairly even play they added a second try following a series of forward thrusts before Osborn made the final thrust and off-loaded for Caleb Salmon to plunge over the line.
 
This reverse stung Brecon into even greater efforts as hooker Aneurin Jones, scrum half Geraint Workman and No 8 James Rhydderch-Roberts led the way and it took some good defensive cover organised by full back Ashley Sutton to last out the last seven minutes after the home side had broken through by outside-half Jake Newman to touch down and full back Jake Dixon converted.
 
It meant a tense final short period but for the hardy band of Narberth supporters it seemed an eternity before the final whistle went and The Otters could celebrate a morale-boosting victory!
 
Narberth: Ashley Sutton: Harry Fuller; Hedd Nicholas; Harrison Griffiths; Rhys Harries: Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby: Bradley Davies; Tom Clarke; Ryan Rees: Will Blackburn; Sam Martin: Caleb Salmon; Tom Powell Capt); Roy Osborn. Replacements: George Rossiter; Kyle Hamer; Tom Kaijaks; Josh Hamer; Josh Thomas; Osian Evans; Geraint Llewellyn.
 
 

Championship Division (West):

 

Preseli Men power to bonus-point away win

 

Dunvant 22 - Crymych 26

 
Crymych produced one of their best performances of the season in picking up their second win at Dunvant, who are in the section’s top six and fancied to make this their sixth success from nine starts – but the homesters reckoned without the commitment of the Preseli Men as they made it a five-point victory that helped them move up to ninth-place in the table.
 
The win was all the more exciting because Crymych battled back from a 5-15 interval deficit to lead 19-15 before Dunvant added another converted try which looked like snatching the game out of skipper Carwyn Harries’ reach
 
But then they did what a number of teams have done to them this campaign – and that’s to claim a vital late score that saw them home!
 
The Crymych tries were claimed by hooker Lee Griffiths and winger Jack Griffiths (converted by centre Ellis Thomas), and then a penalty try before No 10 Ifan Phillips rounded off some great work by his forwards with a cracking try – and Ellis Thomas added the extra points to give The Preseli Men a real morale-boosting win which will hopefully put then in good hwyl for their remaining matches!
 
Crymych: Nick Bevan: Jac Griffiths; Laurence Headlam; Ellis Thomas; Ianto Davies: Ifan Phillips; Dafydd Phillips: Gruff Williams; Lee Griffiths; Osian Charles: Matthew Freebury; Rhys Davies: Iestyn Wood; Jon Hill; Carwyn Phillips (Capt). Replacements: Morgan James; Ben Cox; Dafydd Gibby, Sion Evans.
 
 
 

Division One (West):

 

Seasiders celebrate a year without a home defeat

 

Tenby United 57 - Penclawdd 12

 
Tenby United’s clear-cut home defeat of Penclawdd meant that The Seasiders have not lost at home for the whole of 2024 (this was their final fixture until January) and their unbeaten record at Fortress Heywood Lane actually extends for almost 18 months!
 
The Seasiders maintained their 100% record for this campaign by running in nine tries, six of them converted by outstanding outside half Lloyd Thomas, whose half back partnership with Dai Jones has become the cornerstone of coach Jonathan Evans’ battle plan as they provide the perfect link between a powerful pack and pacy backs who like to run the ball at every chance, as they did her.
 
They were already 29-7 ahead at half time, with The Cocklemen scoring a late try by scrum half Tom Davies, converted by Rhys Eaton, plus another in the second half, when The Seasiders led 43-7, with an interception try from Cam Clayfield.
 
Those scores apart, Tenby always held a clear edge in the finishing stakes after they had opened their account after 17 minutes with a try by No 8 Dom Colman – and straight from the kick-off they swept play the length of the field before Lloyd Thomas supplied young winger Fletcher Broadhurst with the scoring pass and then added the simple extras.
 
Forwards’ coach Ossie Boswell had a rare smile on his taciturn face as his pack’s line out play worked like a dream and from them back rowers Jack Brown and Dan Colley also got in on the scoring act before skipper Tom Barrass rounded off the first half scoring and Thomas converted.
 
No 9 Dai Jones opened The Seasiders’ second half scoring and Colley claimed his second, both converted by Thomas – and after Penclawdd’s second score Toby Smith grabbed two tries as Thomas again added the extra points to round off the scoring.
 
Tenby United: Jordan Asparassa: Matthew Lewis; Jack Gooding; Tom Edmonds; Fletcher Broadhurst: Lloyd Thomas; Dai Jones: Hywel Baker; Kyle Rossiter; Ethan Morgan: Tom Barrass (Capt); Alex Jenkins: Jack Brown; Dan Colley; Dom Colman. Replacements: Jack Morgan; Luke Dedman; Charlie Patching; Jack Broadhurst; Fletcher Broadhurst; Toby Smith; Will James.
 
 
 

Division Two (West):

 

Borderers beaten by lively Loughor

 

Loughor 30 - Whitland 8

 
After a successful run of victories Whitland were brought back down to earth against Loughor, who are a very strong outfit in their own back yard, as they proved by opening up a 20-8 interval lead.
 
Loughor added a further ten points thereafter, despite some yeoman work for The Borderers from hooker Alan Proctor, second row Benji Kirk, flanker Aaron Cross and winger Owyn Griffiths, alongside half backs Johnny Thomas and Rhys Nicholas, who were the team’s points scorers as Thomas landed a penalty and Nicholas scored a try as he captained the side in a manner which belies the fact, he is only 20 years’ old.
 
Brothers Will and Tom Hughes also played well in midfield but Loughor had tries by veteran Peter Smiriglia, Shaun Murphy and Joe Burder, all converted by Tom Smith, who increased his points tally to 15 with three penalties in quick succession as The Borderers conceded penalties and paid a heavy price.
 
Whitland: Gareth Davies: Deian Davies; Will Hughes; Tom Hughes; Owyn Griffiths: Johnny Thomas; Rhys Nicholas (Capt): Ceiron Evans; Alan Proctor; Johnny Phillips: Benji Kirk; Jack Evans: Aaron Cross; Gavin Smith; Iestyn Comey. Replacements: Morgan Rees; Jack Mason; Raff Williams; Oli Bujega; Wihan Fryer.
 
 

Mariners miss out in second half

 

Nantgaredig 33 - Milford Haven 23

 
Milford Haven are still finding it difficult to field a settled squad but showed their willingness to battle on at Nantgaredig and actually led 20-17 at half time – but Nant battled back after the interval and The mariners weren’t even able to claim a losing bonus point to reward their genuine graft.
 
Coach Steve Martin has been on the field at outside half for most of the campaign when, after a long and distinguished playing career, especially at Narberth, he would prefer to be directing operations from the touchline – but he showed he can still cut the mustard by slicing through to open The Mariners’ account.
 
Other tries came from centre Andrew Sinton and winger James Trueman, who also landed a conversion and penalty, but in the second half they only managed a second Trueman penalty despite loads of hard work up front and some solid defensive play by Martin and Dan McClelland at half back, plus full back Robbie Jones and centre Dan Jenkins.
 
Nant’s scorers were Lloyd Williams (try, two conversions and three penalties) Martin Holmes,  Steve Williams and Dean Smith.
 
Milford Haven: Robbie Jones: James Trueman; Andrew Sinton; Dan Jenkins; Dean McSparron: Steve Martin; Dan McClelland: Luke Ryan; Ryan Williams; David Sweeny: Chris Hall; Jay Goodall: Ben Groves; Zac Davies; Dewi Williams. Replacements: Jordan Davies; Jamie Parr; Ethan Aldred; Dan Goodridge; Aaron Cookson.
 
 
 

Division Three (West):

 

Aber good value for Ceredigion derby success

 

Cardigan 7 - Aberaeron 23

 
Aberaeron were able to capitalize on a strong first-half display to claim an important success in the race for promotion against their Ceredigion rivals.
 
This was expected to be a close contest but Aberaeron were soon ahead through two early penalties from Rhodri Jenkins.
 
Strong carries by the Aber front eight, with man of the match Ceri Davies and No 8 Wil James outstanding, kept Aberaeron on the front foot and despite missing several regulars, they were still able to show their expansive flair with captain Morgan Llewelyn making a welcome return.
 
And they soon made this tell when they took advantage of a poor clearance to open up the defence for wing Mathew Harries to cross in the corner, with Rhodri Jenkins adding a superb conversion, coupled with another penalty, it became a sixteen-point advantage at the break.
 
It was much the same after the restart with the visitors defence holding firm, creating frustration in the home ranks, and this resulted in the referee losing patience and brandishing two yellow cards -and Aberaeron's second try came after gaining good field possession, and a rolling maul brought a try for hooker Owain Bonsall, with Jenkins again successful from the touchline.
 
Cardigan, however, had the final say with a try by Jac Davies, converted by Shaun Leonard in the closing stages, but on the day, it was Aberaeron who grabbed third place in the table, with Cardigan two places below them as a result of this home defeat.
 
Cardigan: Shaun Leonard: Aaron Evans; Iwan John; Emyr Harries; Jack Taylor: Llyr Jones; Iwan Toft: Andrew Jones; Will Brice; Ben Hughes: Dean Harries; Sion Phillips: Aaron Tomkinson; Jackson Tucker Lynch; Marcus Castle (Capt). Replacements:  Nathan Bowen, Sean Owen; Jac Davies; Kieran Greenland; John Lumb.
 
Aberaeron: M Llewellyn (Capt): M Harries; R Jones; R Jenkins; I davies: S Rees; R Thomas:  
 
 
 

Blues unable to field a team

 

Tumble P-P Haverfordwest

 
**Match postponed – Haverfordwest unable to raise a team**