Premiership Division:

 

Otters denied a bonus point by last-gasp interception

 
 

Narberth 21 - Neath 31

 

Narberth produced another determined performance as they take on the top sides and, on this occasion, looked as if they might spring a surprise as they battled back to a 21-24, which meant at least a losing point, but then Neath full back Iestyn Morgan intercepted and sped to the line for a converted try that took even that consolation from their grasp.
 
It means that The Otters stay in the 12th place and now their home match with Bonymaen in two weeks takes on another dimension because they are locked on the same number of points but their opponents then have played two fewer games.
 
Narberth started off well and good work up front was rewarded when scrum half Lucca Setaro dived over from close range to score an early try on a debut that was so promising he later received the man of the match award. His score was converted by outside half Osian Evans.
 
But Neath soon settled into the game with their big pack, well led by skipper Ben Williams alongside Gethin Tremlett, Mason Morgan, Kian Jones and Tarik Dabeh, who ploughed over from close in before outside half Steff Williams added the extra points.
 
The Otters had half chances but it was Neath who went in at half time leading 19-7, as flanker Casey Williams and Iestyn Morgan added further tries, the third again converted by No 10 Williams.
 
Dean James, looking sharp on the wing after his lengthy lay-off through injury, pulled a try back for The Otters, converted by replacement Jon Rogers, but they were then knocked back as replacement Ben Uphill assured Neath of a bonus point with their fourth try, when The Otters were down to 14 men.
 
When they were back to their full complement Narberth again reduced the deficit to three points as player/coach Matthew John continued his try-scoring run on the wing and Rogers added the extras.
 
But just as The Otter fans were dreaming of a shock win up popped Iestyn Morgan on a clear run to the line and Steff Williams added insult to injury with a final conversion to leave Narberth still in a perilous position – but with time to send Bonymaen down at their expense if they can keep playing with this commitment but not lose final points late in matches!
 
Narberth: Llew Jones: Matthew John; Ilan Phillips; Hedd Nicholas; Dean James: Osian Evans; Lucca Setaro: Tom Kaijaks; Tom Clarke; Guto Jones: Will Blackburn; Sam Martin: Josh Hamer; Sam Davies; Roy Osborn. Replacements: Rob Evans; Kyle Hamer; Tom Slater; Rhys Williams; Jac Bennett; Will Hurley; Jonathan Rogers; Rhys Harries.
 
Neath: Iestyn Morgan: Rhodri Wall; Sean Wilcox; Sam Matthews; Corum Nott: Steff Williams; Connor Tantum. Mason Morgan; Kian Jones; Tarik Dabeh: Matthew Davies; Cai Arnold: Casey Williams; Gethin Tremlett; Ben Williams (Capt). Replacements:  Evan Kneath; Josh Jones; Ben Uphill; Jon Barley; Owain Morgan; Ellis Lewis; John Bayliss;  Kieran Charles.
 
 
 

Division Two (West):

 

Depleted Mariners battle hard as Lampeter earn promotion

 

Lampeter Town 57 - Milford Haven 12

 
Lampeter Town took another huge step towards promotion alongside Laugharne as they ran in nine tries against Milford Haven an are now comfortably ahead of Carmarthen Athletic.
 
The Mariners are already virtually assured of relegation but deserve every credit for fulfilling this tough fixture, despite struggling for numbers so that even coaches Steve Martin and Lee Riley had to play and were still able to show their skill levels alongside the usual commitment by the entire squad, which was boosted by 40-plus No 8 Gareth Phillips, called out of  retirement to help out.
 
They also lost another veteran Dai Sweeny in the opening quarter and so had to play the resto the game with 14 men, so it was no wonder they were 0-40 adrift at half time as the homesters eventually finished up with tries from Meirion Lloyd, Daniel Thomas (2), Rhys Douglas (4) and Osian Jones (2), who also landed six conversions.
 
To be fair to Milford Haven, they did manage good tries by James Williams, after Riley made the initial break, and second row Chris Hall, as reward for his 100% effort.
 
Winger Aaron Davies notched a conversion and coach Martin told Telegraph Sport,
“It’s hard work for us all at the moment because of injury and player unavailability but I’m proud of the way we stuck to our task, because I thought we might concede a lot more points at one stage when we lost Dai (Sweeny).
 
“He is a great stalwart in our squad and we wish him a swift recovery and hopefully a few games yet for The Mariners.”.
 
Milford Haven: Lee Riley: Aaron Davies; Steve Martin; Adam Cookson; Dean McSparron: James Williams; Dan McClelland: Dai Sweeny; Ryan Williams; Jordan Davies: Chris Hall; Chris Trieber-Jenkins: Jack Morgan; Ieuan Davies; Gareth Phillips. Replacement: Owain Evans.




 
 
 

Division Four (West) A:

 

Wasps retain Sutton Cup with a three-figure score

 

Neyland 105 - Llangwm 10

 

Llangwm were hit by four late withdrawals from an already-depleted squad but deserve every credit for fulfilling their fixture against a Neyland side brimming with confidence and red-hot favourites to achieve promotion.
 
The All Blacks opened their account with a try from veteran second ow Andrew Slark in the second minute and finished with a massive tally of 15 tries, all converted by full back Oli Rothero, to take them into their three-figure score – but the loudest cheer of the afternoon from an excellent crowd was reserved for Wasps’ front rower Ben Llewellyn as he intercepted a floated pass late on and crashed over near the posts, with Dylan Philpott adding the extra points to a first-half penalty.
 
As well as league points there was an added bonus for Neyland as they retained the Sutton Cup, presented by Phil Sutton on behalf of the family, played annually between these old rivals on a home and away basis for 40 years.
 
They were already 54-19 points to the good after the first game at Pill Parks and club chairman Robert Johns, a great servant of the club, introduced former player Phil, who then presented the fine piece of silverware to All Black skipper George Williams.
 
The Wasps were under pressure from the outset as The All Blacks threw the ball about from the start, with half backs Oli Rothero and Owen Hamer calling the sots and also getting on the points list as Hamer grabbed two tries and No 10 Rothero converted all 15 tries alongside a try to run up a massive 35 points.
 
But it was veteran second row Andrew Slark, now in his 42nd year, who scored the first try and others quickly followed for skipper George Williams, second row Adam Peel, winger Henry Macbeth, Hamer and Peel again.
 
But Llangwm, who had coach Dan Chesmer and team manager James Lewis bravely making up their number, refused to stop trying to play an attacking game and the loudest cheer of the half came when they were awarded a penalty and outside half Dylan Philpott landed an excellent three points as reward for working well with No 9 Rhys Nicholas, who was playing on permit from Whitland.
 
There was still time for Fletcher Picton to score a cracking long-range try for The All Blacks, and the Neyland full back claimed two more in the second half, with hooker Alex Swales rounding off the first half scoring at 56-3.
 
In the second half, other tries were soon on the list,  replacement winger Josh Watts scoring and with coming from Owen Hamer and Macbeth again, and then another veteran replacement in Mark James rounded off their 15 tries as he dived over the line.
 
It received a big cheer but nothing quite like the closing moments when Llangwm hooker Ben Lewellyn, who had tackled hard all afternoon in cahoots with Andrew Edwards, Ian Griffiths, skipper Ashley James and the rest of The Wasps pack, intercepted and crashed over for Philpott to land the conversion.
 
This huge win meant Neyland march on towards the league title and Llangwm stay rooted at the bottom, but both played entertaining rugby in their own ways and The Wasps in particular deserve every credit for not once throwing in the towel!





 
Neyland: Fletcher Picton: Matthew Coles; Patrick Bellerby; George Williams (Capt); Henry Macbeth: Oli Rothero; Owen Hamer: Jack Harries; Alex Swales; Seb McIntosh: Andrew Slark; Adam Peel: George Evans; Owain Evans; Ben Williams. Replacements: Mark James; Iestyn Evans; Dan Hart; Jasper Endean; Josh Watts. Reserve: Nick Wilson.
 
Llangwm:  Ollie Gerson; Harry Williams; Owain Jones Steffan Williams: Dylan Philpott; Rhys Nicholas: Joe Newton; Ben Llewellyn; Andrew Edwards: Ashley James (Capt); Danny Chesmer: James Lewis; Ian Griffiths; Morgan Rees. Replacements: Callum Jenkins; Steve Rees; Matthew Hughes.




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