PHOTO:
Sam Smith charges forward for Pembroke

 

Featured Match:

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Pembroke pack power too much for brave Quins

Pembroke 38 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0

Pembroke ran in six tries without reply against neighbours Pembroke Dock Harlequins, who were unable to break down the Scarlets’ well-organised defence but deserve credit for their tackling and willingness to keep chasing bigger opposition, especially up front.

Pembroke went on the offensive from the outset as skipper Scott Powell was joined by Will Edwards, Johnny Palmer, Seamus Wiseman and Lloyd Davies as human battering rams that confined the Quins to their own 22 for much of the time before The Scarlets eventually broke the deadlock after 18 minutes when Dom Colman and Jordan Evans helped No 8 Sam Smith to power his way over the line before Shaun Dalling added the extra points.

Smith then helped set up a corner try for prop Lloyd Davies after 34 minutes – and within three minutes Pembroke added a third try when quick hands from Tom Lewis, Toby Smith, and Dan Colley out pacy winger over and Toby Smith converted to give his team a 19-0 lead at half time.

Quins never gave up trying

Steff Halwood and his Quins’ players never once looked like quitting but again it was Pembroke who held the upper hand in the second half and influential No 9 Tom Lewis sliced over at the posts, only for Toby Smith to put his dropped-goal conversion attempt off target.

But Smith made amends with a well-taken try of his own which he also goaled, as did from wide out after replacement winger Ryan Wilkins picked up a loose ball and claimed The Scarlets’ sixth score.

There was a minute’s silence prior to the match for Pembroke stalwart Malcolm Webb and Pembroke were presented with the Eric Brown Trophy, competed for annually between these old rivals, having also won 41-14 when the teams met at Bierspool.

Pembroke: Luke Hartland: Barry Alderman-John; Shaun Dalling; Dan Colley; Simon Stanford: Toby Smith; Tom Lewis:  Lloyd Davies; Seamus Wiseman; Johnny Palmer: Scott Powell (Capt); Will Edwards: Dom Colman; Jordan Evans; Sam Smith. Replacements: Max Hayward; Cyle Wetherall; Rhodri Walters; Elliot Evans; Ryan Wilkins.

Pembroke Harlequins:  Charlie Davies: Liam Hargreaves-Gibson; Aaron Cookson; Thomas Doyle (Capt); Matthew Lewis: Lewis Davies; Jake Griffiths: Dean Wilcox; Neil Brace; Rob Hearne: Alex Pearce; Sam Jones: Harry Owen; Steffan Halward; Huw Baker. Replacements: Aaron Boss Tommy Clarkson; Luca Trimarco; Rhys Bradney; Tom Barrass.

PHOTO:
Quins' scrum half Jake Griffiths gets his pass away

 

Championship Division:

 

Otters enjoy bonus-point win at Ddol Wiber

Newcastle Emlyn 13 - Narberth 26

Narberth travelled to Newcastle Emlyn in the knowledge that victory there is never easy so Sean Gales and his squad will have made the trip back to The Lewis Lloyd Ground delighted with a deserved success that included a bonus point for scoring four tries.

As a result, The Otters are securely ensconced in second place behind runaway leaders Pontypool and are seven points ahead of the chasing pack, as proof of the terrific team spirit demonstrated under skipper Alex Jenkins.

They took the lead at Ddol Wiber after four minutes thanks to a penalty by Jonathan Rogers and added an unconverted try by winger Liam Hutchings after a clever kick to the corner by Rogers.

The Emlyn pack are renowned for their physicality, however, and served notice of intent as they earned two penalty chances which Ashley Sutton slotted with aplomb to cut the gap to two points – only for The Otters to lead 13-6 at half time, following an excellent try by powerful young winger Jack Parkinson.

Parkinson did well to add his second soon after the break but Emlyn showed their determination with a try from hooker Alex Williams with eight minutes left, converted by  Sutton to set up an interesting finish.

A Rogers’ penalty gave The Otters a bit of a breathing space and they secured that vital fourth score when the home side conceded a penalty some 35 metres out, were twice marched back by the referee for some ‘back chat’ and allowed skipper Jenkins to opt for a Narberth scrum.

After two resets his pack decided to go for a series of drives and after it was Jenkins who was held up just short the try was claimed by busy flanker Tom Powell.

The conversion went astray but it mattered little because The Otters were good value for victory before they face a challenging home tie in the Welsh Cup this Saturday against Premiership side Bedwas!
 

PHOTO:
Tom Powell - vital late score for Narberth

 

Division One (West):

 

Seasiders kill off Kilgetty hopes

Tenby United 58 - Kidwelly 22

Tenby United travelled to Heywood Lane with a 28-14 home win tucked safely under their belts but went home with their tails tucked firmly between their legs as The Seasiders scored nine tries to their opponents three!

With the Morgan brothers Matthew and Johnny firmly in control at half back the game was more or less over at half time at Tenby lead 32-7 having overcome the heavy pitch with some creative tries built from a super-solid performance up front.

It was Matthew Morgan who opened The Seasiders’ account with two excellent tries, one in a move that covered three-quarters of the length of the pitch, followed by others from flanker Andrew Cooke and winger Jordan Asparassa before Pat Roberts barged his way over as reward for an inspired performance in the centre.

Craig Barnett landed two conversions and a penalty and all Kidwelly could muster in reply was a try for Jack Evans, who added a second after half time alongside one by Alex Davies.

Two of them were converted by Gareth Rees, who also kicked a penalty but The Seasiders added further tries by Roberts, hooker Kyle Hamer, flanker Barry Parsons and full back Barnett, who also chipped in with three more conversions in an excellent Tenby United win.

Tenby United: Craig Barnett: Yannick Parker, Pat Roberts, Jack Guerreiro, Jordan Asparassa: Jonny Morgan, Matthew Morgan:  Rob Luly, Kyle Hamer, Lewis Davies: Luke Dedman, Mike Davis: Barry Parsons, Andrew Cooke, Roy Osborn. Replacements: Joe Poole, Ethan Morgan, Charlie Patching, Luke Hansford, Oliver Wingfield.

PHOTO:
Barry Parsons - try for Tenby - pic Susan McKehon

 

Preseli Men beaten in Mid Wales

Aberystwyth 27 - Crymych 7

Crymych suffered another set-back in their quest to escape the ‘dreaded drop’ as they made the journey to Aberystwyth but were unable to contain the power of the home side as they trailed 22-7 at half time and although they only conceded an unconverted try afterwards they were unable to score any more points of their own.

Strong-running centre Carwyn Phillips claimed the sole Crymych try, which was converted by outside half Carwyn Jones but for Aber, who had scrum half Ifan Thomas directing operations well, there were tries by flanker Paul Stubbs, hooker Carwyn Thomas, skipper and No 8 Lee Evans alongside a penalty try, plus two conversions and a penalty by Paul Rees.
 

PHOTO:
Carwyn Phillips - scored Crymych's only try at Aberystwyth

 

Division Two (West):

Davies drives Borderers to local-derby victory

St Clears 3 - Whitland 17

Two tries by gritty scrum half Adam Davies helped Whitland gain victory as they made the short journey up the A470 to take on St Clears with the clear aim of maintaining their thrust for promotion.

The Borderers knew they were in for a hard match and that is just what they got before picking up the points after leading 7-3 at the interval and staying in charge afterwards as their pack held sway in the set-pieces.

Whitland’s front row of Michael Ryan, Marc Jones and Aaron Mayne was roc-solid, allowing Raff Williams and Makayah Jones to join Ryan Morgan, James Lewis and especially Jack Mason in winning 50/50 possession – and with Davies sniping away behind them to score a try, converted by Nico Setaro.

The Saints’ only response was a penalty from James Davies and it was a similar story after the break as The Borderers sealed success with strong performances by full back Steff James and powerful centre Josh Thomas, adding a Setaro penalty and conversion of Davies’s second try.
 

PHOTO:
Adam Davies - two tries for Whitland No 9

 

Seagulls stymied by bad weather
Carmarthen Athletic P-P Fishguard & Goodwick
Match postponed – waterlogged pitch

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Mariners stay top after local derby win

Milford Haven 24 - Neyland 10

Milford Haven stay in top spot in the section table after a hard-fought tussle against Neyland, who had their chances in an entertaining match watched by a big crowd.

The Mariners were 14-3 in front at half time and always looked to have a slight edge but were unable to claim the bonus point they sought as The All Blacks always posed a threat through their talented young back division which was carefully nursed along by player/coach Steve Martin.

For Milford, veteran No 8 Mark Wonnacott was in outstanding form and they had a back line which was ever-ready to run the ball from deep positions, as they did when outside half Jamie Lewis was able to cut a good angle and slice through for their opening try, which half back partner Dan McClelland converted.

Neyland almost equalised from a cracking break by young centre George Williams, given space by centre side-kick Alex Codd, but slipped near the line – and his side had to settle for three points from the trusty boot of scrum half Mark Riley from the ensuing penalty at the ruck.

Great running by Jimmy Thomas resulted in Milford’s second try as he made 45 metres and then slipped the perfect pass for co-Centre Dan Jenkins to outpace the cover to speed to the posts to give McClelland an easy conversion.

The second half was no less competitive and replacement forward Dai Sweeny added Milford’s third try to go with a McClelland conversion and penalty before Neyland could lay claims for the try of the match from a terrific break by full back Adam Cawley before Steve Martin beat three would-be tacklers to find replacement hooker Mark Mathias at his shoulder on a run-in to the line.

Riley slotted the conversion but Milford completed the double since they had already won 15-8 at The Athletic Ground – and now face Pembroke in their next match, a real top-of-the-table clash if ever there was one!

Milford Haven: Matthew Reynolds: Dean McSparron; Jimmy Thomas; Dan Jenkins; Craig Thomas: Jamie Lewis; Dan McClelland: Michael Cockburn; Luke Ryan; Adam Rees (Capt): Matthew Doncaster; Chris Hall: Ben Groves; David Round; Mark Wonnacott. Replacements: Sam Dolling; Archie Smithies; Ashley Cooper; David Sweeny.
Neyland: Adam Cawley: Steve Martin; Alex Codd; George Williams; Craig Grice: Johnny Lloyd; Mark Riley: Yorrie Salter; Richard Jones; Jack Harries: Mark James; Jimmy Buirds: Iestyn Evans; Ben Williams; Scott Buirds. Replacements: Luke Dawes; Mark Mathias; Craig Power; Chris Busby; Eugene Grice.

PHOTO:
Milford and Neyland compete strongly for possession

Morgan’s late score gives Saints the double

Llangwm 5 - St Davids 12

A last minute try from replacement scrum half Zak Morgan ensured St Davids won an intense battle with Llangwm, after both sides had given everything over the 80 minutes.

Heavy underfoot conditions meant the game was moved to the spare pitch at Pill Parks, and as expected, a tight battle ensued with both sides desperate for a rare league win.

And it was The Saints who took control early on, after a powerful shove from a close range scrum saw veteran No 8 Anthony ‘Ianto’ Davies dive over for an unconverted try.

But Llangwm struck back when scrum half Ollie Hughes, playing on permit from Haverfordwest, broke from a lineout on half-way, and after some slick off-loading No 8 Josh Hicks showed great strength to crash over from 15 metres out.

The Saints then piled on the pressure before the break, but the away side repelled a series of close range attacks as visiting scrum half Rhys Price was held up over the line.

It was roles reversed in the second half though, as Llangwm wasted a series of attacking positons, most notably when outside half Luke Hayman went clean through but was adjudged to have thrown a forward pass with players outside him.

The home side were also left to rue running a close range penalty that would have been kickable – and then in the dying minutes, St Davids broke up-field and No 10 Scott James was stopped agonisingly short by the corner flag.

But from the resultant scrum, the St Davids pack surged towards the line and Morgan, who came on for the last 20 minutes, pounced for a try that centre Matty McLeod converted from out wide.

It meant a second league win of the season for the Saints, and left the Wasps still seeking a first success of their campaign – but both sides deserve credit for their commitment and endeavour, and the manner in which they socialised together afterwards in the Llangwm clubhouse!

PHOTO:
Saints and Wasps packs go head to head

 

Cardigan complete deserved double

Cardigan 22 - Tregaron 5

Cardigan were good value for their victory over Tregaron which earned them a double over gritty opponents, having already beaten the same opponents 31-18 in Mid Wales.

The Teifisiders led 7-0 at half time thanks to a try by Sion Phillips which Emyr Harries converted and added further tries through William Delve and Marcus Castle after the oranges.

Harries added a second conversion alongside a well-struck penalty and all Tregaron could muster in return was an unconverted try by winger Iwan Wyn-Rees.