Division One (West):
Otters in the hunt at start of season
Narberth 33 points - Felinfoel 9 points
Narberth began their new campaign in very positive style as they ran in no fewer than five tries against old rivals Felinfoel to secure a maximum-points start at the Lewis Lloyd Ground.
The Otters played some really good running rugby to build up a 19-9 interval lead and they maintained a strangle hold on play afterwards as they added a further two scores whilst keeping a good defence that was well organized by full back Roger Davies. But Davies was also a very potent threat with his runs from deep positions and his try brace was enough to earn him the man of the match accolade as a bonus.
Another to make a good start was new flanker Wayne Williams, who was involved in both Narberth’s tries, the first when a long pass by Aled Davies created the space and scrum half Andrew Davies scored a cracking try after inter-passing with Nick Jones, followed by a try from Roger Davies, and both converted by Aled Davies.
Sandwiched neatly in between was a penalty from Felinfoel winger Jason Howells, who slotted two further penalties, the second from the final kick of the half, as the visitors battled hard to stay in contention.
Play was fairly even in the third quarter but then Narberth claimed a 68th minute try as Roger Davies scored a superb second score to show his elusive qualities, converted by Aled Davies – but he was denied a hat-trick when the referee decided that another jinking run ended with him not grounding the ball to the official’s satisfaction.
But The Otters made sure of success after 75 minutes when Sion Lloyd, who was on as a temporary replacement, scored a close-range try and Aled Davies duly notched the conversion. It nicely rounded off a convincing display by the otters, which must have pleased coaching director Jonathan Dodd and head coach Sean Gale.
PHOTO: Sion Lloyd - rare try for Narberth prop.
Students too strong for
battling Borderers
UWIC 28 points - Whitland 18 points
Whitland made the long journey to Cardiff to take on the talented young students at UWIC and although the Borderers went down to defeat there were some encouraging signs for new coaches Randal Williams and Robin Davies.
They trailed 22-11 at the half way stage of the game as Carwyn Jones rounded off some quick hands to score a try and although scrum half Huw Rees was unable to convert he did manage to land two well-struck penalties.
But the Borderers conceded penalties and UWIC outside half Rhys Roberts punished these indiscretions with four penalties to go with unconverted tries by inside centre Will Rees-Hole and hooker Jack Yandle.
Roberts added two further penalties during the second half but the students were unable to breach the Borderers’ defences to score any tries – and Whitland managed the only try of the period when Ryan Michael crossed for a good try and Huw Rees converted.
PHOTO: Ryan Michael scored for Whitland in defeat at UWIC.
Division Three (West):
Crymych deliver Dunvant KO
Crymych 19 points - Dunvant 13 points
Crymych started their new season with something of a bang as they fended off the challenge of former top-class side Dunvant at Parc Lloyd Thomas.
The Preseli Men were 8-6 adrift at the half way stage but showed their real grit as they came back to win a match where young second row Rhys Davies was adjudged man of the match for his rousing play and ball-winning skills.
Dunvant made a good start as they took the lead with an unconverted corner try by outside half Adam Williams but Crymych pulled back with a penalty from outside half Gareth Davies after good work by Tomos Jones. Adam Williams slotted a penalty for Dunvant but another of Crymych’s young players in Ianto Griffiths kicked a three-pointer to limit Dunvant’s interval lead to two points.
Crymych took the lead for the first time when flanker Richard Sharp-Williams ploughed over for a try which Ianto Griffiths converted – and a Gareth Davies penalty was reward for forward pressure by the Preseli Men.
Dunvant responded with a try from winger Mike Arnold but another penalty from Gareth Davies, put Crymych back in control and they enjoyed an opening-day win as reward for all their efforts.
PHOTO: Richard Sharp-Williams - good try for Crymych flanker.
Blues just miss out
Llandeilo 14 points -
Haverfordwest 7 points
Haverfordwest were without several key players for their trip to Llandeilo and paid the inevitable price – although it says something about the Blues’ squad strength that they were only one score behind at the finish and had a bonus point for their hard work.
The visitors took the lead after only seven minutes when an attempted drop goal by Matthew Davies was off-target but centre Dan Harries was first to react as he won the race for the loose ball and gained an opportunist touch-down which Davies converted.
Llandeilo opened their account four minutes later with a penalty from full back Steffan Howells, who added a second kick on target after 21 minutes so although both teams had half chances the interval scoreline showed Haverfordwest a point ahead at 7-6.
The Blues were hit by a double injury after only seven minutes of the second period as scrum half Tom Walker and prop Dan Miners had to leave the field – and Llandeilo took the lead soon afterwards with a try by second row Gareth Augustus.
Howells notched a third penalty with eight minutes to go and that ended the scoring, despite Haverfordwest’s efforts to claw their way back into contention in a hard-fought tussle.
PHOTO: Dan Harries - opportunist try for Haverfordwest centre.
Division Four (West):
Seasiders stunned by
broken leg drama
Amman United 17 points -
Tenby United 12 points
Tenby United’s defeat at Amman United was overshadowed by a nasty broken leg for the Seasiders’ popular player Barry John, which caused him to be air-lifted to hospital – and rugby lovers will wish Barry a speedy recovery.
No 8 Sam Smith and pacy winger Simon Stanford scored the Tenby tries and outside half Neil Powling slotted a penalty as they trailed 8-5 at the interval to a try by Scott Stephens and a penalty from Rhys Thomas.
Thomas added three more penalties in the second period for Amman United so that although the Seasiders outscored the opposition by two tries to one they had to settle for a bonus point on what turned out to be a low-key start to the season.
PHOTOS: Sam Smith barges over for Tenby.
Simon Stanford races clear for a Tenby try.
Action pictures supplied by Dave Bolton.
Cardis make welcome winning start
Cardigan 16 points - Aberaeron 8 points
Cardigan made a welcome winning start to their new campaign after relegation last season, fending off the strong challenge of an Aberaeron side which was eager for a good start after being promoted from Division Five (West).
Aberaeron outside half Dylan Evans put his side ahead with a penalty but it was soon cancelled out by a neat drop goal from the Teifisiders’ Jack Lewis. The only other score in the first session was a good try for Cardigan prop Dan Martin as reward for their pack effort at a lineout take and drive which saw Martin impelled over the line for an unconverted try.
The Teifisiders increased their lead with a cracking try which saw forwards and backs interpassing before replacement flanker Gethin Evans finished the move – but after home winger Wayne Parsons had been shown a red card, Aberaeron exploited the blind side at a set-piece to set up a score for No 8 and captain Tudur Jenkins.
Cardigan soon re-grouped, however, and a late penalty by Jack Lewis settled them back into a groove so that they finished the match still six points ahead and off to the winning start they had hoped for.
Cruel late score hits All Blacks
Cefneithin 26 points - Neyland 21 points
Neyland came within a few moments of victory at Cefneithin but a freak combination of events saw them denied victory as a touch-line collision between skipper Mathew Williams and touch judge Martin Rees saw the latter unable to see a clear foot in touch for the homesters before they scored the winning try and conversion.
No-one could blame flag man Rees or the referee because both were unsighted and so the score stood, with the All Blacks having to settle for a bonus point after looking to be likely winners after Chris Busby had put them 21-19 ahead following a good combined move that featured front rowers Mark Smith, Robert Codd and Richard Banner.
The All Blacks were 13-9 ahead at the break as Richard Watts kicked three penalties for the home side and Neyland replied with tries from Mathew Williams and winger Andrew Charnley to go with an early Williams’ penalty.
Mark Riley came on as a replacement and notched a Neyland penalty before a try from Luke Jenkins alongside the conversion and another Watts’ penalty put Cefneithin ahead with ten minutes left.
Then came that Chris Busby try – and the late winner by Andrew Cudd which Watts converted to really rub salt in the All Blacks wounds!
PHOTO: Neyland touch judge Martin Rees - knocked over by his skipper at Cefneithin.
Makeshift Mariners win
well in local derby
Pembroke Dock Quins 13 points -
Milford Haven 30 points
There was a large crowd to watch this entertaining local derby between Pembroke Dock Quins and Milford Haven at Bierspool, which the Mariners won, despite being without some key players.
But they were able to use the experience of 38 year old Nathan ‘Yoppers’ Young, who had a good game at full back and had a match-winner in young scrum half Tom Arnold, who kicked 18 points from all angles and generally looked very sharp about the pitch.
The Quins took the lead with a penalty by skipper Gareth Scourfield which was cancelled out by a similar effort by Arnold, who then converted a good try be centre Rhys Holmes as he cut straight through the middle
The Quins responded with a forward drive that resulted in Jake Osborne being credited with the try but an interception try by Milford second row Gareth Fawcett, who took possession near his own 22 and completely outstripped the Quins’ defence on a 75 metre run to the line, saw his side go into half time with a 17-8 lead after Arnold slotted the simple conversion.
The second period was equally as fast and furious, with Arnold kicking another good penalty and then converting the try of the match after Nathan Young had broken out of defence, drew his marker and put winger Tom Bullivant over for a try which had ‘class’ written all over it.
Arnold eventually landed yet another three points for the Mariners but the Quins had the final word when their pack went close on a couple of occasions before lock Barry Parsons was driven over for an unconverted try.
PHOTO: Gareth Fawcett runs in an interception try for Milford.
Action picture supplied by Matthew Kelly of Rawphotography.me.uk
Division Five (West):
Scarlet runners too much for Wasps
Pembroke 42 points - Llangwm 17 points
Pembroke produced six tries in their local derby win over Llangwm and the Wasps certainly played their part in providing entertainment for a good crowd as they also ran in a try trio of their own.
Indeed, it was Llangwm who opened the scoring with a cracking try as Matthew Kiff and Robbie Neill made the running before Andrew Brock powered through to the right corner – and added the extra points with a superb kick.
Pembroke powered back to lead 14-10 at the half way stage thanks to tries from new Irish recruit Paul Parcell, who drove through from his back row berth, and winger Leigh Duffy, who showed a good turn of speed on the blind side, both converted by outside half James Davies, with Brock landing a Llangwm penalty in reply.
Brock was again involved shortly after the break as he cut through for another try and converted to put Llangwm ahead again but Pembroke’s pack raised the tempo and lock Mark Boswell finished off a driving maul to score a try as reward for all his efforts. Simon Hooper converted, as he did when powerful centre Mark Williams burst through and supplied the scoring pass for his younger brother Michael, who had come on a substitute.
The Scarlets were able to add two further tries, both converted by Hooper, who scored the first of them and helped set up the other for Mark Williams, to bring a smile to the normally taciturn face of coach Ossie Boswell, who recognized a good job well done by his squad in a local derby that doubles up as league points and the first leg of the Palmer Cup.
PHOTOS: Llangwm’s Matthew Kiff snipes for the line.
Pembroke’s Simon Hooper on the run
Action pictures by Bill Carne of Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk
Penygroes v Fishguard
Match postponed – Penygroes unable to raise a team because of illness
Morgan’s try makes the difference!
St Davids 7 points - St Clears 6 points
Replacement front rower Chris Morgan was the toast of his St Davids colleagues as the big feller came on as a second-half replacement to score what turned out to be the only try of the match.
‘Mogs’ rounded off a controlled 57th minute drive with a short-range thrust that took him over the line and Phil Lamb added the extra points to give the Pembrokeshire Saints a 7-3 lead since Jim Devonald had landed a penalty for St Clears to put them into a narrow interval lead.
Devonald also landed another penalty after 65 minutes and had two further chances to slot a penalty that would have taken victory away from St Davids – but was off-target with both.
William Bateman caught the eye for St Davids as he switched from wing to scrum half during a second-half reshuffle, whilst skipper Fraser Watson also looked sharp when he had the ball in his hand.
“We are delighted to have started off with a win against a team that gives nothing away,” said Watson, “now we must learn to turn periods of pressure into points.
PHOTO: Chris Morgan - vital try for St Davids.
| 