Feature Match - Division Three (West):

 

Blues blunder their way to a one-point win

 

Haverfordwest 10 - Cardigan 9

 
Referee: Ricky Rosser (who had a good game in control)
 
A late penalty by full back Ollie Roberts saw Haverfordwest edge their way to victory over a gritty Cardigan side whose defence at times was heroic, and at one seemed as if they might snatch an unlikely success in view of the fact that were slammed in the scrums and in terms of possession had nothing like parity in a game played on the Blues’ second pitch so that recent seeding had a little more time to settle in.
 
But in Shaum Leonard The Teifisiders had a potential match-winner as the full back knocked over three penalties from as many attempts, the last one on half time from 54 metres, to open up a 9-0 interval lead despite the fact that The Blues had several times when they were camped within 10 metres of the opposition line and there were mighty charges by the likes of Jack Clancy, Jonathan Mason, skipper Karl Busch and Jamie Zambas, who formed a redoubtable front row with Terry Lovell and Dan Berry.
 
Haverfordwest did have a straight  penalty chance from 30 metres which full back Roberts missed and only good defence and taking wrong options allowed Cardigan to go in at half time with an unlikely 9-point buffer.




 
Home supporters’ frustrations were eased a little almost from the kick off in the second half as their team played down the slope and a short series of thrusts involving Matty Phillips, Lovell and Griffiths saw No 8 Mason plough his way over at the posts and Roberts converted to reduce the deficit to two points – but further sustained attacks broke down and Cardigan deserve every credit as they defended well and two more eminently kickable penalties went wide or short of the uprights to increase the home tensions.
 
Cardigan also showed resilience when, on a rare breakout, a terrific charge by veteran No 8 Colin Davies, who linked with Kieron Hurley and Aaron Tomkinson, saw Jack Davies set off on a run but the final pass went astray.
 
There was palpable relief in The Blues’ camp when Roberts finally slotted a penalty, although he was just wide from another attempt soon afterwards – and there was another moment of concern as Cardigan were awarded a penalty - -but they failed to find touch and scrum half Ioan Hawkridge-Jones put the ball in touch.
 
He had linked well with Liam Eaton in setting his backs in motion and there were useful runs by centres Jack Codd and Iestyn Arnold as they tried to set wingers Scott Candler and Guy Barrons away (who has joined the club via San Francisco and the Isle of Man!) . The pack is going to trouble most clubs in this new division and there was inevitably ring rustiness that caused errors – but new coach Simon Lepetit will be looking for fewer errors and a clear plan of action when so much on top!




 
Haverfordwest:
Ollie Roberts: Guy Barrons; Jack Codd; Iestyn Arnold; Scott Candler: Liam Eaton; Ioan Hawkridge-Jones: Dan Berry; Jamie Zambas; Terry Lovell:  Jack Clancy; Karl Busch: Mike Griffiths; Matty Phillips; Jonathan Mason. Replacements:  Ieuan Bevan;  Tom Carrington; Andrew Edwards; Archie Thomas; Gabriel Thicker.




 
Cardigan:
Shaun Leonard: Iwan John; Jack Lewis; Emyr Harries; Jack Taylor: Jac Davies; Aaron Evans: Will Bryce; Cai Ifans; Nathan Bowen: Dean Harries; Andrew Jones: Kieron Hurley; Aaron Tomkinson; Colin Davies. Replacements: Rhodri Parry Jones; Flynn Tjoonk, Sean Owen; Llyr Jones; Kester Adams.
 
 
 

Premiership Division:

 

Otters miss out by a point in ding-dong battle

 

Ystrad Rhondda 37 - Narberth 36

 
Narberth opened their season by scoring 36 points against tough opposition in Ystrad Rhondda at Gelligaled Park, but missed out by a whisker and in the final analysis had to settle for two bonus points; one for coming within seven points of their opposition and the other for scoring at least four tries.
 
It was a huge disappointment for Liam Gadd and his players after such grit in forcing their way back into contention so many times, but showed they have the wherewithal to hold their own in this higher division against some very experienced teams.
 
Ystrad took the lead after three minutes when winger Alex Webber scored an unconverted try, only for The Otters to take the lead when outside half Jonathan Rogers rounded off good pressure with a try that he also converted.
 
The lead was short lived, though, because the homesters had a try by centre Cole Morgan and a second by Webber, both converted by No 10 Rhys Truelove to open up a 19-7 scoreline before The Otters fought back with a very good try by ‘danger man’ Lewys Gibby, converted by half back partner Rogers.
 
But Cole Morgan’s second score was followed by a good response from The Otters as Ashley Sutton, Aled Rees and Tom Powell saw winger Geraint Williams pounce for a try.
 
The topsy-turvy nature of the game was continued, however, as Ystrad full back Josh Williams sped through for a try and right on the break Narberth responded with a Rees try which Rogers converted so that Ystrad Rhondda’s interval lead was restricted to 29-26 so that breathless players and supporters in both camps could take a breather!
 

More points in a breathless second half

 
A Rogers’ penalty soon after the restart levelled matters but Ystrad fended off some strong surges by the likes of Will Blackburn, Kyle and Josh Hamer, Roy Osborn and especially Narberth man of the match Rhys Williams and a Truelove penalty nudged them ahead before winger Cavan Davies grabbed an unconverted try to put his team eight points ahead.
 
Even then the drama wasn’t over, however, as The Otters had the final word with a try by classy centre Hedd Nicholas which Rogers converted but, try as they might, that was the end of the scoring and Ystrad Rhonda edged home, safe in the knowledge that they had been pushed all the way by a battling Narberth team which gave total commitment to their cause.
 
Ystrad Rhondda:
Josh Williams: Alex Webber; Logan Hutchings; Cole Morgan; Cavan Davies: Rhys Truelove; Callum Phillips: Tom Stacey; Liam Wiggins; Jordan Pritchard: Thomas John; Garyn Davies: Rhys Dauncey; Jarrad Llewellyn (Capt); Jack Rees. Replacements: Carl Williams; Tomos Foulkes; David Webb; Morgan Burgess; Morgan Williams; Kian Richards; Lewis Williams; Iestyn Griffiths.
 
Narberth:
Ashley Sutton: Geraint Llewellyn; Aled Rees; Hedd Nicholas; Rhys Harris: Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby: Luke Griffiths-Dawes; Kyle Hamer; Guto Mcanulty Jones: Will Blackburn; Rhys Williams: Tom Powell; Josh Hamer; Roy Osborn. Replacements: George Rossiter; Lewis Jones; Ryan Rees; Jac Bennett; Sam Davies; Alex Williams; Osian Evans; Matthew John.
 
 
 

Championship:

 

Fantastic fight-back earns Preseli Men a morale-boosting opener

 

Crymych 43 - Maesteg Quins 21

 
The interval scoreline of 21-10 at Parc Lloyd Thomas to visiting Maesteg Quins certainly didn’t seem to bode well for Crymych but whatever coaches Elgan Vittle, Ifan Phillips and Tomos Jones said to their squad at half time it certainly worked as The Preseli Men considerably raised the tempo and added 33 unanswered points thereafter.
 
Leading the way for Crymych was the work rate of their pack as they helped set up four tries but also put such pressure on the opposition that they concede a host of penalties that allow ace kicker Adam Phillips to punish them with all four conversions and five penalties for a massive personal haul of 23 points.
 
The Quins were well led by centre Kristian Jenkins and No 8 Andrew Healey also caught the eye as tries came from centre Brandon Huntley and second row Aled Evans, whilst full back Owen Howe converted one and landed three penalties as all Crymych could muster in response was a try by classy outside half Ifan Phillips which his namesake Adam converted alongside the first of his penalties.
 
But with Tom Taylor joining Jon Hill and Carwyn Phillips in a workaholic back row, plus great ball winners in Morgan James, Lee Griffiths and Osian Charles alongside Rhys and Osian Davies the pendulum really swung Crymych’s way after the oranges, with half backs Ifan Phillips and Ianto Davies bringing their back division into play at every opportunity there were some nice touches by Tomos Lewis, Sion Evans and Ianto Davies , with tries coming from centre Lawrence Headlam, replacement winger Jac Griffiths, and a second for No 10  Ifan Phillips.
 
Adam Phillips also defended well and his placing kicking was top notch – and The Preseli Men had made a great start to their new campaign.
 
Crymych:
Adam Phillips: Tomos Lewis; Sion Evans; Lawrence Headlam; Ianto Davies: Ifan Phillips; Dafydd Phillips: Morgan James; Lee Griffiths; Osian Charles: Rhys Davies; Osian Davies: Tom Taylor; Jon Hill; Carwyn Phillips. Replacements: Carwyn Rees; Aled Hughes; Llyr Davies; Rhydian Howells; Jac Griffiths.
 





 

Division One (West):

 

Saints miss a great late chance and The Seasiders are off and running

 

St Clears 17 - Tenby United 24

 
Recent matches between these two strong teams have been very hard-fought and this one was no exception before visitors Tenby took victory and The Saints received a consolation bonus point for getting within seven points of the opposition – but were left to reflect on a very late incident where a draw loomed ever-closer but a critical error saw them throw away a late, late try.
 
It came with time almost up but with Tenby looking comfortable as they were within five metres of The Saints’ try line – only for a great turn over by the home side to see them show great initiative as skipper Jack Howells launched a stunning assault where the ball changed hands at pace so that they had only the last line of Tenby defence to beat.
 
The ball carrier, whom we choose not to name but videos are commonplace on social media, decided to try and put a supporting player in with the chance to cross at the posts – but the pass went astray and Tenby could breathe a collective sigh of relief at ‘The Great Escape’!
 

A second half just as competitive

 
The teams had been locked at 14-all at half time as both enjoyed periods of pressure and others of defence – but both tries for The Saints came from skipper Jack Howells, playing in the centre and looking as classy as ever, both converted by co-centre Dan Griffiths.
 
The Seasiders fought back from a 0-14 deficit and it was the ubiquitous Dan Colley who opened their account after a series of close-range drives saw the flanker in place to claim the touch-down before No 10 Harry Rossiter converted – and full back Geraint Jones marked his debut for The Seasiders since joining them from Whitland, with Rossiter again adding the extra points.
 
The second period was just as tight as Griffiths exchanged penalties with Lloyd Thomas – and then the power of the Tenby pack saw them jerk The Saints forwards back and be awarded a penalty try for their efforts.
 
Then came that extraordinary late escape for The Seasiders, for whom Jack Broadhurst played well after his switch from back row to centre, his brother Fletcher on the wing, key ball winner Alex Jenkins and No 8 Dom Colman caught the eye for Tenby alongside Rob Luly and new skipper Tom Barrass – the only consolation for St Clears being the fact that they lost to Tenby in last season’s first match, and played brilliantly thereafter!
 
St Clears:
Dafydd Waters: Dafydd Rees; Jac Howells (Capt); Dan Griffiths; Jake Williams: Sam Miles; Jacob Davies: Will Icke; Tom Williams; Dan Evans: Jayden Leefe; Brandon Davies: Gareth Morris; Brandon Williams; Alun Davies. Replacements: Dafydd Millward; Gary Barnes; Jack Tucker; Rhodri Evans; Sion Evans.
 
Tenby United:
Geraint Jones: Brad Cramb; Gwion Jones; Jack Broadhurst; Fletcher Broadhurst:  Harry Rossiter; Dai Jones:  Hywel Baker; Kyle Rossiter; Rob Luly: Tom Barrass (Capt); Alex Jenkins: Lewis Tingay; Dan Colley; Dom Colman. Replacements: Dan Allen; Ethan Morgan; Luke Dedman; Jack Brown; Lloyd Thomas.