PHOTOS:

Haverfordwest prop Ashley George drives hard at the Aberystwyth defence
Mikey Jones kicks a penalty for Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest centre Grant Rogers makes a strong midfield break

Pembrokeshire KO Cup Quarter Finals:

 

Blues miss their big chance

Haverfordwest 6 Aberystwyth 13

Haverfordwest bowed out of the Pembrokeshire KO Cup with defeat at the hands of Aberystwyth but firm in the knowledge that this was a cup tie they might have one, despite the Mid Wales team playing their league rugby a division higher than the Blues.

In the final analysis the difference between the sides proved to be a late try by No 8 Daniel Binks, converted by scrum half Llyr Thomas after a series of errors by the home team. Firstly they failed to clear a ball kicked out of defence and three missed tackles allowed replacement Aber winger Matthew Evans to speed to the line.

Fortunately for the Blues, Evans spilt the ball with the line at his mercy but from the ensuing scrum five, Aber were gifted possession and Binks dived over for a soft try.

Yet it was Haverfordwest who made the better start in the understandably heavy conditions as Ollie Evans, skipper Gareth Green, Gareth Phillips and Alun Harries put in some powerful surges. Mikey Jones opened their account with a simple penalty but he and centre Grant Rogers missed other kickable chances and the Blues were only 3-0 ahead at half time as they allowed Aber back into the frame.

The visitors started the second half well but resolute home defence restricted them to two Llyr Thomas penalties before Grant Rogers levelled matters with a penalty for the Blues.

But they missed other chances in several sustained pressure periods of their own and so Aberystwyth made the long journey home with a narrow victory – and a home semi-final fixture against Cardigan which must be played by the 8^th March.

Haverfordwest:  Lee Summons: Scott Candler; Scott James; Grant Rogers; Laurence Hancock: Mikey Jones; Danny Morgan: Ashley George; Gareth Green (Capt); Ollie Evans: Gareth Phillips; Brett Davies: Dewi Williams; Adam Williams; Alun Harries. Replacements: Danny Miners; Deon Lloyd-Hughes; Matthew Morgan.

Aberystwyth: Carwyn Evans: Ian Ellis; Luke Williams; Paul Stubbs; Shaun Lewis: Owain Owen; Llyr Thomas: Huw Jones; Gareth Flynn; Tom Pluck: Eifion Hughes; Cameron McKay: Robbie Parry; Chris Randall; Daniel Binks. Replacements: Steffan Bonsall, Matthew Evans; Billy Thomas, Ifan Thomas.

 

Seasiders spring KO Cup surprise

Crymych 15 Tenby United 16

Tenby United showed that they are again becoming a force to be reckoned with in the county as they followed up victory over Whitland in the previous round with a nerve-jangling win at Crymych to deservedly claim their second scalp from Division One (West).

The Seasiders started well as Rob Luly, Gareth Jones and Rob Clarke won possession for Luke Hansford, Roy Osborn and  Pat Roberts to utilise, and they took an early seven-point lead when hooker Gareth Jones ploughed through for a try which young scrum half Jonathan Rogers converted.

But with Alex Hopkins and Tom Powell exerting an influence up front alongside Carwyn Phillips at the back, the Preseli Men bounced back to lead 15-6 at the break thanks to good tries by No 8 Gareth Williams and winger Gavin Thomas, one converted by Adam Phillips to go with a penalty.

Tenby refused to submit however as skipper Chris James led by example alongside Luke Dedman in the lineout stakes, whilst Jack Guerreiro and Jack Price joined Lloyd Thomas in a strong midfield trio that tried to bring in Dan Colley, Dai Meyrick and Damian Miller into the game at every opportunity.

Two Rogers’ penalties set the alarm bells ringing for Crymych and when he slotted his third three-pointer it set up that tense finale to an absorbing clash.

The Preseli Men had one last late chance to snatch the verdict as they were awarded a penalty but Adam Phillips was off target from the 22 metre line and the Seasiders’ reward is a home semi-final tie against Milford Haven, to be played on or before the 8^th March.

Gareth Jones - livewire hooker scored a vital try for Tenby United

 

Championship:

 

Otters concede North Wales double

RGC (1404) 28 Narberth 6

Narberth became the first team in the championship division to concede the double to RGC (1404) as they followed up their 18-22 home defeat with this more comprehensive defeat in North Wales.

RGC opened the scoring with a try by Ollie Cractell which Lewis Barker converted but Ianto Griffiths responded with two penalties for the Otters, although he and Nick Gale missed other kickable chances as Stuart Worrall, Dylan Richards and Adam Clark caught the eye with their ball-winning capabilities.

Barker kicked a penalty for RGC but failed to add the extras to a try by winger Tom Blackwell, leaving the North Walians 15-6 to the good at the break.

Barker also opened the second-half scoring with a penalty and as hooker Bryn Williams caught the eye for RGC they had two unconverted tries on the other wing by Carwyn ap Myrddin to earn them a bonus point into the bargain as the Otters made the long journey back home with little to show for their efforts.
 

Division Four (West):

 

Seasiders upended by Uplands

Swansea Uplands 30 Fishguard & Goodwick 17

Fishguard and Goodwick were in contention for much of their match at Swansea Uplands but conceded late points that saw the Uplands earn a bonus point when whilst the Seagulls returned with nothing in terms of league points.

Seagulls’ skipper Simon James joined prop Adrian Squelch as their try scorers whilst veteran No 10 Huw Evans played a neat little cameo with both conversions and a penalty.

But the Uplands had tries from No 8 Ben Davies, outside half James Edmunds, centre Harry Leese and scrum half Sam Jones, who also landed a penalty and two conversions. Tom Pugh completed their scoring with a penalty to help Uplands gain their fifth win in 11 outings to leap-frog the Seagulls, who sustained their sixth defeat in 10 starts.
 

Simon James - Fishguard skipper scored another try

Swalec Plate (Round Three):

 

Borderers bow out of Swalec Plate

Whitland 0 Kidwelly 14

Whitland bowed out of the Swalec Plate competition as they conceded a converted try in each half to Kidwelly and failed to make the most of their own chances.

Kidwelly are currently in third spot in the Division One table, six places higher than the Borderers, but the home side battled hard throughout as they played well in the tight but seemed to be heavily penalised at the break down.

The pattern was set in the first half as Whitland had half chances during periods of pressure where Raff Williams led by example up front and Lee Glanville posed a threat with ball in hand, but outside half James Stephenson missed a penalty and they lost No 8 Callum Tree with a shoulder injury. Kidwelly claimed the only score of the period when blind-side flanker Richard Pearce scored a try which Adam Davies converted.

The Borderers had the lions’ share of possession in the second period but just couldn’t score, with prop Gethin Jones going closest but spilling the ball as he tried to plough over the line.
Even worse was the fact that when a Whitland move broke down an interception try for Kidwelly was claimed by
Adam Kirkbride, again converted by Adam Davies.

Whitland skipper Marc Jones and opposing hooker Osian Lloyd were both yellow-carded in the final three minutes but by then it mattered little because Kidwelly were home and dry, leaving Whitland to reflect on what might have been.