PHOTO:
Jake Simm rules this line out roost

 

Championship Division:

 

Ianto steers Otters to terrific win

Narberth 27 - Trebanos 23

Three excellent late pressure penalties by replacement Ianto Griffiths gave Narberth a narrow but deserved home victory against high-flying Trebanos.

The visitors, who have shot through the divisions with a team composed of players from around their village near Pontardawe, were hugely committed, backed up by their large and vociferous support, and they showed why they were second in the table as they raced into a 14-3 lead, with good tries from centres Lloyd Phillips and Steff Lewis, both converted by full back Matthew Edwards.

All Narberth could muster in between was a Jonathan Rogers’ penalty and the Otters’ No 10 added a second penalty midway through the first quarter.

Then in an action-packed period of play they conceded a soft penalty which Edwards converted but after a period of sustained pressure involving Joe and Liam Hutchings, Jack Price and the outstanding back row of Pat Roberts, Sean Jenkins and Richard Rees, the home side finally grabbed an unconverted corner try by left winger Kieran Jones.

The Otters missed a couple of penalty chances to draw level and paid the price as good work up front from Iwan Davies, skipper Rhys Thomas, Ben and Rhodri Williams which allowed Edwards to send two penalties unerringly between the posts for a deserved 20-11 lead to the visitors.

But they lost their discipline in the second half after conceding only three yellow cards all season so far they had four shown at different times in this match and had young prop Aled Humphries sent off.

It cost them dearly because all they could muster in the second period was a third Edwards’ penalty and after almost ten minutes of constant pressure from the Otters, and desperate defence from the visitors, the good ball retention allowed centre Jack Price to score an excellent try which Ianto Griffiths converted.

That set up a grandstand finish for Narberth and Griffiths landed three penalties, none of them from easy positions, and The Otters were good value for sticking to the task and showing good discipline which paid off in the final analysis.

Narberth: James Stephenson: Liam Hutchings; Joe Hutchings; Jack Price; Kieran Jones: Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby: Bradley Davies; Dan Smith; Tom Slater: Jake Simm; Alex Jenkins (Capt): Pat Roberts; Sean Jenkins; Richard Rees. Replacements: Ollie Evans; Rhodri Owens, Tom Powell; Ianto Griffiths; Paul Davies.

Trebanos: Matthew Edwards: Kieron Wightman; Lloyd Phillips; Steff Lewis; Sam Davies: Lewis Humphries; Tom Lucas: Tyla Murvai; Rhys Thomas (capt); Alun Dew: Richard Davies; Rhys Morgan: Iwan Davies; Ben Williams; Rhodri Williams. Replacements: Morgan Evans; Aaron Bramwell; Luke Griffiths; Jack Perkins; Aled Humphries.

Referee: Richard Deacey

PHOTO:
Jonathan Rogers sets Jack Price on a run

 
 

Division One (West):

 

Preseli Men edged out in basement battle

Kidwelly 16 - Crymych 15

Crymych’s hopes of a first league win and a chance to get off the foot of the table came to nothing as they went down to the narrowest defeat against fellow basement-battlers Kidwelly.

The Preseli Men battled really hard and were good value for a narrow interval lead of 12-10 as talented young players Jake Jenkins and Sion Colella scored their tries and Ifan Phillips landed one conversion.

But the home side had a try by scrum half Alex Davies which Gareth Rees converted to go with a penalty.

The second half was equally tight and although Phillips notched a penalty for Crymych it was ace points-gatherer Rees who snatched the verdict for Kidwelly thanks to two more kicks that he sent between the Preseli Men’s posts!

PHOTO:
Jake Jenkins - good try in Crymych defeat

 

Seasiders suffer a home set back

Tenby United 12 - Felinfoel 30

Tenby United were in contention for much of their match against high-flying Felinfoel but the visitors stay in second spot by lasting the pace better after leading by 13-7 at the half-way stage.

The tries for Felinfoel came from Aled Roberts, Rhys Evans and Owain Davies, Rhys Evans and Owen Davies, all converted by Roberts, who also landed two penalties and a dropped goal for a personal haul of 20 points and the pleasure of going through the scoring methods card.

The Seasiders had a try by centre Craig Barnett in the first half and another by Yannick Parker after the interval, one converted by Ashley Sutton, but suffered their fourth loss from their sixth game so far.

PHOTO:
Yannick Parker scores for Tenby United
Picture by Brian McKehon

 

Division Two (West):

 

Borderers outstanding in top of table clash

Whitland 17 - Hendy 6

Both teams came into this clash at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn with 100% records but it was Whitland who now reign supreme at the top of the table as reward for a victory where they showed commitment aplenty and good skill levels in attack and defence.

Their platform for success came from the front three of Mike Ryan, skipper Marc Jones and Aaron Mayne, ably assisted by veteran second rows Dai Ebsworth and Raff Williams, who provided the back bone in a pack where Ben Kirk, Ryan Michael and Jack Mason never stopped working as a back row unit.

A measure of the intensity of this table-topping clash came with the interval scoreline of 6-3 to the Borderers thanks to a brace of Nico Setaro penalties against one from Hendy’s Josh Butler.

Butler also added a second three-pointer in the second half but Setaro slotted two more alongside a try from ace finisher Sean Coles.

Coles also defended well wide out alongside Liam Price whilst Scott Newton, Johnny Thomas and Scott Lloyd (on his senior debut) bottled up the middle to stifle the Hendy runners – and Adam Davies joined Setaro in controlling matters with some well-judged kicking as The Borderers deservedly created a played five, won five start to their campaign!

PHOTO:
Sean Coles - vital try for Whitland

 

Seasiders win a real thriller

Fishguard & Goodwick 36 - Tumble 34

Home fingernails were bitten down to the quick at The Moors before Fishguard and Goodwick edged home in a 70-point thriller against Tumble after trailing 24-19 at the break.

Both sides were able to run the ball at every opportunity because defensive skills weren’t as strong as they might be and The Seagulls scored excellent tries in the first half by No 8 Mark George, Winger James Reynolds and Chris Shousha, two of them converted by scrum half Alun George.

But they allowed Tumble to score tries from winger Mike Edwards, centre Steffan Price (2) and winger Sam Jones alongside two conversions from Steve Hewitt.

The second half was equally as frenetic as both sides enjoyed times in front, with the visitors having second tries from Edwards and Jones, both unconverted.

But Fishguard kept plugging away and after George and Shousha both scored second tries to keep them in with a chance, a last ditch effort be replacement centre Mike Jenkins saw them squeeze through to their second success from five outings and a safe place in mid table as their reward.

PHOTO:
Chris Shousha - two tries in great Seagulls' success

PHOTO:
Neyland run the ball hard via Chris Mason at Llangwm

 

Division Three (West):

 

All Blacks batter wilting Wasps

Llangwm 5 - Neyland 59

Neyland claimed their first success of the season as they made the short trip down the back lanes to Llangwm and enjoyed victory as they ran in no fewer than 11 tries to their opponents one.

The All Blacks were already 39-0 in front at half time as their attacking play shredded the Wasps’ defence, and although the homesters did manage a try by bustling flanker Ashley James it was again mainly one-way traffic as winger Ben Goodridge again showed his attacking skills with four tries as reward for his finishing powers.

Veteran winger Delme Bateman also added a try brace, with others scored by centre Alex Codd, player/coach Steve Martin, centre George Williams, scrum half Chris Morgan and replacement Dan Goodridge.

The only two conversions were notched by Martin and Codd but after three successive defeats this was a welcome win for Neyland, whilst The Wasps are still seeking a first success after five outings.

PHOTO:
Ben Goodridge - superb four tries for Neyland speedster

 

Mariners battle to good away victory

Aberaeron 0 - Milford Haven 19

Milford Haven expected a tight contest as they made the long journey to Aberaeron and that is exactly what they got before returning home with a deserved win where they not only had tries by David Round and Lee Riley but kept a clean score sheet as reward for excellent defence organised by Dan McClelland and Jamie Lewis but showed good self-discipline in pressure periods.

The Mariners led 14-0 at half time as McClelland took on the kicking duties and landed three penalties and David Round, outstanding again in the back row, ploughed through for an unconverted try.

The mariners’ front row of Mike Cockburn, Luke Morgan and Adam Rees also played well as typically unsung heroes and the visitors sealed success with a cracking try from veteran winger Lee Riley, still going as well as ever, and coach Alan McClelland was well pleased with this away win.
 

PHOTO:
Lee Riley - vital try for Milford winger

 

All square at Bierspool

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 14 - Haverfordwest 14

A game of two halves was the clichéd verdict of this clash at Bierspool where Pembroke Dock Harlequins used their home advantage to establish a 14-0 interval lead and Haverfordwest clawed their way back after the oranges to claim a share of the spoils.

After a very tight first quarter it was The Quins who scored two tries through scrum half James Skeels, newly-recruited from neighbours Pembroke, and winger Luke Hargreaves-Gibson, who rounded off some good play, both tries converted by Lewis Davies.

The Blues also had chances in the first half but showed inevitable ring-rustiness after playing just two previous matches, but they gradually settled after the break and winger Ben Skudder, in a rich vein of scoring form, raced over for a try which replacement centre Gareth John converted.

And 14-7 is the way the scoreline stayed until the 78th minute, when Haverfordwest’s Rhys Baker was finally sent across the whitewash and John kept his nerve to add the extra points which saw the teams sharing the points.

PHOTO:
James Skeels - debut try for Pembroke Dock Quins

 

Saints so close to rare away success

Tregaron 33 - St Davids 24

St Davids were in with a real chance of a rare away win as they trailed Tregaron 14-12 with 20 minutes to go – but then the game turned on a seven minute period where the home side notched three tries while The Saints were down to 14 men.

In a combative opening quarter, the visitors twice turned down shots at goal in favour of a close range lineout, but the pressure came to nothing and it was Tregaron who struck first when full back Ieuan Wyn Rees finished off a set move in midfield with a try, and outside half Huw Bonner converted.

The Saints hit back when outside half Scott James powered over in the corner after picking up from a ruck – but frustratingly for Rhys ‘Loshin’ Price and co, the home side made it 14-5 off the final play of the half when Bonner cut through a gap and set up centre Gethin Jones to score. The No 10 again added the extras.

However, within seconds of the re-start, The Saints responded again when centre Mathew Bennett picked up a loose ball in the Tregaron 22 and set up James for another try that he also converted.

With the game set for a tense finale, it was then that St Davids prop Will Davies was yellow-carded for an infringement near his own line, and from the resultant penalty, Wyn Rees supplied the scoring pass to centre Mel Davies.

The home side then increased their lead when they were awarded a penalty try after the Saints were forced into collapsing a close range scrum, and then made it 19 points in seven minutes when Wyn Rees, now switched to scrum half, jinked under the posts and Bonner converted.

But to the credit of The Saints, they rallied again late on and Bennett went over in the corner following a pop pass from hooker Rhys Owen Price.

And from the game’s final play, the visitors ensured they made the long journey home with something to show for their efforts, as veteran No 8 Anthony Davies capped another tireless display with his side’s bonus point try, following a strong carry from full back Rhys Morgan.

Replacement outside half Matty McLeod converted, and skipper ‘Loshin’ said after he was pleased with how his side dug deep late on in another improved display.

PHOTO:
St Davids concede a penalty try in Tregaron

 

Six-try Williams helps Laugharne win with ease

Cardigan 10 -  Laugharne 41

Dynamic flanker Mikey Williams was the toast of his Laugharne colleagues as he powered over for four tries in this one-sided affair at the King George Vth Fields and added another two for good measure after the break.

Cardigan were clearly short of some players and relinquished fourth place in the table to Williams and co as they trailed 20-0 at half time, with Williams scoring a try from a successful push-over attempt, another as he found space wide out and two more from close range, and all of them unconverted.

Cardigan did show some spirit as player/coach Colin Davies and full back Tomos Jones claimed tries but the ubiquitous Williams added two more scores alongside one by Owain Williams, all converted by Ross Michael to complete a resounding Laugharne win.