PHOTO:
Narberth on the charge against Beddau

 

Championship Division:

 

Otters race away in second half

Narberth 54 - Beddau 15

Narberth produced another power-packed second half where they racked up 33 unanswered points after a tight first period where Beddau’s brand of forward-orientated play limited them to a narrow 21-15 advantage.

The Otters were always stronger in the set-pieces however, and that factor clearly soaked up the energy of the visitors as they struggled to cope with Narberth’s pace behind the scrum, with Jack Price, Kieron Jones and Nick Gale posing a threat whenever they had the ball.

They opened the scoring early on as Dan Smith and his youthful props Tom Slater and Rhys Davies set the platform before Gale created the space and unselfishly supplied Jones with the scoring pass before No 10 Ianto Griffiths added the extra points.

But then The Otters gifted Beddau seven points as an attack broke down and failure to make the ball safe saw Beddau winger Joe Cassella score a try that outside half Hywel Chatham converted.

Narberth were soon back on the offensive, however, and a strong surge involving Richard Rees, skipper Alex Jenkins and Dewi Williams allowed Tom Powell to go close before  Jake Simm barged his way through and Griffiths notched the extra points.

The Otters were then awarded a penalty try after a series of close range scrums was illegally halted and referee Dewi Phillips ran to the posts as he ran out of patience!

At this stage Beddau were in trouble but the resilience that has seen them reach seventh spot saw them battle back with a penalty from Chatham before a try from replacement Alex Meesom in the corner which Chatham did well to convert and restrict The Otters to a six-point interval lead.

But whatever coach Sean Gale said at the oranges it certainly worked because within minutes of the restart his side grabbed their bonus-point fourth try from No 8 Rees at a close range set-piece – and this was quickly followed by a Tom Powell run to the posts after good work by Nick Gale and Jack Parkinson, with Griffiths converting.

Then Hutchings did well to squeeze in at the corner for Griffiths to slot the excellent conversion before scrum half Rhys Lane and Gale raced over for tries that were converted by Jonathan Rogers.

It enabled The Otters to reach their half century and will have put them in good hwyl for their next match on the 30th December as they travel to Newcastle Emlyn to close down a successful 2017!

Narberth: Nick Gale: Liam Hutchings; Jack Price; Kieron Jones; Jack Parkinson: Ianto Griffiths; Rhys Lane: Rhys Davies; Dan Smith; Tom Slater: Jake Simm; Alex Jenkins (Capt): Richard Rees, Tom Powell; Dewi Williams. Replacements: Ollie Evans; Rhodri Jones; Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby.

Beddau: Zac Byard: Joe Cassella; Tyler Wells; Peter Connolly; Adam Ashford: Hywel Chatham; Lloyd Peart: Ben Stephens; Ethan Coombs; Ben Lee: Rhys Owens; James Cashin: Jack Perkins; Jordan Goodwin (Capt); Joe Miles. Replacements: David Francis; Tom Slater; Adam Court; Alex Meesom.
 
 

Division One (West):

 

Preseli Men denied by table-topping Dunvant

Crymych 7 - Dunvant 38

The gap between bottom and top in this section was clearly demonstrated at Parc Lloyd Thomas as basement battlers Crymych found themselves 19-0 adrift at half time and were never able to put enough pressure on the section leaders, despite being praised by a Dunvant official for their willingness to battle on until the final whistle.

The visitors points in the first half came from tries by flanker Ben Davies, winger Ben Ley and second row Gethin John after six, 11 and 32 minutes, the first two converted by Sam Evans.

Dunvant secured a bonus point with their fourth try, claimed by full back Sam Hawker, before The Preseli Men responded with a good try by No 8 Osian Davies which outside half Jake Jenkins goaled.

But as Dunvant applied further pressure there were further tries by Danny Davies and Sam Evans, who converted both, as Dunvant claimed their eighth win in ten starts and Crymych still have only one success from their eight games so far.
 

Seasiders stymied by illness

Llanelli Wanderers P-P Tenby United
*Match postponed after illnesses to some of both teams and referee in The Seasiders match the previous week at Tycroes.

 

Division Two (West):

 

Borderers bag nine-try victory

Whitland 59 - Pontyberem 0

Whitland bounced back to winning ways with a demolition of visiting Pontyberem to complete a high-scoring double since they had already beaten this opposition by 48-10 earlier in the campaign.

The platform was established in the first half as The Borderers were 14-0 in front but ran the legs off the opposition to run in seven more tries after the interval as reward for their high-intensity brand of rugby.

Outside half Nico Setaro opened the home side’s account with a try he also converted, as he did when Marc Jones claimed their second.

It was all one-way traffic after the interval, however as skipper Jones added his second and was joined on the scoresheet by outstanding back rowers Ryan Morgan and Jack Mason, who formed a terrific breakaway unit with James Lewis.

Talented full back Scott Newton also sliced through for a try brace as reward for excellent work in defence as well as attack, with replacement centre Jonathan Thomas and prop Rob Morris also scoring tries.

Nico Setaro landed seven out of nine conversions to set the seal on a great Whitland win and if they can maintain this sort of play in the New Year they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the campaign as they continue to put pressure on fellow front runners Hendy and Pontarddulais.
 

PHOTO:
Marc Jones - try brace for Whitland skipper

 

Seagulls seal vital win over The Saints

Fishguard & Goodwick 16 - St Clears 5

These teams were locked on 16 points prior to this tussle and an excellent win for the Seagulls sees them move ahead of The Saints and add further distance between them and the three current relegation contenders.

The launch pad for this home victory came on the back of a solid all-round pack display in which Simon Jenkins, Chris Shousha, Luke Freebury, Jac Evans and skipper Gavin Walsh caught the eye, earning two penalties in a highly competitive first half where the only points came from two penalties launched by Seagulls’ scrum half Sam Kurtz.

The Seagulls got their second half off to a decisive start when they counter-attacked from within their own 22 and Scott Candler made the key break that saw handing the scoring pass to winger Ed Bendall at the other end.

Bendall’s finishing powers were again in attendance later on as he sped through for his second try, again unconverted, before St Clears did manage an unconverted try of their own by second row Courtney Bowman, but it was too little, too late, as The Seagulls were good value for this vital fourth success in nine outings.

PHOTO:
Ed Bendall - two tries for Fishguard 

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Laugharne edge out league leaders by a single point

Laugharne 36 - Milford Haven 35

There were points galore at Laugharne before the home side edged out league leaders Milford Haven by a single point as fortunes ebbed and flowed throughout the game before a late penalty by Styeff Davies saw the home side home.

The teams had shared 62 points when they met at The Obs and it was evident that this was going to be another titanic clash as The Mariners led 13-12 at half time before Laugharne benefitted from THREE penalty tries to establish a 33-18 lead against a Milford team reduced to 14 men after full back Lee Riley had been sent off following two yellow cards.

But they showed true grit to claw their way back into the lead.

Even after Thomas’s three-pointer they still had time for a last-ditch drive where their pack powered over the line but they conceded a penalty in the process so to say coach Alan McClelland was disappointed by conceding three penalty tries and some other decisions was something of  an understatement!

He was, however, glad that his team earned two bonus points to stay ahead of Pembroke and Haverfordwest, with tries from flanker Dai Sweeny, centres Matthew Reynolds and Dan Jenkins, No 8 Ben Groves and scrum half Dan McClelland, who also landed two conversions and two penalties.

As well as those hotly-disputed penalty tries Laugharne had scores from Rhys Thomas and Tom Windsor,  and after so much recent inactivity the home side were understandably delighted with this victory.
 

PHOTO:
Ben Groves - try in vain for Milford Haven



PHOTO:
Neyland break against Pembroke

 

Scarlets show strength in Athletic Ground win

Neyland 10 - Pembroke 40

Pembroke maintained their thrust for top spot in the table as they crossed the Cleddau Bridge to Neyland and returned with a bonus-point win over Neyland as they outscored their old rivals by six tries to two.

The All Blacks provided a sterner test than the final scoreline might suggest but The Scarlets showed their squad strength as they overcame the loss through injury in the opening ten minutes of centre Sean Dalling and full back Luke Hartland.

The platform for their success was again the work rate of their powerful pack, where the front row of Johnny Palmer, Seamus Wiseman and especially Lloyd Davies was rock-solid and with skipper Scott Powell and Will Edwards as ball users alongside Sam Smith and Dom Colman it was a recipe for success.

Winger Elliott Evans opened The Scarlets’ account with a try conceived and converted by Toby Smith, who did the same thing when Dan Colley added their second score.

Sam Smith then powered over for a try which brother Toby converted before Neyland’s efforts were rewarded close to half time when Craig Grice crossed for an unconverted try.

Toby Smith added a try soon after half time and also converted before Sam Smith grabbed his second try from close range.

Then Billy Wood, who had switched from flanker to wing in the early reshuffle, scored the Scarlets’ sixth try which Toby Smith did well to convert – but there was still time for Neyland player/coach Steve Martin to slice through for a quality try as reward for his team’s contribution to an entertaining tussle.
 

PHOTO:
Elliott Evans - gave Pembroke an early lead at Neyland

Cardigan defend well to take the points

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 5 - Cardigan 13

Cardigan completed the double over Pembroke Dock Harlequins at Bierspool but were pushed all the way by a Quins’ side that was on top for much of the second period but was unable to turn pressure into points.

The Teifisiders had won the previous match between the sides by 22-12 and seemed certainties to repeat the dose as they led 13-0 at half time as flanker Osian Rees opened their account with a try that was converted by centre Emyr Harries, who also landed a penalty.

And that is the way things stayed until right on the break full back Llyr Jones also kicked a penalty despite good work in defence by Sam James and the rest of the Quins’ forwards.

Whatever coach Ossie Boswell said at half time it certainly worked because the Quins had by far the better of the second half as Jake Griffiths and Aaron James probed for openings but a mixture of wrong options and sound Cardigan defence held them out until the closing stages.

Then winger Matthew Lewis finally scored a try for The Quins but it was too little, too late as The Teifisiders claimed the verdict and the homesters had nothing to show for their considerable efforts.
 

Saints battle hard but still miss out

St Davids 0 - Aberaeron 26

Two tries from scrum half Gareth James helped Aberaeron move third in the table – but the Mid-Wales side were made to work hard for their bonus point win by a St Davids team that competed fiercely with them over the 80 minutes.

 It was the visitors who played with a strong wind behind them in the first half, and after a physical first 15 minutes, took the lead when scrum half Jones reaped the benefits of a lineout drive by his pack to crash over from close range.

 Outside half Rhodri Jenkins converted, but his side were unable to capitalise on further attacking positions as The Saints defended doggedly, with returning flanker Scott Riches outstanding with his tackle count.

Jenkins was also wide with a long range penalty but five minutes before the break, the No 10 added the extras when Aberaeron got their second try as winger Rhodri Thomas cut inside and finished well from close range.

The Saints then started the second half strongly but outside half Scott James was denied by a last ditch ankle tap after cutting through in midfield, and then full back Rhys Morgan and prop Dan Murphy were both stopped agonisingly short of the line in the pressure that followed.

But in the final 20 minutes, the visitors regained the control as The Saints, who only had 17 available players for the clash, inevitably tired.

No 9 James added his second try, again from close range, after the home defence had held off a series of drives from the Aber pack.

And then centre Ollie Sawyer sealed the bonus point as he rounded off some great handling and support play to sprint home from 30 metres out, and Jenkins converted.

The Saints again went close late on but couldn’t get the consolation score their play deserved, but can take heart from a committed display.
 

Wasps show typical spirit in Mid Wales defeat

Tregaron 24 - Llangwm 3

Llangwm made the long journey to Tregaron in search of their first win of the campaign and although they eventually went down to defeat The Wasps’ management could at least take some comfort from the fact that they played with typical fervour and travelled with a squad of 18 players.

Leading the way up front for The Wasps were again Josh Hicks and Ashley James, whilst Gavin Jones also caught the eye and half backs Ian Griffiths and Luke Hayman tried hard to utilise hard-won possession.

It was Hayman who kicked his team’s first-half penalty as they trailed 7-3 to a home try from No 8 Gareth Jones, converted by full back Huw Bonner.

Tregaron added further tries by second row Dafydd Hughes, prop Geraint Rowlands and winger Ieuan Wyn Rees, one converted by Bonner, to seal the double, having already won 42-23 earlier in the season at Pill Parks.

PHOTO:
Luke Hayman - scored Llangwm's points at Tregaron