When a team has lost all 14 of its previous matches they can find grabbing that first success is harder to achieve than if they had already enjoyed some success and this was certainly the case at Pill Parks as Llangwm played really well against St Clears but still finished up with loss No 15.

The Wasps are a gritty bunch who stick together and in this match they had their fair share of chances as Deion Lloyd-Hughes played well at No 8 on permit from Haverfordwest, ably assisted by Ian Griffiths, Ryan John, Andrew Millward and the rest of their pack.

But that final pass or steadiness needed with a little space in front of them was never quite rounded off and the only try of the game came from the Carmarthenshire Saints’ winger Jamie Goodyear.

Outside half James Davies missed the conversion but was on target with two penalties so that St Clears, who had won 41-3 at home, completed the double – but not before they had been pushed all the way by the Wasps!
 

Narberth produced their whole range of attacking skills to crush bottom club Blackwood and move in to third place in the table, just three points behind RGC 1404 but with two games in hand over the North Walians.

The Otters had scraped home by 30-28 when the teams met in Blackwood but any hopes of revenge by the Gwent side were dispelled as Narberth raced into a 28-0 interval lead as outside half Ianto Griffiths converted all four tries claimed by scrum half Adrian Killa, centre Steve Martin, full back Johnny Morgan (from another typical long range sortie) and centre Jason Howells after a quickly-taken tapped penalty.

The pressure increased on Blackwood after the break because with the Otter pack winning quality possession other scores came from a penalty try, a solo try from Ianto Griffiths, plus second tries for centres Howells and Martin. Powerful winger Tomi Jones scored the Otters’ ninth and final try and Ianto Griffiths completed his 100% success rate with the conversion.

It was classy stuff from the Otters and they again showed that in this section they really are a force to be reckoned with.
 

Whitland gained ample revenge for a 37-19 home defeat by Waunarlwydd as they showed 100% commitment in beating a home side sitting prettily in third place but unable to match the Borderers up front and paying the price.
Ryan Rees typified the front row effort as the prop made a useful debut alongside Marc Jones, whilst Danny Evans, Callum Tree and especially Jack Mason were effective foragers in the loose.

James Stephenson slotted an early penalty for Whitland and then converted a try by the lively Mason. Stephenson added a second penalty on target before Waunarlwydd finally opened their account with a penalty from scrum half Danny Evans.

The home side really applied the pressure after the oranges, especially when Marc Jones was yellow-carded but Whitland refused to submit and had a penalty from Stephenson which he was unable to convert.
Evans also missed the chance of three points when Tree spent ten minutes in the bin and finally grabbed a late try when full back Josh Hammett exploited some space.

It meant a nervous last few moments for the Borderers but they did well to stay composed and deservedly claimed their sixth win of the campaign.
 
 

Cwmllynfell completed the double over Crymych and looked like winning by a big margin as they established a 23-3 advantage by half time but reckoned without the Preseli Men’s determination.

Dyfan Dafydd landed a first-half penalty for Crymych but the home side had tries from John Dewson (2) and Rhodri Best as Peter Thomas kicked a conversion and two penalties to build up a 20-point lead.

All Cwmllynfell could mange in the second half was a solitary try from James Stephens as Crymych fought back with really good work by Lewis Davies, Alan Proctor and Gruff Howells earning them quality possession from which hooker Trystan Griffiths and centre Carwyn Phillips crossed for tries, both converted by Dafydd.

But the Preseli Men were unable to add any further points so Cwmllynfell moved up into third place whilst Crymych remain in the bottom two despite all their yeoman efforts in this tough tussle.
 

Tenby United showed what a potent attacking force they can be as they ran in no fewer than 12 tries against a bemused Cardigan side who could muster only a first-half penalty from Iestyn Crompton and an unconverted try be No 8 Llyr Griffiths after the interval.

The previous match in Cardigan had been really competitive before the Seasiders ran out 12-7 winners but there was little chance of another tough tussle as Tenby ran in six first-half tries and were already a massive 43-3 in front.

Small wonder then that backs’ coach Sion Brace was delighted by the way that his backs sliced through at every opportunity from possession won with ease by a Tenby pack in which No 8 Roy Osborn scored a try hat-trick and others came from flanker Luke Hansford and second row Luke Dedman.

The centre paring of Jack Price and Toby Smith was razor sharp, with Price (two tries), earning the man of the match tag and Smith also getting on the try sheet. Other tries were scored by winger Jack Guerreiro, scrum half Will Crockford and outside half Lloyd Thomas, who ended up with two tries, nine conversions and a penalty for a personal haul of 31 points.

But this was a magnificent effort by the entire Tenby United team and the Seasiders are good value for place in the top three in the table.
 

After a series of narrow defeats Haverfordwest showed what they can do as they made the journey to Tumble and came home with a win against a side renowned for being strong on their own turf.

The first half was very tight, with defences on top as the homesters took the lead with a penalty from Steve Hewitt which was cancelled out by a similar effort from Ashley Sutton, with both missing a chance each and with

Haverfordwest unable to make real headway when Tumble flanker Darren Williams was yellow-carded.
But excellent tries from centre Mikey Jones and replacement back David O’Leary, one converted by Sutton, put Haverfordwest on top – only for Tumble to come back with a second Hewitt three-pointer.

Blues’ forwards Ryan Banner, Jon Mason and Alun Harries foraged well and a Scott Candler try seemed to make the game safe – only for Tumble to be awarded a penalty try which Hewitt converted to set up a nervy finale. But Sutton and Danny Morgan used possession well and Scott James looked strong in midfield as the Blues completed a deserved double, having already won at home by 14-9.
 

 

Fishguard and Goodwick not only fended off a strong challenge by Laugharne in a niggly match at The Moors but they also secured a welcome bonus point by dint of the fact that they scored four tries.

Laugharne had beaten the Seagulls by 25-21 in a similarly gritty home fixture and this return fixture stood at 10-all at half time before Fishguard edged through afterwards.

They had tries by winger Ed Bendall alongside others from their entire back row of Steve Jenkins, Kevin Ormond and skipper Simon James, but all unconverted.

Laugharne responded with two tries from winger Mike Williams to go with one conversion and two penalties by Ross Michael that saw the game poised nervily with the Seagulls leading 20-18 before they were awarded a simple penalty in front of the posts. Sam Kurtz coolly collected the three points that helped his side to victory and Laugharne had to settle for a bonus point for ending up within seven points of the opposition.
 
 

Milford Haven produced a much-improved performance at home to Penybanc, especially in the second half, but they still went down to defeat against a side which had already smashed them 50-0 at home.

The Mariners actually took the lead from a Steve Picton penalty but another heavy defeat seemed on the cards as they found themselves 31-3 adrift at half time.

But then skipper Mike Cockburn led by example in scoring a try alongside another from Steve Picton which he also converted as Penybanc were pushed all the way up front and only managed another two scores.

Powerful winger Wayne Price led the Penybanc scoring with a try hat-trick alongside others by fellow winger Steff Thomas, full back Wayne Howells (2) and No 10 Owen Higgins, who also contributed five conversions.
 

24 unanswered second-half points helped Neyland to a convincing win over near neighbours Pembroke Dock Harlequins and provided further proof that All Black rugby is on the upsurge again.

The Quins had won 17-10 at Bierspool but were always on the back foot as they found it hard to contain the powerful centre bursts of Adam Collins and Dean Matthews throughout the match.
It was Collins who served notice of intent as early as the sixth minute when he ploughed through for a try which

Patrick Bellerby converted – and the young No 10 quickly added a penalty four minutes later.
The Quins responded with a good try from flanker Joe Powell which Mark Roach goaled but the All Blacks led 17-7 at half time as Matthews added their second try and Bellerby added the extras.

Neyland dominated the second half scoring and winger Delme Bateman sped over for a try before Bellerby chipped through twice for a try which he also converted. Matthews added his second try after good work by Bateman and in the final moments Adam Cawley dropped a goal against his former team-mates to complete a convincing Neyland victory.
 
 

Pembroke maintained their place in the top three in the section with a deserved win over a Pontyates side eager to try and leap-frog the Scarlets in the table.

Pontyates had won 15-3 at home but The Scarlets were already 17-3 in front by half time at Crickmarren and also picked up a welcome bonus point when winger Huw Purser powered over for their fourth try.

Especially pleasing for the Scarlets were the efforts of teenagers Alex Wilks, Scott Powell and Sean Willington as they opened up an early lead with tries from winger James Skeels and powerhouse centre Dom Colman, both converted by Sean Dalling to go with a well-struck penalty.

Pontyates’ only reply was a penalty by outside half Kieran Evans, who also added another penalty, plus a late consolation try and conversion in the second period when the verdict was already delivered.
Because by then No 8 Sam Smith ploughed through for a Scarlets’ try which Dalling converted and Purser’s try was the icing on the Pembroke cake!