Rugby Reports 1st November 2014
PHOTOS:
Quins team
Joe Kiff claims three early points for the Wasps
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Feature Match:
Division Three (West) B:
Quins win basement battle
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 18 - Llangwm 15
Pembroke Dock Harlequins and Llangwm both came into this local derby near the foot of the table but showed that there is hope for both young teams as they produced an entertaining tussle in unpleasant weather conditions at Bierspool.
It was the Wasps who made the brighter start to take an early eight-point lead before the Quins clawed their way back – and Llangwm had a late penalty chance that went wide which would have given them a share of the spoils.
Llangwm full back Joe Kiff was the catalyst for their early attacks and he opened the scoring with a solo try as he pounced on a loose ball near half way, kicked the ball ahead three times and outpaced the cover to gain the touchdown.
Kiff also added a penalty but the Wasps allowed the Quins back into the game and outside half Andrew Price scored a good try after being put into space by Nathan George. Price also contributed a penalty and the scores were tied at 8-all at the half way stage.
Both sides continued to move the ball wide, despite the heavy rain, and the Quins added further tries by No 8 Steffan Halwood and centre Danny Woods, whilst the Wasps had a try by centre Steve Inward which Kiff converted.
There were other half chances but the Quins held out for victory and their hardy band of supporters were able to celebrate!
Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Paul Jonkers: Sam Richards; Danny Woods; Rhys Marchant; Martin Culley: Andrew Price; Nathan George: Dai Moseley; Jacob Newman; James Booth: Josh White; Neil Harries (Capt): Mike Davies; Alex Pearce; Steffan Halwood.
Replacements: Peter Roach; Dean Wilcox; Lewis Beecher.
Llangwm: Joe Kiff: Rhys Mason; Steve Inward; Andrew Brock; Simon Preddy: Luke Brock; Ollie Davies: Dan Hughes; Josh Davies; Gavin Jones: Mike Terry; Dan Morgan: James Lewis (Capt); Jonathan Brock; James Griffiths.
Replacements: David Lewis; Henry Brant.
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Llangwm team
Championship:
Martin really makes Otters tick
Blackwood 30 - Narberth 41
A splendid first half hat-trick by team captain Steve Martin helped Narberth to a deserved win at Blackwood but after showing real attacking flair in the first half the Otters had to show their defensive qualities as Blackwood mounted a strong second half fight-back.
Ianto Griffiths kicked Narberth into an early lead before his opposite number Scott Turner slotted two penalties but then Martin intervened with his three tries, showing he is back to his best form, and Griffiths converted two of them.
Then the Otters were awarded a penalty try, which Griffiths converted and scrum half Rhys Lane darted through to give the visitors a 34-6 interval advantage.
Blackwood opened the second half scoring with a try by hooker Stuart Volkes but Narberth flanker Gareth Bateman responded with a try.
But then Blackwood had further scores from replacement hooker Dan Vella, flanker Lewis Gerrard and centre Ryan Thomas, the first two converted by Turner – but the Otters kept their cool and although Johnny Morgan missed a late penalty it mattered little because they had done enough to win another away match.
Steve Martin - three tries for Narberth skipper
Division One (West):
Borderers beaten by Barnes’ eye for tries
Llangennech 39 - Whitland 16
Whitland played well in passages of good handling against a Llangennech outfit on the promotional trail but were unable to halt the real pace of winger Tom Barnes, who cut the Borderers’ defence t ribbons in scoring five tries.
Barnes scored a hat-trick in the first half, two of them converted to go with a penalty by reliable place kicker Chris Moore, and the Borderers were denied the chance to maintain their momentum and trailed by 22-6 as all Whitland could muster were two Johnny Thomas’ penalties.
Rhydian Davies and Raff Williams scored tries for the Borderers but Barnes scored another twice alongside flanker Jonathan Morris and Moore added further points to help ensure a win that keeps Llangennech ensconced at the top of the table as the Borderers lost their fourth match in seven starts.
Seasiders stay strong despite yellow cards
Tenby United 21 - Crymych 13
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Tenby United won the all-Pembrokeshire clash against Crymych at Heywood Lane to keep alive their promotion hopes, leaving the Preseli Men disappointed as they still lurk in the lower half of the section table.
The Seasiders were clearly delighted by their win, despite the fact that they had five yellow cards awarded against them which saw them playing at times with just 13 men. But they defended well in those troublesome times and were good value for victory in the final analysis.
Yet it was Crymych who took the early lead with a penalty by Dyfan Dafydd but two other attempts by the outside half rapped the uprights and were scrambled clear – and the Seasiders were 12-3 ahead at the interval thanks to a cracking solo try by youth winger Jordan Asparassa which Ashley Sutton converted, plus a well-taken try by the powerful Damien Miller from a clever chip and chase.
Dafydd reduced the deficit with a penalty before Sutton slotted a terrific penalty from wide out – and then Dafydd added the simple extras to a penalty try to make it 15-13 in Tenby’s favour.
At this stage it was anybody’s game but the home pack raised the tempo and set the platform for Sutton to drop two neat goals in the closing quarter that earned his side win they so clearly needed.
Rob Weston wins dramatic lineout ball for Tenby - pic by Susan McKehon
Division Two (West):
Trip to the seaside in vain for the Blues
Aberystwyth 27 - Haverfordwest 16
Haverfordwest’s day trip to the seaside produced an entertaining tussle against Aberystwyth but sadly no points for the Blues as reward for their efforts.
As has so often happened this season the Blues started well and opened the scoring with a good try from centre Scott James which fly half Steve Williams converted before Aber pulled level with a try from centre Steffan Rees which his namesake Jason at outside half converted.
A Steve Williams’ penalty put Haverfordwest back in front but they trailed 15-13 at the break thanks to an unconverted pushover try by Carwyn Evans before Rees and Williams exchanged penalties.
Aber made the brighter start to a second half played in persistent drizzle as Llyr Thomas scored a try converted by Rees and although Steve Williams managed another three-pointer they were denied even the consolation of a bonus point when home full back Ian Lewis sped through for an unconverted try.
Cardis improve – but still go down at home
Cardigan 3 - Gowerton 29
After seven matches Cardigan are still without a win and although the final margin of defeat at Gowerton seems disappointing the Teifisiders showed signs of improvement against a team currently top of the section table.
Gowerton led 12-3 at the interval as Iestyn Crompton notched a penalty for the visitors and in all Gowerton scored four tries by Ryan Thomas, Matthew Clancy, Richard Thomas and Liam Hughes, three of them converted by Josh Hamer to go with a second half penalty.
The Cardis tried hard to break down the strong home defence as inside centre Aaron Tomkinson was their man of the match but at least they showed that they have the ability to gain something more positive in the near future!
Division Three (West) B:
Griffiths guides Seagulls to another huge win
St Clears 3 - Fishguard & Goodwick 67
Another hat-trick of tries by talented outside half James Griffiths helped Fishguard defeat St Clears by a huge margin for the second week in succession.
The Seagulls had strolled to a 76-6 home win in the Swalec Bowl and a seventh successive league win was clearly assured by the break since they were 38-3 ahead as the home side could only muster a Chris Rodenhurst penalty but by then they were already 14 points adrift as Griffiths sliced through for two tries which he also converted.
Other tries were claimed by winger Sam Kurtz, prop Mel McVeigh, flanker Mark George and full back Ed Bendall, who hacked a ball through from his own 22 and showed good control to score, with Griffiths adding two more conversions.
The Seagulls added another 29 unanswered points in the second half through tries by second row Rhys Lewis, skipper Simon James (2) and Griffiths (2), who also notched two more conversions to complete a personal haul of 32 points.
James Griffiths - four tries for Fishguard
Bellerby batters shell-shocked Saints
Neyland 86 - St Davids 18
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Patrick Bellerby again caught the eye for Neyland as the centre was the major executioner against a St Davids’ side which never gave up trying under skipper Rhys ‘Loshin’ Price and deserve every credit for that.
Bellerby, who has recently played at full back and outside half, showed his versatility as he joined Adam Collins to tear the heart out of the Saints’ defence as he scored five tries and also contributed five of Neyland’s eight conversions for a personal haul of 35 points.
The All Blacks were 36-13 in front at the break as the visitors had a try by outside half Jack Jones to go with the conversion and two penalties, with an unconverted try by prop Dan Murphy as their only score after the oranges.
Winger Richard Smith (2), Collins, No 10 Andrew Slark and winger Sam Catakai also crossed for further tries whilst replacements Mark Riley, Craig Power and Ian Lloyd also got their names on the scoresheet.
Collins and Riley (2) also chipped in with conversions as Neyland stormed into the top half of the table, leaving St Davids as the only club in the section that is yet to secure a point!
Patrick Bellerby - 35 points for Neyland
Big win for Mariners
Milford Haven 10 - Laugharne 0
Two second half unconverted tries gave Milford Haven a morale-boosting win over promotion hopefuls Laugharne in a hard-fought match at a wind and rain-swept Observatory second pitch.
No quarter was asked for or given and in the final analysis it was The Mariners who mastered the tricky conditions to claim their fifth win in seventh outings to move into the top half of the section themselves.
The Mariners did have four players yellow carded for technical offences and finished up with 13 men but with flanker Dai Sweeney tackling superbly they held on well to a lead created by unconverted tries from bustling centre Dean Matthews and powerful hooker Craig Smith.
Laugharne also had one yellow card but as spokesman Alun Jenkins said,
“We can have no complaints because Milford adapted to the conditions and we didn’t – simple as that!”
Scarlets strong in first half
Pembroke 17 - Aberaeron 8
Three first half tries were enough for Pembroke to ease through against Aberaeron, who trailed 17-3 at half time and managed the only second half points – but the Scarlets were good value for victory as Sam Smith and Scott
Powell led by example and the rest followed.
Yet it was Aberaeron who took the lead with a simple penalty at the clubhouse end by Jason Freeman before winger Rhys Johns put the Scarlets in front with an unconverted try.
Strong-running centre Mark Williams added a second when he intercepted in his own half and galloped through for Shaun Dalling to add the extra points and some excellent handling in the awkward conditions saw Sam Smith take the final pass and brush off a tackler to score in the corner.
Aberaeron’s only try came from second row Gethin Hughes but by then it was too little, too late and the Scarlets moved up into second place behind Fishguard as their reward.