PHOTOS:
Saints so close to the try line
Ed Bendell scores his first try
John Vatu rounds off a Seagulls' move

Feature match:
 
Division Three (West) B

 

Three-figure Seagulls soar against beleaguered Saints

Fishguard & Goodwick 108 - St Davids 14

 
Fishguard and Goodwick showed the gulf in class in Division Three B (West) as they ran in 18 tries against bottom of the table Saints, clocking up a massive 108 points in the process, but St Davids deserve massive praise for battling away until the final whistle and actually claiming two tries as their reward.

The Saints could only muster 14 players until Carl Evans raced on to the pitch in the final quarter, and could lay claim to having the oldest second row pairing to play in the league as their stalwart of many years, big Jack Dudley (52), was joined by newcomer Andy Forbes, who is 53. They also had to play prop Dan Murphy on the wing and, like everyone else involved, gave total commitment to the cause.

Writing on the wall at half time

But club spirit was never going to be enough against such a talented all-round Fishguard outfit, whose only blot on their copybook came after flanker Mark George was yellow-carded and rather unwisely made a comment within earshot of referee Matthew Evans before he was despatched for an early shower!

The writing was already on the wall for St Davids at half time despite the fact that they had a few periods of pressure where Darren Davies, Gethin Bateman, Will Davies, Neil Thomas John Reilly and skipper Rhys L Price caught the eye – but once they lost possession the Seagulls’ speed left them transfixed and after No 10 James Griffiths started the scoring with an unconverted try others came for the homesters from Ed Bendall, John Vatu, Sam Kurtz, Mike Jenkins and Ryan Lewis, right on the interval, three of them goaled by Griffiths.

Tries galore in second half

Lewis achieved a super fast hat trick as he added two more support tries soon after the restart but then the loudest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for scrum half Rhys Price as he scored a saints’ try converted by John Miles.
Griffiths then sped over for two more tries alongside another for half back partner Rhodri Morgans, all converted by the No 10, before Scott Riches was instrumental in earning a penalty try for the visitors which Miles converted.
But there was still time for few more tries by Bendall (2) Mike Jenkins (2), Morgans and James Griffiths, whose fourth try alongside nine conversions gave him a massive personal tally of 38 points!

Fishguard & Goodwick: Mike Jenkins: Gareth Adamson; Ben John; John vatu; Sam Kurtz: James Griffiths; Rhodri Morgans: Jason Davies; Gavin Walsh; Ryan McVeigh: Rhys Lewis; Gwilym Evans: Mark George; Chris Shousha; Simon James (Capt). Replacements: Richard Hunter; Gerwyn Davies; Owain Morgans; Alun George; Ed Bendall.

St Davids: Toby Willis: Carl Evans; Scott Riches; Daf Williams; Dan Murphy: John Miles; Rhys Price: Will Davies; Neil Thomas; Rhys L Price (Capt): Andy Forbes; Jack Dudley: Darren Davies; John Reilly; Gethin Bateman.
Referee: Matthew Evans (Lydstep)
 
 
Division One (West):
 

Preseli Men pounce in first half

Crymych 17 - Ammanford 3

Crymych produced one of their best performances of the season when they entertained an Ammanford side that was lurking around the top three but couldn’t stop the Preseli Men building up a deserved 17-point interval lead and then defending well in the second half.

Crymych had edged home by 22-20 in Ammanford and looked well on the way to a double as deserved tries by scrum half Dyfan Dafydd (from close range) and centre Carwyn Phillips (from half way), plus both conversions and a well-struck penalty by outside half Sam Phillips had the visitors on the back foot.

Ammanford tried hard to claw their way back into contention but with Sam Phillips, Andrew Phillips and Alex Humphrey heavily involved as Carwyn Phillips and veteran centre Elgan Vittle plugged the middle, so that all Ammanford could muster was a penalty by full back James Owen as the Preseli Men celebrated their seventh win in 15 starts.
 

Revenge for Seasiders in tight local derby clash

Whitland 9 - Tenby United 12

Local derby matches between Whitland and Tenby United are traditionally tight encounters and this one at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn was no exception as neither team was able to break down the other’s defence and in the final analysis the verdict was decided by kicks.

Whitland had won 23-21 at Heywood Lane and the Seasiders had the better of the first half in this return tussle as they had first use of the wind and led 6-0 earlier on, thanks to penalties by scrum half Jonathan Rogers before a dropped goal by Ashley Sutton right on half time eased them into a nine-point advantage.

James Stephenson reduced the deficit for the Borderers within four minutes of the restart but Rogers soon followed with his third successful kick as second row Rob Weston and prop Rob Luly caught the eye – and although Stephenson found the target with two more penalties it was the Seasiders who held on for victory as Rogers kicked well and his team kept a lid on Whitland chances.

PHOTO:
Tenby's Luke Dedman stops Whitland in their tracks
Picture Susan McKehon

 

Division Two (West):

 

Teifisiders miss out in closing stages

Hendy 24 - Cardigan 16

Cardigan produced a good all-round team performance against a Hendy side still with an eye on promotion but, as has happened so often this season, conceded a late score which meant they didn’t even pouch what would have been a deserved losing bonus point.

The Teifisiders opened the scoring with two penalties from outside half Llyr Jones before Hendy responded with a try from Ashley Banfield, converted by Steffan Jones, which gave them the lead at half time by a single point. Centre Aaron Tomkinson scored a well-worked try for Cardigan which Llyr Jones converted to go with a penalty as the homesters scored tries by Chris Bowen and Yosif Silivan, one converted by Steffan Jones, to lead 19-6.

But then Hendy made one last effort and they grabbed a try by Gareth Thomas which not only ensured victory but earned them a bonus point for four tries, whilst the Teifisiders made the journey home with nothing to show for their efforts.
 

Blues well beaten by Penlan

Penlan 36 - Haverfordwest 3

Haverfordwest lost their 12^th match of the season at Penlan to go with three wins and a draw, a record which keeps them still perilously close to relegation danger and needing to raise the tempo.

The Blues battled away throughout this tussle but were 19-3 adrift at the interval and were unable to muster a single point thereafter, whilst Penlan ended up with six tries as reward for being on top.

Adam Glover gave the home side an early lead with a try converted by Scott Davies, who also added the extras to a try from James Jenkins before Steve Williams kicked a penalty for the Blues.

Rob Green claimed try No 3 for Penlan before half time and the powerful flanker added two more tries in the second period, one converted by Davies, whilst Glover also grabbed his second try to complete a comfortable win for Penlan, who had previously draw 13-all with Haverfordwest at Merlins Bridge.
 

Division Three (West):

Mariners win hard-fought local derby

Neyland 18 - Milford Haven 29

Milford Haven made sure they stayed top of the table with a very hard-fought win over old rivals Neyland at the Athletic Ground where they also grabbed a bonus point for scoring four tries.

A measure of how tight the first half was can be gauged by the fact that Adam Collins scored a try for the All Blacks whilst Mark Riley landed a penalty as Leigh Broome scored a try, conversion and penalty for the Mariners to edge them into a 10-8 lead.

It looked as if Milford’s renowned forward power was going to play a vital part in events as they opened the second period with two tries from controlled driving mauls, the first claimed by prop Adam Rees and the second by hooker Craig Smith, both converted by Broome.

Back came the All Blacks, however, as full back Aaron James, who looks a classy player, sped over for a try but hooker Smith ploughed over for his second, and Milford’s fourth try.

Neyland had the final word when James cut through for his second try but they were unable to open the Milford defence again and it was the Mariners who completed a double since they had already won 31-20 at The Observatory Field.

*There was a minute’s silence before the match as both teams paid tribute to the late Neyland stalwart Martyn Rees.

 
PHOTO (by Sheila Witts-Sear):
Craig Smith is delighted to score a try - and Sam Dolling is quite happy about it too!

Scarlets slam near neighbours Quins

Pembroke 56 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0

Pembroke ran in ten tries and shut out Pembroke Dock Harlequins for the entire match to leave old-timers on both sides wondering when the Scarlets last, if ever, managed a half century of points against their closest rivals.

The home side were on top up front almost from the outset and by half time had run in no fewer than five tries by powerhouse No 8 Dom Colman, skipper Max Hayward (2) from his hooker berth, centre Rhys Johns and second row Will Edwards.

The first three were converted by No 10 James Davies and there was no respite for the Quins in the second half at Crickmarren as the Scarlets had a second try by Colman, an opportunist try by full back Ryan Wilkins after he had switched to outside half and looked very comfortable in the role.

Wilkins joined centre Billy Wood and flanker Cyle Weatherall as 19 year olds in the team, something that delighted coaches Geraint Lewis and Kyle Davies, plus team manager Kenny Small, as did the fact that wingers Barry John and Toby Williams (2) also got in on the try scoring when the Scarlets spread play wide and completed the rout!
 

Aberaeron v Llangwm

Match postponed – Aberaeron involved in Swalec competition