PHOTO: Narberth RFC pre-match - pic Ken Mathias

 

Championship League:

 

Welcome bonus point win for The Otters

 

Narberth 34 - Trebanos 12

Narberth made it two wins in as many league matches against a hard-working Trebanos side which battled away but were unable to match The Otters in terms of their try scoring capabilities.

In the final analysis the home side held the upper hand in most areas and were rewarded with a 5-2 try count in their favour and led 12-0 at the interval – although Trebanos half backs Jay Weaver and especially No 10 Tom Dew posed a threat with ball in hand.
 

Otters create space out wide

It was Dew who made the first telling break of the afternoon but was quickly closed down by Tom Powell, Steff Phillips and skipper Richie Rees – and the Otters created space wide on the left via Jonathan Rogers, Joe Hutchings and Jake Jenkins before winger Josh Davies cleverly supplied the scoring pass.

Nick Gale surprisingly missed the conversion and a penalty attempt but was rock solid in defence and helped set up his team’s second score, which came right on half time as The Otters camped on the Trebanos line for several forays before referee Tom Spurrier, who had a good game, finally lost patience and awarded them a penalty try.

Trebanos start second half well – but The Otters soon bounce back

Trebanos started the second period with a bang when flanker Rhydian George before centres Steff Lewis and Ewan Gully put pacy winger Kieran Weightman in for an unconverted try.

It certainly spurred Narberth into a realisation that there was still work to do as their pack took play close before Rogers quickly spread play right and gale joined the line at just the right time to slice through for a quality try in the corner which he managed to convert as a real bonus.

Good home tries to finish in style

Within minutes the home side created another cracking score and again it was smooth handling at pace which allowed winger Dafydd Pritchard to provide the bonus-point score.

But they still showed the odd sign of early-season sloppiness and when a pass was fumbled near half way it allowed Trebanos centre Ewan Gully to race to the line for a soft try converted by Dew.

But Narberth settled things down and a Gale penalty made the game safe – and there was still time for The Otters to grab another seven points as outstanding flanker Tom Powell was handed space wide on the right – and Gale curled his left footed conversion between the posts.

Manager’s View – Sean Gale: "Of course I’m pleased with the final scoreline and especially a bonus point, which I felt we fully deserved. Our pack played well, especially in defence and we showed we are capable of scoring quality tries from our relatively new back division. We had a strong replacements’ bench and we were pleased to give them all some match time.”

Narberth: Nick Gale: Dafydd Pritchard; Joe Hutchings; Jake Jenkins; Josh Davies: Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby:  Dan Jacobs; Rhodri Owens; Tom Kaijaks: Roy Osborn; Jake Baker: Richard Rees (Capt); Tom Powell; Steff Phillips. Replacements: Kyle Hamer; Bradley Davies; Alex Jenkins; Rhys Lane; Ianto Griffiths.

PHOTO - The Otter pack on a charge

 

Specsavers National Plate:

 

Makeshift Pembroke pay the price

 

Carmarthen Athletic 31 - Pembroke 10

Pembroke travelled to Carmarthen Athletic with something of a development squad and paid the price against a team playing league rugby a section lower and also minus several key players.

Back row members Jordan Williams and Jordan Evans claimed the Pembroke tries but The Athletic were good value for victory with tries from Karl Williams, Liam Price, Carwyn Bebb, Jack Hannington and Tom Gravell, who also landed one conversion after Price had notched two earlier two-pointers.
 

PHOTO: Jordan Gwilliam - try scorer for Pembroke

 

Preseli Men pounce for match double success

Fishguard & Goodwick 7 - Crymych 29

This excellent Crymych derby victory against Fishguard & Goodwick at The Moors had a double benefit because it not only allowed The Preseli Men entry to the second round of this national cup competition but saw them through to the next stage of the Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup in what was agreed should be a double header.

Rhys Evans scored a try for Fishguard which was converted by Mark Jones but it proved to be their only score as the visitors led 11-7 at half time from an Adam Phillips try alongside two penalties by Ewan Phillips.

The Seagulls had three players yellow-carded after the break which cost them dearly as Crymych had a try by Lawrence Headlam alongside a penalty try, plus two more penalties from Phillips.

Fishguard & Goodwick:  Ed Bendall; Rhys Evans; James Griffiths; Sion Rowlands; Thomas George: Mark Jones; Andrew Williams: Ryan McVeigh; Liam Wilkes: Will Delaney; Gwilym Evans; Ben John; Luke Freebury; Chris Shousha (c); Simon James; Replacements: Andrew Morrillo; Gavin Walsh; Scott Richies; Dan Evans; Dafydd Ridgeway.

Crymych: Adam Phillips: Tomos Lewis; Elan Phillips; Carwyn Phillips; Lawrence Headlam: Ewan Phillips; Dafydd Phillips: Jonathan Phillips; Steph Harries; Rhys Richards: Matthew Freebury; Dafydd Walters: Sion Hughes; Rhys Davies. Replacements: Ryan Reece; Richard Sharp-Williams; Dion Gibby; Iwan Davies; Gareth Davies.

 

Another tight success for The Borderers

 

Penclawdd 28 - Whitland 31

Whitland made it three narrow wins on the trot as they followed a brace of tight league wins with this last-gasp victory at Penclawdd when Nico Setaro slotted a late penalty.

Winger Ollie Hughes claimed two excellent interception tries for The Borders, with others by Jac Howells and James Stephenson, all converted by Setaro.

‘The Cocklemen’ also played their hearts out but eventually had to concede defeat to this gritty Borderers outfit, with coach Gareth Bennett saying afterwards he though his squad just about deserved their win. No scorers were available from Penclawdd afterwards.

Whitland: Geraint Jones: Ollie Hughes; Johnny Thomas; James Stephenson; Aaron Ebsworth: Nico Setaro; Jac Howells: Aaron Mayne; Marc Jones; Michael Ryan: Courtney Bowman; Raff Williams: Josh Thomas; James Lewis; Jack Mason. Replacements: G Lewis; I Lewis; Benjamin Kirk; Dai Ebsworth; Adam Davies.
 

PHOTO: Ollie Hughes - two interception tries for Whitland

 

Seasiders fall just short as Wyndham reaches 200 mark

 

Kidwelly 32 - Tenby United 27

Tenby United fell just short of a first success of the campaign as they lost by five points at Parc Stephens against Kidwelly, who had beaten them in a league match the previous week at Heywood Lane.

Ben Pugh, Joe Owen, Luke Dedman (2) and Ethan Morgan were The Seasiders try scorers, one converted by Harry Rossiter – but  Kidwelly responded with tries from Arwel Rees (2), Richard Pearce, Kieran Evans and Oliver Davies, plus two conversions and a penalty from Owens.

It was also a special occasion for Tenby second row Wyndham Williams, playing in his 200th game for The Seasiders – well done old timer!

Tenby coach Jonathan Evans said afterwards, “Of course we are disappointed to bow out but I was pleased by our young squad’s work-rate and improved performance, which bodes well for the rest of our league campaign.”

Tenby United: Joe Owen: Ryan Hill; Jamie Williams; Jimmy Davies; Connor Ennis: Lloyd Thomas; Ben Pugh: Rob Clarke: Dan Allen; Ethan Morgan: Wyndham Williams; Luke Dedman: Aled Waters; Harry Bolton; Jack Brown. Replacements: Jay Brace; Huw Evans; Blue Parsley; Tom Barrass; Harry Rossiter; Evan Watson.

PHOTO: Wyndham Williams celebrates 200 games for Tenby with his team mates

 

Aberystwyth v Milford Haven

**Match called off – Milford Haven couldn’t raise a team so Aberystwyth go into round two.**

 

 

Specsavers National Bowl:

 

Wasps lose out at Pill Parks

 

Llangwm 14 - Cefneithin 50

Llangwm travelled with something of a makeshift squad to Cefneithin and paid the price with a heavy defeat against a team that plays in Division Three (West) B and is currently in eighth place in their table.

The Wasps’ first try came when Adam Williams crashed through from a close range line out, with Lewis Murphy adding the extra points, as he did when big Josh Hicks picked up at the base of a scrum 60 metres out and reached the line having brushed off three would-be tacklers.

But having something of a makeshift side cost The Wasps dear and after trailing 7-26 at half time finished up 14-50 in arrears. No Cefneithin scorers were available.

 

PHOTO: Adam Williams - try for Llangwm

 

PHOTO: Craig Barnett - one of his three tries

 

Barnett leads Blues to next round

 

Haverfordwest 46 - Betws 13

Craig Barnett certainly led Haverfordwest to victory over Division Three (West) B side Betws as he gathered 31 of their 46 points.

The Blues took control from the outset and were 39-3 to the good after a one-sided first half and although they took their foot off the pedal a little afterwards they were always in control despite tries for Betws from Nathan Jeffries and Nathan Richards to go with their penalty by Anthony O’Neill.

Winger Una Balekinisigi crossed for two good tries and there was another for Ethan Roberts but Barnett stole the show with three tries, five conversions and two penalties.

PHOTO: Blues winger Una Balekinisigi powers through

 

Father and son score but All Blacks still lose

 

Penygroes 13 - Neyland 8

Neyland found it hard going to raise a team to travel to travel to Penygroes but deserve every credit for doing so – but they lost narrowly to a home team delighted by their first win of the season after two defeats in Division Three (West) B.

But one of the bright spots in this contest that the son and father duo of George and Mathew Williams played and made an impact, with George landing a penalty as they trailed 7-3 at half time and dad Mathew recalling glory days of yesteryear with a typical try. No Penygroes scorers available.
 

PHOTO: 
Mathew Williams - back with a try for Neyland veteran

 

Saints again struggle in the second period

 

Llandeilo 42 - St Davids 10

St Davids were 18-3 adrift at half time against Llandeilo and although they never gave up trying their 15 players were unable to wrest the initiative away from strong opposition after the oranges.

Gabe York scored a first-half penalty for The Saints and contributed a converted try in the second half but Llandeilo had tries by Ollie Reed, Iolo Roberts, Mark Harries and full back Owain Roberts, who had a personal haul of 22 points, including two good tries.

 

Lampeter too powerful for Quins

 

Lampeter 41 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 5

Pembroke Dock Harlequins bowed out of the competition with a 41-5 defeat at Lampeter, with back rower Hywel Baker claiming their only score from an unconverted try.

But by then The Quins were already 27 points in arrears as Ryan Dowling, Thomas Rees-Jones, and David East scored tries for the homesters, whilst Osian Jones converted all three and kicked two penalties.

Jones also added a converted try of his own and landed the extra points when No 8 Rob Morgan also crossed for the last score of the game.
 

PHOTO: Hywel Baker - scored the Quins only try

 

Seven-try Aber win well

 

Llandybie 10 - Aberaeron 53

Aberaeron showed their scoring power with seven tries in a comfortable win at Llandybie, who are currently in bottom place in Division Two (West) B.

The home side had a try by Aled Tomlinson, plus the conversion and penalty by Nathaniel Britton but Aber were always in control, with try braces from Dafydd Llewellyn and Dan Lewis alongside other scores by Dyfrig Dafis, Tom Slinger and Kieran Etheridge.

Rhodri Jenkins also made his usual mark with four conversions and two penalties on a good day out for Aberaeron.

 

 

Cardis miss out after good first half

 

Cardigan 14 - Furnace United 16

Cardigan looked likely to achieve a solid home victory over Furnace United at the King George Vth Playing Field but The Teifisiders were unable to continue that effort after the interval and conceded 11 unanswered points and a disappointing defeat.

Llyr Jones and Michael Richards claimed the Cardigan tries, with conversions from Iwan John and Jones whilst second row Daf Green replied with an unconverted try.

Outside half Dafydd Green added a second Furnace try and two penalties from scrum half Dan Rees put the visitors into the draw for the second round.
 

PHOTO: Llyr Jones - try and conversion for Cardigan

 

Bynea C Laugharne C

**Laugharne go through as Bynea cry off – at home!