PHOTOS:

Otters on a charge through Ollie Evans

A high tackle on Morgan Griffiths

Matt Mutch tries to set up a Blackwood counter

 Championship:

Otters overwhelm basement Blackwood

Narberth 74 - Blackwood 5

Narberth moved into to the top five in the championship table as they overwhelmed a makeshift Blackwood side that is floundering in the relegation zone and could only muster a late try from No 8 James Sully after the Otters had run in 12 tries and might have had a few more but for the windy conditions.

Narberth played into the teeth of the elements but with Johnny Morgan, Morgan Griffiths and Ashley Sutton all covering well they were good value for a 17-0 interval lead as Alex Jenkins and Zac France-Miller rounded off strong line-out drives and sandwiched in between was a good try for Nick Gale, which the winger also converted.

Writing on the wall for the visitors

Adam Clarke, Alex Jenkins and Stuart Worrall were key ball-winners for the home side and the writing was already on the wall for a tired-looking Blackwood team.

As Blackwood inevitably fell off the pace after the break it was the Otters who took control up front and further scores came from Nico Setaro (2), Rhys Lane, Nico Setaro again, Lewis Wood, Lawrence Headlam, plus second tries for Nick Gale and Zac France-Miller before skipper Steve Smith rounded off the Otters’ scoring with a try brace.

Nick Gale added six more conversions to complete the points fest and Blackwood are deep in trouble at the foot of the table.

Narberth: Ashley Sutton: Nick Gale; Steve Martin (Capt); Morgan Griffiths; Johnny Morgan: Nico Setaro; Rhys lane: Dan Hobbs; Zac France-Miller; Ollie Evans: Adam Clark; Alex Jenkins: Nio Aioni; Stuart Worrall; Gareth Bateman. Replacements: Steffan Jones; Chris Francis; Lewis Wood; Lawrence Headlam; Luke Rogers.

Blackwood:  Nathan Hughes: Evan East; Adam Tetley; Ben Snell; Dan Morgan: James Dowel; Matt Hutch: Tom Bevan; Matt Davies; Tom Moss: Matthew Dix; Josh Thomas: Mike Preece; Lewis Gerrard; James Sully. Replacements: Simon Hughes; Declan O’Leary; Dan Vella.

Division One (West):

Seasiders denied in closing moments

Tenby United 17 - Gorseinon 18

A last-gasp conversion attempt from Jonathan Rogers went inches wide of the upright and denied Tenby United a come-back win over a Gorseinon side which heaved a collective sigh of relief as they leap-frogged over the Seasiders in the table.

Gorseinon had won the home match between the teams by 27-0 and another clear-cut victory seemed on the cards as they led 13-0 at half time, thanks to a try by flanker Jamie Evans which was converted by winger Rhodri Phillips alongside two well-struck penalties.

Tenby used the elements to claw five points back through flanker Luke Hansford but Gorseinon responded with an unconverted try by experienced prop Anthony Pampa.

With only minutes remaining the Seasiders gave themselves a whiff of a chance as centre Jack Price crossed wide out and Jonathan Rogers did well to convert, but when Toby Smith crossed the whitewash for a superb try Rogers was unable to repeat his earlier feat and so the Seasiders now drift into the bottom half of the table as a result.

Tenby drive forward against Gorseinon

Picture Susan McKehon

Preseli Men’s match postponed
Loughor v Crymych
*Postponed because Loughor are still in a Swalec competition.

Shaun’s searing pace inspires Borderers

Whitland 36 - Carmarthen Athletic 10

Whitland produced their best rugby of the season as they comfortably accounted for basement battlers Carmarthen Athletic at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, establishing a 10-3 interval lead as they played into the strong wind and taking control thereafter as flanker Rhydian Davies earned the man of the match label with his yeoman display.

Also catching the eye was pacy New Zealand winger Shaun Coles, who scored an excellent try hat-trick as he rounded off three good attacks to help the Borderers to a deserved double, having already won 16-12 at Friars Park.

It was skipper Marc Jones who opened the Borderers account with an early try and after the Athletic had replied with a penalty from Sean Curran it was Whitland winger Will Davies who raced over to put his side 10-3 in front.

Shaun Coles opened the second half with a bang as he crossed for a try and then Rhydian Davies got his name on the try sheet before Johnny Thomas landed the extra points, as he did when Coles powered through for his other two tries as James Stephenson controlled the pace of the match well.

Steve Morse claimed the Athletic’s only try late on, converted by Curran, but it was far too little, too late as Whitland were not only good value for victory but picked up a bonus point as well!
 

Shaun Coles - try hat trick for Whitland

Division Two (West):

Big win for battling Cardis

Cardigan 12 - Penclawdd 5

If Cardigan avoid the ‘dreaded drop’ this campaign they will look back on this win over Penclawdd as significant because ‘The Cocklemen’ are safely ensconced in mid table and had already beaten the Teifisiders at home.

But Cardigan overcame the early set-back of a try claimed by Penclawdd left winger Rhys Eaton and took the lead when full back Alun Jenkins rounded off a well-worked move and outside half Llyr Jones slotted the conversion.

The Cardigan pack played well as Dylan ‘Rambo’ Davies led by example and although both teams had second half chances it was the Teifisiders who grabbed the all-important only score when No 8 Llyr Griffiths picked up a loose ball and charged 15 metres to the line to help his side to a fourth win of the campaign and narrow the gap between themselves and the teams above them.
 

Llyr Griffiths - vital try for Cardigan

Blues lose a vital basement tussle

Llanybydder 16 - Haverfordwest 6

Haverfordwest made the journey to Llanybydder with what looked to be a more balanced side than of late as several key players returned from injury or unavailability – but the Blues lost to the team above them in the table and now find themselves sucked back into the morass of the relegation zone.

Llanybydder took a 6-0 lead into half time thanks to two penalties from flanker James Wilson as they sought to gain revenge for a 16-3 defeat earlier in the campaign at Merlins Bridge – but this lead was cancelled out in the third quarter as the Blues had two penalties by experienced outside half Steve Williams as reward for some good play up front.

But in a tight finish Wilson added a third penalty and converted the only try of a tight match, scored by flanker Steve Phillips, leaving the Blues to reflect on what might have been.

Division Three (West) B:

Scarlets win despite yellow cards

Aberaeron 5 - Pembroke 22

Two tries apiece from forwards Will Edwards and Sam Smith gave Pembroke the double over gritty opponents Aberaeron and kept them firmly in third place behind Milford Haven and Fishguard in the promotion stakes.

The Scarlets had won 17-8 at Crickmarren and they played well into the elements in the first half, defending well and claiming two unconverted tries by outstanding second row Will Edwards and No 8 Sam Smith, both from close-range drives as the Scarlets’ pack flexed its muscles.

It looked good for Pembroke in the second period and although Aberaeron managed an unconverted try by prop Deiniol Evans there were second tries from Edwards and Smith, the former converted by James Davies.

But the visitors fell foul of the referee and suffered four yellow cards, all for technical offences, which inevitably meant a lack of momentum and uncontested scrums for a time, whilst Aberaeron also had one man in the ‘sin bin’ as the game petered out into a useful win by the Scarlets against a home side which never gave up trying, despite being able to overcome Pembroke’s power play up front.
 

Will Edwards - two more tries for Pembroke second row

Seagulls slam sorry Saints

Fishguard 79 - St Clears 0

Fishguard maintained their relentless pursuit of the section silverware as they slammed a sorry St Clears side which was never able to come to terms with the raw power of the Seagulls’ pack, or their strong runners once the ball was won.

Even with the wind in their favour in the first half, the beleaguered Saints found themselves 43-0 adrift as tries came at regular intervals from Matthew George, Ed Bendall, Rhodri Morgans, Chris Shousha, man of the match Jone Vatu, Rhys Lewis and James Griffiths, who also contributed four conversions.

The Seagulls might have been a little guilty of ‘white line fever’ in the second half but Griffiths contributed a second try plus three conversions, Shousha completed his hat-trick and so did Bendall, whilst Sam Kurtz also got into the try-scoring act to increase the Seagulls’ points differential – and keep them firmly favourites to nudge Milford Haven off the top of the table before the season’s end”!
 

Mariners do well in windy conditions

Laugharne 20 - Milford Haven 37

Milford Haven maintained top spot in the table as they travelled to Laugharne for what is never an easy fixture and came away with the double (having won 10-0 at home) and with a bonus point as their reward.

Laugharne can also take a measure of comfort in defeat because they also claimed a bonus point for four tries, flanker Mike Williams scoring one in the first half and another after the interval by outside half Owain Thomas and No 8 Carl Smith, all unconverted.

The Mariners led 23-5 at the interval thanks to tries from flankers James Passmore and Dai Sweeney, both in the form of their lives, followed by a third score from young scrum half Evan Morgan. Leigh Broome converted the third and also landed two penalties, one from half way.

Milford lost a little headway as they had Passmore, Sam Stalbow and Luke Ryan yellow-carded at different times but they stayed focussed and were rewarded with further tries by winger Dean McSparron and the ubiquitous Sweeney, both converted by Broome, to keep the Mariners sailing high.
 

Wasps run amok as Quins wilt under pressure

Llangwm 52 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 10

Llangwm produced their best display of the campaign as they brushed aside the challenge of Pembroke Dock Harlequins at a wind-swept Pill Parks, leading only 7-5 at half time but then using the elements to such good effect that they added another 45 points in a one-sided second half.

A feature of the match was the excellent kicking of Andrew Brock as he gave his side breathing space in their first half defence and slotted six out of eight conversions to put the icing on the Llangwm scoring cake.
T
he Quins had won 18-5 at Bierspool when the teams last met and they started this return tussle well as centre Danny Woods gave them an early try.

But Rhys Mason sliced through for a try to put the Wasps level and Andrew Brocks extra points earned the Wasps that narrow half-time lead before other tries came from wingers Josh Hicks and Ben Charles, plus skipper James Lewis, all converted by Brock.

The Quins did manage their second try when Dan Goodridge crossed but the homesters finished strong with further tries from Rhys Mason, centre Robbie Neill (2) and outside half Ian Griffiths, two converted by Brock, as Llangwm celebrated in true style!
 

Jack jolts All Blacks as Saints succeed

St Davids 27 - Neyland 17

St Davids outside half Jack Jones led the way in his side’s terrific victory over Neyland as he grabbed two tries, three conversions, and two penalties for a personal haul of 22 points – but the win represented a great team effort from the Saints who stood up to the greater physicality of the All Blacks.

With a strong wind behind them in the first half, it was the Saints who had the better of the early exchanges as Jones landed a three pointer – before winger Craig Challonder thought he’s scored when he gathered Fraser Watson’s chip kick but was adjudged to have put a foot in touch.

However the home side did cross when No 8 Gethin Bateman intercepted to score as the All Blacks tried to attack from deep, and Jones converted.

Neyland got a foothold in the game when Mark Hamer touched down from a driving line out – but Jones then powered over from close range and added the extras.

The Saints’ No 10 was then off target with two long range penalties, but landed one from half way right on half time to give the Saints a 20-5 half time lead.
 

Neyland look to use the elements

But with the elements behind them in the second half, Neyland got the early score they needed when centre Adam Collins beat several tackles en route to a corner try.

There was more All Blacks’ pressure but the Saints defence, with flanker Luke Davies in particular outstanding, held firm – and then the home side struck from a counter attack which culminated in Jones shrugging off two would-be tackles to score before he again converted.

Neyland hit back when winger Craig Grice picked up a loose kick and jinked his way to the line, and Patrick Bellerby converted.
The visitors had another score controversially disallowed, but after Collins and Mark James saw yellow for the All Blacks late on, the Saints dug in during the final quarter to record their third league win of the season.

**The second half was held up for 15 minutes due to a neck injury to Neyland centre Patrick Bellerby, who was carried off the pitch in an ambulance. Pembrokeshire Sport wishes Patrick a speedy recovery.
 

Jack Jones - scored 22 points in St Davids win