PHOTOS:
Steve Williams makes a half break before he got injured

Feature Match:
 
Division Three (West):

 

Blues denied in closing seconds

Haverfordwest 24 - Pontyberem 20

Haverfordwest managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they headed lowly Pontyberem on three occasions but then conceded a penalty try, a couple of crazy mistakes as they tried to play beach rugby in quagmire conditions and then a charged-down late clearance attempt that also led to scores.

Even then they had a late-late chance when Matthew Clark, Gareth Phillips and Ollie Evans inspired a charge to the Pontyberem line and every home player believed they had scored a winning try – only for referee Emyr Thomas (Carmarthen) to award a penalty against them and Pontyberem were able to celebrate only their second win of the season as reward for never giving up.

Early boost for the Blues

The Blues had the boost of a first-minute try when Scott Candler popped up the scoring pass for Craig Barnett, and they doubled their lead to ten points as a clever dummy by Alun Harries allowed winger Candler to score in the corner. Steve Williams missed both difficult conversions and even worse damaged his leg on the second and had to leave the field.

Mike Sauro hit the post with an early penalty but as the Blues adapted to enforced changes he slotted a second and then converted a penalty try where the Blues also lost talented young prop Ollie Evans for ten minutes.

Scott James, Luke Harvatt, Barnett and Candler posed a threat for Pontyberem but the final pass always seemed to go astray in the worsening conditions – but they took the lead after sustained pressure which saw opposing No 10 Nico Setaro sin-binned, when Craig Barnett landed a simple penalty.

Silly errors persist

But silly errors straight away saw prop Rhodri Jones dive on the loose ball for Sauro to convert and put his team back in front.

Further Blues’ pressure saw Alun Harries plough over at the posts late on for Barnett to convert and the Blues looked likely to take the verdict - only for a hurried clearance kick to be charged down and flanker Ryan Lloyd was credited with the touchdown. Mike Sauro’s trusty left foot did the rest and although the Blues might feel aggrieved by the final verdict they can only look back on errors and wrong decisions that cost them their third win on the trot.

Haverfordwest: Craig Barnett: Scott James; Luke Harvatt; Mikey Jones; Scott Candler: Steve Williams; Danny Morgan: Gareth Green (Capt); Ashley George; Ollie Evans: Gareth Phillips; Ryan Banner: Adam Williams; Dan John; Alun Harries. Replacements: Matthew Clark; Terry Lovell; David O’Leary; Jamie Zambas.
 

The try that never was - The Blues think they have scored whilst Pontyberem realise they have won

 
 

Championship:

 

Otters not enough steel for Tata

Narberth 18 - Tata Steel 19

Tata Steel produced a battling performance at the Lewis Lloyd Ground to overcome a Narberth side which had already beaten them by 12-10 at Port Talbot but were unable to build on a good start to complete their expected double.

Yet the Otters had a very late chance to snatch the verdict as they trailed 19-13 with time running out – and quick hands put Jason Howells in at the top right-hand corner for a try which Ianto Griffiths was unable to convert in the heavy conditions.

The Otters took the lead after seven minutes when Adrian Killa was obstructed as he went for the line – and Ianto Griffiths converted the resulting penalty try.

But a misguided Howells’ pass allowed Tata No 15 Lloyd Rodgers to kick ahead and win the race for a touchdown before a Griffiths’ penalty put Narberth 10-5 ahead at the break.

Tata bounced back in the third quarter when they scored two tries in four minutes from scrum half Ross Pritchard and an interception try by winger Gareth John, both converted by Chris Morgan.

A successful Griffiths’ penalty ensured at least a bonus point for the Otters – and they had that last sniff of victory – but it wasn’t to be as they lost their sixth defeat in 20 outings – and the chance to move back into third slot.

Jason Howells - late try in vain for Narberth

 

Division One (West):
 
Whitland v Builth Wells
*Postponed – waterlogged pitch at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn
 
Crymych v Llangennech
*Postponed – waterlogged pitch at Parc Lloyd Thomas

 

Division Three (West):

 

Seasiders’ grit pulls them through the mud

Llanelli Wanderers 3 - Tenby United 12

Tenby United  touch judge Russell Millns described the weather at Llanelli Wanderers as ‘atrocious’ as the

Seasiders had to battle against a strong Wanderers’ team and the elements before returning home with the precious points after leading only 7-3 at half time despite having first use of the wind.

But this Tenby squad is resilient, to say the least and they made sure that the Wanderers failed to score a solitary point in the second half, whilst Jack Guerreiro grabbed the only try of the second half, this vital score coming after some excellent handling at the back.

The Seasiders trailed after a promising start as Ashley Powell landed a penalty for the homesters – but Tenby fought back well when centre Jack Price scored a good try and Jonathan Rogers added the extra points.

Then came that tight second period where Gareth Thomas’s boys kept their noses in front – and are still very much in the promotion race as their reward!
 

Tycroes too sharp for Cardis

Tycroes 22 - Cardigan 5

Tycroes gained revenge for a 38-26 defeat when they played in Cardigan earlier in the season with this comfortable home win over the Cardis where they led 8-0 at half time and were more or less in control thereafter.

The home side took the lead after six minutes with a penalty from full back Carwyn Richards – and added an unconverted try right on the interval from second row John James.

Tycroes started the second period well as Richards sliced through for a try which he also converted but Cardigan kept plugging away and with ten minutes left were rewarded when player/coach Colin Davies scored a try as reward for leading by example up front alongside skipper Llyr Griffiths.

But the visitors’ hopes were nailed to the wall in the closing stages when loose-head prop Tristan Morgan claimed a try which Richards goaled to set the seal on a victory that keeps his side firmly in fourth place in the table.
 

Division Four (West):

 

Seagulls suffer in wet conditions

Fishguard & Goodwick 3 - Lampeter 11

Fishguard and Goodwick pushed promotion-chasing Lampeter all the way at a rain-swept Moors but failed to take chances at key times with vital kicks off target and passes not quite going to hand in the slippery conditions.

The Seagulls’ points came in the first half from an Alun George penalty but Lampeter, who had won 20-7 at home, were 5-3 up thanks to an unconverted try by blind-side flanker Aled Thomas.

Flanker Chris Sousha and skipper Simon James led by example in a solid Seagulls’ pack performance but again second-half kicks went abegging and two successful penalties by experienced  Lampeter outside half Huw Thomas eased his side to a hard-fought double and left the Seagulls reflecting on what might have been.
 

Furnace too hot for Mariners

Furnace United 21 - Milford Haven 0

Furnace gained only their second win of a difficult campaign as they scored three converted tries against Milford Haven and in doing so leap-frogged over their opponents and out of bottom spot in the table.

Milford were 7-0 adrift at half time as scrum half Gareth Phillips sniped through for  Furnace and outside half Jamie Herbert converted.

Herbert also added his team’s second score and notched the extra points when centre Isaac Harries rounded off a man of the match performance with the home side’s third try.

As usual, no details were available about Milford Haven’s performance!
 

Division Five (West):

Skeels steers Scarlets to victory

Pembroke 44 - Neyland 20

A cracking hat-trick by James Skeels and a powerful second half display by Pembroke on their home turf at Crickmarren saw them claim a deserved victory over a Neyland side which played really well in the first half but ran out of steam a little after the oranges.

Fortunes certainly ebbed and flowed in the first half as the Scarlets led 19-17 thanks to tries from winger James Skeels, No 8 Sam Smith and outside half James Davies, the latter two converted by Lewis Davies. The All Blacks were twice ahead thanks to tries by centres Adam Collins and Dean Matthews, both converted by Patrick Bellerby to go with a well-struck penalty.

Bellerby also slotted a penalty in the second period but by then Pembroke were 29-20 in front and added three more penalties as their pack kept up a head of steam and was rewarded with two tries from flanker Danny Manning alongside one from veteran No 9 Darren Gilbert alongside Skeels’ second-half brace, one from a great move and the other from an interception.

James Skeels - try hat trick for Pembroke

 

Quins eased out by narrow margin

Penygroes 23 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 21

Pembroke Dock Harlequins managed three converted tries at Penygroes but home place kicker Chris Powell showed what an asset he is by notching 13 points that saw the Quins edged out despite out-scoring the opposition by three tries to two.

The Quins took an early lead when Joe Powell, their man of the match, burst out of a tackle and supplied Zac France-Miller with a try which centre Barry Parsons converted, only for an error in defence to allow flanker Matthew Evans a try which Powell converted.

Then Powell scored the Quins’ second try as he followed up a kick ahead and Parsons added the extras before Powell landed two penalties for Penygroes that reduced the Quins lead to a single point half time.

Within five minutes of the second half resuming the home side went ahead when back rower Stuart Rees claimed a push-over try which Powell converted to go with a third penalty.

Still the Quins battled on and Joe Powell ploughed through for a try again converted by Parsons – but the Quins were unable to add to their tally and had to settle for a narrow defeat – and the consolation of a bonus point for going so close!

Joe Powell - two tries for the Quins

 

Gritty Wasps concede double to Cefn

Llangwm 0 - Cefneithin 33

Cefneithin maintained their quest for promotion with a comfortable win at Pill Parks against a young Llangwm side but Wasps’ coaching staff of Jeremy Brock and Richard Scriven were quick to praise their team’s determination and work rate.

“Will Beresford had an excellent game at No 10,” said Scriven, “whilst winger Daniel Morgan and centre Adam James covered well in defence. No one shirked a tackle up front as Gavin Jones led the way at prop, and with a bit of luck we would have scored a couple of tries against a very strong team.

Centre Jonathan Morgan, scrum half Darren Williams, No 8 Nathan Davies, plus flankers Ioan Williams and Llew Williams claimed the Cefn tries, four of them converted by fly half Andrew McCall.
 

Division Six (West):

 

Saints keep going against table toppers

St Davids 7 - Llandybie 46

Llandybie remain seven points clear at the top of the table as a result of their clear-cut win against St Davids but the 17 players in the Saints’ squad received praise from no-nonsense coach Jack Dudley and a member of the Llandybie staff.

“I am very proud of my lads today,” said Dudley. “It was nice to welcome Geraint Morris and Jack Jones back from their extended holiday and if we played like this every week I would have no grouses.”

Morris, slotting in at full back, scored the Saints’ only try, converted by winger Craig Challonder, and Jones quickly settled in at scrum half, with the rest of the squad battling hard in adversity against a Llandybie side which had five tries shared by strong-running centres Tom Rees (3) and Tracy Lewis (2), plus others by winger Huw Williams, hooker Mike Tench and Josh Williams. Scrum half Luke Yelland converted three of them to round off the scoring and give the double, having already beaten the Saints by 56-14 at home.