PHOTOS:
Ollie Davies goes close for Llangwm

Joe Kiff - just short of the try line

 

Featured Match:

 

Division Three (West) A

 

Wasps win first Johnny James Memorial Cup match

 

Llangwm 22 - St Davids 10

There was applause aplenty before the kick-off at Pill Parks as a mark of respect for the late Johnny James, the outstanding Wasps’ hooker, before Llangwm and St Davids combined to produce an interesting confrontation where The Saints used the elements to build an early lead but then The Wasps fought back for victory.

The clubs are now going to play each other on a home and away basis for the Johnny James Memorial Trophy and this win gives them a 12-point lead to take to St Davids for the return fixture in the season to see who wins what is sure to be a hugely popular trophy – with both players and supporters having a whale of a time post-match to launch a rousing start that Johnny would have loved.
 

Saints start so well

The Saints began really well as Matty McLeod slotted a fourth-minute penalty and then added a superb wide-angled conversion soon afterwards from a set-piece move where scrum half Shane Brooks spread play right and his brother Luke, playing at full back, supplied the scoring pass for winger Tanapon Phumkhonsan to brush off a tacker to score.

But The Wasps gradually settled as their pack, with a front row of skipper Gethin Thomas, Steve Rees and Will Scriven to the fore, allowing their back row to feature in attack.  Outside half Joe Kiff made a terrific diagonal break to the line but was penalised for a double moment.
 

Vital period for The Wasps

A score was bound to come though, and flanker James Lewis crashed over as reward for his support play of Ollie Davies, Lewis Murphy and Ian Griffiths.

A pivotal moment came in 40th minute when Saints’ second row Adam Williams was sent off and in the time until half time The Wasps added another ten points from a simple Luke Hayman penalty and a try by Yale Grice from another Kiff break which Hayman converted.


 

Wasps win well as Saints fail to take chances

Both sides had their chances but were unable to defy the elements and opposing defences, whilst Wasps’ No 8 Josh Hicks was yellow-carded – but the home side finished in style as replacement hooker Phil Llewellin barged over from close range and Hayman added the extra points.

Llangwm: Luke Hayman: Dan Thomas; Lewis Murphy; Yale Grice; Joe Lewis: Joseph Kiff; Ollie Davies: Will Scriven; Gethin Thomas (Capt); Steve Rees: Dave Reynolds; Jason Mock: James Lewis; Ian Griffiths; Josh Hicks. Replacements: Phil Llewellin; Gavin Jones; Rhys Thomas; Matthew Lewis; Dan Morgan.

St Davids: Luke Brooks: Norman Price; George Raymond; Dylan Walsh; Tanapon Phumkhonsan: Mattie McLeod; Shane Brooks: Will Davies; Tom Clark; Dan Murphy (Capt): Raymond Owen; Andrew Williams: Rhys Price; Emyr Wile; Anthony Davies. Replacements: Jason Davies, Fraser Watson, Alex Richmond, Ben Evans.

Referee: Matthew Davies (Cardiff).

PHOTO:
James Lewis wins lineout ball for Llangwm

 

 

Championship:

 

Missed first half chances cause Otters grief

 

Narberth 11 - Glamorgan Wanderers 13

Narberth unexpectedly lost against Glamorgan Wanderers at The Lewis Lloyd Ground as they failed to convert a plethora of first half chances with the elements in their favour and were made to pay for a series of unforced errors that ultimately allowed the opposition to return to Cardiff with victory and leaving Sean Gale’s squad with just a losing bonus point.

Yet the Otters couldn’t have got off to a better start as they grabbed an unconverted try in the first minute after they had kicked deep and The Wanderers failed to find touch with the attempted clearance.

Nick Gale ran the ball up the touchline for 30 metres and slipped the scoring pass to Daf Pritchard for the winger to enjoy a run to the line. Before some of the home supporters had taken their seats!

Gale missed the conversion but added a well-struck penalty after 10 minutes – and from there until he landed another from the last kick of the half, The Otters made errors aplenty in the challenging conditions

The general consensus at the interval was that 11 points might not be enough to give Narberth a fifth win from seven starts and that is the way it turned out as Wanderers No 8 Rob Weston was driven over the whitewash from a lineout maul.

Scrum half Paul Stone converted and slotted two penalties to nudge The Wanderers into a narrow lead they held until the final whistle and as a result they leap-frogged over Narberth, who now face a huge challenge next Saturday as they travel to take on the powerful Bargoed side which sits second in the table, with six wins and a draw from their seven starts.

Narberth: Nick Gale, Dafydd Pritchard, Joe Hutchings, Jake Jenkins, Elliot Dawe, Ianto Griffiths, Rhys Lane, Daniel Jacobs, Dan Smith, Tom Slater, Jake Baker, Alex Jenkins, Rich Rees (capt), Tom Powell, Roy Osborn. Replacements: Kyle Hamer, Bradley Davies, Steff Phillips, Jonathan Rogers, Lewys Gibby, Josh Davies.


 Photo - Daf Pritchard - very early try for Narberth


 

Division One (West):

 

Preseli Men disappoint against basement battling Wanderers

 

Crymych 6 - Llanelli Wanderers 16

Team manager Iwan James pulled no punches after Crymych were beaten by a Llanelli Wanderers side who arrived at the Parc Lloyd Thomas ground bottom of the table.

“It was a really heavy pitch which maybe didn’t suit us but we were poor today,” he admitted.

“And credit to the Wanderers they wanted it more.”

A scrappy first half saw the visitors grab the only try when flanker Ben Chiffi buried over after a series of pick and drives, and Lewis Jones converted.

An Adam Phillips penalty kept Crymych in it and then after the break he reduced the score to 7-6 with a second three pointer.

But in the final 20 minutes the Wanderers turned the screw up front and the home side were pressured into indiscipline – and three times Jones took advantage to land kickable penalties and give his side victory, leaving The Preseli Men without even a losing bonus point
 

Borderers win another tight tussle

 

Aberystwyth 12 - Whitland 13

Whitland head coach Gareth Bennett admitted it ‘wasn’t a classic’ as his side dug deep to win in Aberystwyth.

In adverse conditions, The Borderers took a 13-12 lead into half time and then held out in a scoreless second half for a second straight away win.

An early Nico Setaro penalty put them ahead but Aber then crossed via full back Matthew Hughes, who finished well for a try that Steff Rees converted.

Whitland responded when a series of forward drives set the platform from which centre Alex Codd broke through in midfield, before off-loading to winger Jonathan Thomas to score.

Setaro converted that and although Hughes went over again for a five pointer for Aber, the Whitland No 10 landed a penalty right on half time to give his side a slender lead.

The second half was a real dogfight and in the back row both Ryan Morgan and Jack Mason were outstanding with their carrying in the tough conditions, and to Bennett’s delight The Borderers held out.

“I’m chuffed to bits we came through in difficult circumstances like that,” he told PembrokeshireSport

“We had to battle and our bench made a difference today as well. The boys who came on really added something.”

Whitland: Geraint Jones, Gino Setaro, Alex Codd, James Stephenson, Jonathan Thomas, Nico Setaro, Adam Davies, Aaron Mayne, Iwan Lewis, Michael Ryan, Courtney Bowman, Raff Williams, Scott Buirds, Ryan Morgan, Jack Mason. Replacements: James Lewis, Tom Finucane, Josh Thomas, Ben Kirk, Jamie Thomas.

Photo - Nico Setaro - more vital points for Whitland No 10

 

More injury woes for unsettled Scarlets

 

Llangennech 31 - Pembroke 12

Pembroke were already struggling with injuries prior to their trip to Llangennech and sustained a few more to key players here as they battled hard but were always on the back foot after conceding two early converted tries.

Llangennech were 19-5 to the good at half time as The Scarlets had an excellent score from winger Sean Dalling but were unable to turn pressure into more points.

They added a cracking try set up by youth outside half Kyran Gray which allowed Toby Smith to score and Gray added the extra points but they allowed their experienced opponents to claim further scores that really put the issue beyond doubt.

Richard Thomas, Tom Davies, Tom Barnes (2) and Jordan Saunders scored tries for the homesters, three of them converted by Tom Neil, as Llangennech climbed to joint top spot in the table confirmed their chance to be considered promotion candidates at this early stage – whilst Geraint Lewis and Co find themselves dropping to ninth place.

 

Division Two (West):

 

Dolling try seals Mariners’ derby success

Milford Haven 13 Tenby United 6

A second half try from Sam Dolling proved decisive as Milford returned to winning ways in what proved a physical Pembrokeshire derby with Tenby United.

The Seasiders had the wind in the first half and scrum half Ben Pugh was a threat around the fringes while prop Rob Luly carried well up front – but they only had a single Harry Rossiter penalty to show for playing with the elements as they led 3-0.

And then in the second half it was No 10 James Trueman who was pivotal for The Mariners as he constantly used the wind to pin Tenby back – and the home side went ahead when the outstanding Dolling powered through three tacklers to score.

Trueman converted and then added two further penalties to eventually edge the man of the match award, while second row Zac Davies also stood out for Nathan Williams’ team.

From the final play however, The Seasiders did secure a losing bonus point when they fashioned a penalty chance and the nerveless Rossiter landed three points.

Milford Haven: Jamie Lewis, Lee Riley, Dan Jenkins, Dan Birch (capt), Jimmy Thomas, James Trueman, Danny McClelland, Mike Cockburn, Luke Ryan, Adam Rees, Dewi Williams, Zac Davies, Zac France-Miller, Ryan Mansell, Sam Dolling. Replacements: George Evans, Nathan Williams, Gareth Cheshire, James Williams, Brandon Cooper.

Tenby United: Max Brindley, Jack Gooding, Yannic Parker, Lloyd Thomas, Jack Tucker, Harry Rossiter, Ben Pugh, Ethan Morgan, Jim Brace, Rob Luly, Huw Evans, Tom Barrass, Luke Dedman (capt), Harry Bolton, Jack Broadhurst. Replacements: Dan Allen, Jack Brown, Wyndham Williams, Ryan Hill, Joe Owen.


Photo - Sam Dolling - another important try for Milford back rower

 

Seagulls match postponed by rain

Fishguard & Goodwick P Carmarthen Athletic P

** Match called off because The Moors pitch was unfit for play**

 

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Blues disappoint as Llanybydder play well

 

Llanybydder 19 - Haverfordwest 0

Haverfordwest travelled into Mid Wales as strong favourites to beat Llanybydder on the back of a league record which read won three and drawn one of their four matches whilst the opposition could only muster one win from their four previous games.

The Blues were boosted by the return of Carl Busch after a long period out injured but that apart there was little for coach Steve Barnett to enthuse about on a day when the weather was awful but Llanybydder adapted to the elements far better in scoring three tries but also maintaining a defensive clean sheet.

Outside half Llyr Jones crossed for the only score of the first half and added the conversion – and grabbed another try and conversion as Bleddyn Jones also got his name on the try sheet to give Llanybydder a deserved victory.

 

Neyland battle hard but greater Laugharne experience tells

 

Neyland 14 - Laugharne 36

It was another bonus point win for Laugharne as they turned in an impressive display at Neyland.

The visitors led 24-0 early in the second half before The All Blacks mounted a fightback with two converted tries, but it was Cocklemen who finished stronger to take real momentum into their important National Bowl match next week.

It was No 8 Mike Williams who put them in control early on with two powerful finished for tries, one converted by centre Tom Jameson.

The Laugharne scrum was dominant for much of the 80 minutes and it was from this platform they added a third score, after an eight man shove forced the Neyland pack into infringing and yielded a penalty try.

Will Evans continued his scoring form with a try after the break but Neyland were threatening themselves and looked sharp out wide.

And after being repelled by an organised away defence they eventually crossed when skipper George Williams cut over, and minutes later centre partner Adam Collins, who was called in at short notice after his football was called off in the morning, also went over.

Toby Hayman converted both tries to make it 24-14 but then Evans crossed again to end any hopes of a comeback, and Jack Flanagan rounded off the Laugharne win with a try that Jameson converted.





Photo - Adam Collins - back with a bang for Neyland




 
Photo - Mikey Williams - two more tries for Laugharne

 

Newcomer Castle gives Quins a boost

 

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 25 - Cardigan 11

Pembroke Dock maintained their top place as a result of this comfortable win over a Cardigan side which was 3-15 adrift at the half way stage but never gave up trying against a stronger side.

Making a scoring debut for The Quins was New Zealander Tyler Castle, who came in at outside half and made a quick impact as he landed an easy penalty and then sliced through for a try which he also converted.

Cardigan had an easy penalty from Llyr Jones in response but The Quins moved into a 15-3 interval lead thanks to an unconverted try right winger Josh Brown after some quick hands allowed influential centre Jack Price to set him on his way to the line.

The Quins increased their lead early in the second half when they defied the elements in sweeping play wide and created enough space for left winger Gethin Bradney to claim a cracking corner try.

Llyr Jones slotted a second successful penalty for The Teifisiders but second row Ben Gibby was on hand to round off another good move.

But The Teifisiders had the final word when right winger Gwern Phillips sped through for an unconverted try – and they pressed for another score in the final ten minutes, but The Quins defence held form and gained their expected win.

Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Ben Hathaway, J Brown, Gethin Bradney, Luca Trimarco, Jack Price, Tyler Castle, Kieran Machin, J Davies, Carl Williams, Mark Van Rhun, Ben Gibby, Ollie Parsons, Jordan Palmer, Daniel Manning, Hywel Baker. Replacements: Martin Culley, Harry Owen, David Moseley, Nick Drewett, Dan Goodridge, Will Nicot, Ieuan Jenkins.
 

Photo - Gethin Bradney - cracking try for Quins' winger

 

Low-scoring draw as teams fail to master the elements

 

Lampeter 3 - Aberaeron 3

There was no scoring from either side as Lampeter played host to Aberaeron and both teams found it hard going with the very heavy rain, wind and muddy pitch.

There was no shortage of effort from either team in a scoreless first half where they just about shared possession and chances – and it was a similar story after half time as neither could break the deadlock.

But with the onset of the 80th minute of play Aberaeron must have thought they had snatched the verdict as they were awarded a penalty which regular place kicker Rhodri Jenkins steered between the posts.

But when the home side kicked deep there was a knock on from a visiting forward which should have been a set scrum but an Aberaeron team mate carelessly picked up the ball in an offside position and when the referee raised his arm to signal a penalty up stepped Lampeter scrum half Dion Hughes to kick it and earn Lampeter the draw!

 

 

Saints win well in Mid Wales

 

Tregaron 7 - St Clears 17

St Clears maintained their recent run of good form as they made the long journey to Tregaron and came away with a deserved win to that sees them remain in second place, albeit having played more matches than the chasing clubs.

Tregaron sit in ninth spot in the section as they now have only two wins from their six starts.