PHOTO:
Richard James clears well

 

Featured Match:

 

Division Three (West) A: 

 

Skudder tries help Blues beat old rivals

Llangwm 5 - Haverfordwest 54

Local derbies between Llangwm and Haverfordwest are traditionally hard fought and this one was no exception as The Wasps put up their usual gritty performance before The Blues eventually wore them down to run in eight tries to make it two wins from two starts so far.

Indeed, Llangwm started well but missed a couple of early penalty shots as Ian Griffiths and both flankers named James Lewis gained possession and they used Josh Hicks as a powerful force in the centre as Luke Hayman provided a good link between forwards and backs.

But the Blues gradually settled and talented teenage full back Ollie Hughes exerted an influence as he claimed a classy early try, which Gareth John converted, and then set up the first of winger Ben Skudder’s hat-trick.

Outside half Matthew Davies then sliced through for a try and John converted after a rest in the ‘sin bin’, to give his side a 19-0 interval lead.

Winger Rhys baker’s try assured The Blues of a bonus point but then Josh Hicks ploughed over as reward for his commitment after good work by Ashley James, Jason Mock and the front row.

But The Blues soon reasserted their superiority with a try by centre Dane Pindair, two more from winger Skudder and a late score from replacement flanker Iestyn Griffiths; all the second half tries converted by Gareth John.

“We were pleased with the final result,” admitted a Haverfordwest spokesman, “but have to pay tribute to our old opponents’ efforts in making this an entertaining clash.”

Llangwm: Steve Picton: Dan Morgan; Josh Hicks; Gavin Jenkins; Jack Griffiths: Lewis Murphy; Luke Hayman: Ieuan Power; Alun Morgan; Gavin Jones: Ashley James; Jason Mock: James F Lewis (Capt); James Lewis; Ian Griffiths. Replacements: Dai Owen; Spencer Rourke; Tom Meehan; Dan Chesmer; Rhys Cooper.

Haverfordwest: Ollie Hughes: Rhys Baker; Dane Pindair; Gareth John; Ben Skudder: Matthew Davies; Richard James: Richard Little; Ryan palmer; Terry Lovell: Adam Williams; Liam Brown: Dan John; Morgan Layton; Alun Harries (Capt). Replacements: Gareth Phillips; Iestyn Griffiths; Gethin Thomas; Carl Busch; Josh Atherton.

PHOTO:
Llangwm look for early points

 

Championship Division: 

 

Low-key Otters still win at home

Narberth 22 - Rhydyfelin 11

Dan Smith broke Chris MacDonald’s record for the number of appearances for Narberth since the national leagues began but this terrific achievement failed to lift The Otters to achieve their best rugby but they were still good enough to beat a gritty Rhydyfelin side which is playing its first season at this level.

The Otters had good performances in particular from prop Bead Davies and No 8 Ritchie Rees, who scored a late try that ensured victory but they opened their try count with a well-worked score from winger Ryan Davies which was converted by Jonathan Rogers.

Rogers also notched a penalty as Rhydyfelin replied with a similar effort from full back Daniel Grattan to give The Otters a 10-3 interval lead.

Flanker Tom Powell claimed Narberth’s second half try as reward for his industry before the visitors replied with another Grattan penalty and a try from flanker Kevin Briggs so that they were still in with a chance at 11-16.

But with two minutes remaining Rees powered over the whitewash and Rogers added the extras to ensure a deserved Narberth victory and fourth place in the table.
 

PHOTO:
Dan Smith - broke Narberth's 'Most Appearances' record

 

Division One (West):

 

Seasiders suffer as Bleddyn takes control

Gowerton 40 - Tenby United 24

Tenby United suffered their third defeat in four outings so far this campaign as they came up against a strong Gowerton pack and influential outside half in Bleddyn James, who scored three tries and generally called the shots with the quality possession he enjoyed.

The Seasiders were already 21-3 adrift at half time, their only points coming from an Ashley Sutton penalty and although they rallied in the third quarter with tries from Sutton and Johnny Morgan, both converted by the former player, they couldn’t sustain the effort and had to settle for another late Sutton try and conversion.

As well as James’ hat-trick, Gowerton had prop Charlie Jones and scrum half Paul Hennessey on the try sheet, whilst Josh Hamer contributed 15 points from three conversions and three penalties to help his side to fourth place with three wins from four starts.
 

PHOTO:
Ashley Sutton - 19 points for Tenby in defeat at Gowerton

 

Sean’s hat-trick steers Tycroes home

Tycroes 42 - Crymych 12

Crymych remain pointless at the foot of the table with three defeats in as many matches whilst this convincing win for Tycroes earned them their first league success of the season.

The Preseli Men battled hard but could only muster tries by Nick Bevan and Lawrence Headlam, one converted by Ifan Phillips.

Tycroes were able to score five tries, three from winger Sion Jones as the result of some good ball retention by his pack, plus others by centre Luke Rees and scrum half Aled Joes.

Full back James Owens converted four of them and added three penalties as Tycroes were able to celebrate their first success, after three previous losses.

PHOTO:
Nick Bevan - good try for Crymych

 

Division Two (West):

Borderers run amok at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn

Whitland 96 - Llanybydder 0

Whitland maintained their impressive start to the season as they totally crushed bottom club Llanybydder, running in 14 tries to complete a fourth successive win and deserved top spot in the table.

The Borderers were already 40 points in front at half time thanks to tries by prop Mike Ryan, flanker Ryan Michael, full back Scott Newton, centre Alun Howells, winger Liam Price and outside half Nico Setaro, who added five conversions.

Price went on to complete his hat-trick and other scores came from centre Josh Thomas (2), replacement scrum half Adam Davies, second row Ben Kirk and replacement centre Johnny Thomas.

Setaro also sliced through for his second try and converted all eight second half scores for a personal haul of 36 points as The Borderers trumpeted a clarion call to opponents that they are in a rich vein of form.
 

PHOTO:
Nico Setaro 36 points for Whitland

 

Seagulls stutter at The Moors

Fishguard & Goodwick 17 - Loughor 24

Fishguard and Goodwick battled hard against Loughor after conceding 19 points in a disappointing first half but in the final analysis it was too much of an uphill struggle to claw their way back and had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Loughor have now moved into the top four of the section table as a result of this success and their first-half points were boosted by a controversial penalty try on half time, alongside others from full back Trevor Thomas and scrum half Tom Davies, plus a conversion by Davies.

Alun George opened The Seagulls’ account with a penalty and he converted a try by centre Gareth Adamson – but Loughor added a bonus-point fourth try by hooker Michael Little before dynamic flanker Chris Shousha replied for Fishguard after good work by Luke Freebury.

George added the extra points but it was too little, too late and now they have to look at cutting out the start they seem to give to teams in this tough section.

 

PHOTO:
Gareth Adamson - scored for Fishguard

 
PHOTO:
Pembroke drive 

Division Three (West) A: 

 

Mariners fight back in titanic clash

Milford Haven 34 - Pembroke 31

A last-ditch try from flanker David Round saw Milford Haven stage a terrific fight-back against table-topping Pembroke in a match that demonstrated all that was good about local rugby.

The Scarlets were good value for a 24-10 lead at half time, despite playing into a strong wind, but then The Mariners gradually clawed their way back into the lead but in a nerve-wracking finish the visitors regained the initiative before the open side flanker known to all as ‘Square’ dived over the top of a ruck to claim his second score.

Pembroke started well with unconverted tries by No 8 Sam Smith and centre Dan Colley, and added tries from winger Matthew Lewis and Elliott Evans, both converted by full back Luke Hartland.

For Milford, centre Dan Jenkins, winger Craig Thomas full back Matthew and Round, plus Reynolds, assisted by nine points from Lee Riley’s boot, saw The Mariners go ahead, only for replacement Jordan Gwilliam to nudge them ahead with just three minutes left.

But then ‘Square’ popped up again to seal the verdict and The Scarlets had to settle for two bonus points.

PHOTO:
David Round - two vital tries in Milford's come-back win

 

Quins return to winning ways

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 20 - Tregaron 13

Pembroke Dock Harlequins eased home to a deserved first win of the campaign over Tregaron as the launch pad for their success was the all-action back row play of No 8 Hywel Baker and his flankers Steff Halwood and Harry Owen.

They featured throughout as Ossie Boswell’s boys led 15-10 at the interval and were always ahead thereafter as their tries came from centre Aaron James and a brace from young scrum half Jake Griffiths, whilst No 10 Lewis Davies contributed a conversion and penalty as prop Tom Clarkson and second row Aaron Boswell caught the eye in the forward exchanges.

Tregaron’s only try came from scrum half Steff Bonsall and there were two penalties from winger Huw Ebenezer – but the Quins were deserved winners and only just missed out on a bonus point through over-eagerness close to the line.

PHOTO:
Jake Griffiths - excellent try brace for Pembroke Dock Quins

 

PHOTO:
Cardigan RFC

 

Cardis too strong for Saints

Cardigan 43 - St Davids 10

It’s now three wins from three for Division Three West A leaders Cardigan – but only after The Teifisiders endured a tough opening 40 minutes against visitors St Davids before cutting loose in the second half.

The opening stages were marred by a serious head injury to Saints prop Dan Murphy, with play held up for almost 20 minutes before he was taken to Glangwili Hospital for treatment.

When play restarted the home side took the lead when flanker Sion Hughes crashed under the posts following a set lineout move, and skipper Emyr Harries converted.

And then with The Saints pressing on the Cardigan line, winger Sion James intercepted a pass and went the length of the field to score, with centre Harries again adding the extras.

But The Saints responded as outside half Scott James, playing on permit from Tenby, made inroads in midfield before supplying the scoring pass to full back Rhys Morgan.

And the same combination struck again when James’ grubber kick through was pounced upon by Morgan for another unconverted score.

Crucially though, The Teifisiders scored a five pointer of their own from the final play of the half, with Hughes again going over following a clever lineout peel.

And early in the second half the home side had further breathing space when centre Justin Noble cut through from 30 metres out and Harries converted.

As The Saints tired, Cardigan crossed three more times in the closing stages, as Harries, winger William Delve, and replacement back Rhydian Jenkins all rounded off some good interplay in the loose, with Harries converting the latter from out wide.

It meant the Teifisiders, for who player coach Colin Davies also impressed at No 8, maintained their 100% start to the season, but there were plenty of positives for The Saints to take from a tough trip.

As mentioned, St Davids prop Dan Murphy was taken to hospital early in the game with a serious head injury. Pembrokeshire Sport is pleased to report that he later regained full consciousness and has praised coaching personnel on both sides who immediately stepped in to help. We wish Dan a full and speedy recovery!
 

Power pack takes Aberaeron to victory

Aberaeron 41 - Laugharne 10

The power of the Aberaeron pack paid huge dividends as Aber took a 20-5 lead into the interval and ended up victors by 41-10 as Laugharne rarely came to terms in the possession stakes and paid the inevitable price.

All the visitors could muster was a try in the first half by second row Tomos Rees and another later on by centre Tom Jameson which No 10 Owen Thomas converted.

Bustling No 8 Tudur Jenkins and flanker Aaron Lewis crossed for Aber first half tries, both converted by outside half Rhodri Jenkins alongside two penalties.

Further scores came after the oranges through hooker Rhydian Harries and centre Dyfrig Dafis (2); all converted by Jenkins to round off a bonus-point win.