PHOTO:
Blues’ Danny Morgan makes a break

Division Three A (West):

Blues’ strength in depth pays off

Haverfordwest 44 - St Davids 3 

The heavy rain at Merlins Bridge failed to stop this clash between Haverfordwest and St Davids going ahead as the Blues ran in eight tries despite driving rain and a deteriorating pitch.

It was the Saints, however, who took an early lead with the elements behind them, as outside half Jack Jones slotted a difficult penalty from out wide.

The home side took a while to get going but then returning centre Craig Barnett sped through a gap for a try that No 10 Mike Jones converted.

The Blues’ other centre Dane Pindair added a second try when he cut through from 20 metres out – before the try of the game which started with Barnett just outside his own 22, and was finished off by the same player after the ball had gone through several pairs of hands.

Leading 17-3 at the break, home skipper and flanker Jon Mason secured a bonus point from a driving lineout, before Ashley George went over in similar fashion.

Haverfordwest replacement Zac France-Millar and Saints’ No 10 Jones then both had yellow cards, but Pindair grabbed his second before France-Millar returned to power over twice in the closing stages.

Gareth John added one further conversion, but the Saints, who enjoyed spells of pressure of their own during the 80 minutes but just couldn’t get over the line, can take heart from a gutsy display in which No 8 Anthony Davies, hooker Neil Thomas, and centre Dafydd Williams all stood out.

The Blues meanwhile, have now cut the gap between them and league leaders Milford Haven to a single point.

PHOTO:
Blues’ centre Dane Pindair passes wide
Picture by Ceri Coleman Phillips

 
 

Championship:

 

North Walians adapt better to conditions

Narberth 16 - RGC 1404 21

Narberth went down to defeat against RGC 1404 at Jesse Road as the North Walians were 15-6 ahead at half time, outscored the Otters in terms of tries, and were never headed thereafter.

Outside half James Lang put RGC ahead with a penalty and in the 18^th minute they claimed their first try as centre Danny Cross rounded off a good handling move and Lang converted to move his team ten points ahead.

Nick Gale replied for Narberth with a successful short-range penalty before right winger Sam Jones added the North Walians’ second try, this time unconverted, and Gale slotted his second penalty right on half time.

Gale opened the second-half scoring with a third penalty but two kicks on target by Lang nudged RGC even further in front at 21-9.

The Otters had the final word when a chip through by Jon Rogers allowed predatory Otters’ full back Johnny Morgan to gather and race over the whitewash – and although Gale added the extra points it was too little, too late as the visitors made the long journey home with the four points for victory and the Otters had to settle for a solitary bonus point.

 
Nick Gale - kicked 11 points for The Otters

 

Division One (West):

 

Seasiders suffer in second half

Tenby United 10 - Felinfoel 38

Tenby United battled hard against table-topping Felinfoel at Heywood Lane and at half time the section leaders were only four points clear as the Seasiders refused to submit an inch.

But then Felinfoel showed why they are top by closing down Tenby’s major sources of possession and playing to their own strengths in adding another 24 unanswered points.

Full back Luke Conbeer claimed the Seasiders’ try which was mightily converted from the touchline and into the strong wind by No 10 Tom ‘Turbo’ Lewis, who also added a penalty.

For Felinfoel, their two first half tries were scored by left winger Dan Evans and hooker Rhodri Owens, both converted by centre Aled Roberts.

Acting skipper Harry Bolton and fellow back row man Rob Weston tackled well for the Seasiders and scrum half Nathan Lowe was also heavily involved but Felinfoel added four more tries from prop Rhys Evans, replacement No 8 Steffan Phillips, full back Elliott Dawe and winger Martin Bowles – and Roberts notched two more conversions to help keep Felinfoel ensconced at the top and pin the Seasiders firmly at the bottom of the table.


 

Preseli Men halted again

Crymych v Kidwelly

**Crymych’s game again fell foul of the weather, although  both teams are to be congratulated on trying to get the game played because with Parc Lloyd Thomas unfit for play earlier in the week the game was switched to Parc Stephens in Kidwelly – but that also proved unfit for play so the teams will meet again later in the season!

 

Borderers baulked by the weather

Loughor v Whitland

**Match postponed – waterlogged pitch
 

 

Division Two (West):

‘Very disappointing’ Seagulls suffer in the mud

Carmarthen Athletic 22 - Fishguard & Goodwick 0

“We were very disappointing,” said Fishguard and Goodwick coach Huw Evans after his team’s defeat at Athletic Park, “we just didn’t adapt to the heavy conditions and allowed their bigger pack to secure possession, whilst we struggled and took wrong options, even when we had the ball.”

The Athletic had only won one match prior to this tussle but gained a little breathing space from the bottom two places after they led 10-0 at half time, thanks to an early penalty by winger Sion Brooke and a try from prop Matthew Swann which Brooke converted.

It was a similar story in the second half as scrum half Evan Ellis sniped through for a try and winger Adam Davies also scored before Brooke’s extra points set the seal on the Athletic’s success – and left the Seagulls without a single point and with six defeats now from nine starts.

 

Division Three A (West):

Cardis collect vital bonus-point win

Cardigan 29 - Pembroke 15

Cardigan moved into joint place as a result of a bonus-point victory over Pembroke side which might have considered itself unlucky since they were still in with a shout as they trailed by only two points with five minutes left but then conceded two tries that eased the Teifisiders to a vital victory before playing fellow table toppers Milford Haven next weekend.

The Cardis were 14-10 ahead at half time thanks to tries from right wing Llyr Jones and No 10 Iestyn Crompton, who also converted both – whilst The Scarlets had unconverted tries by talented full back Gianluca Trimarco and flanker Dom Colman, who formed part of a redoubtable back row trio alongside Sam Smith and skipper Jordan Gwilliam.

Crompton slotted a penalty to open the second half before Colman added his second score for the Scarlets and at 17-15 the game was superbly poised, with an exciting finish in prospect, despite the heavy conditions.

It was the Teifisiders who finished the stronger, however, as second row Trystan Lewis powered over for a try and Crompton converted before making the game safe in the 79^th minute as he sliced over the line for an unconverted try.

Trystan Lewis - rare try for Cardigan second row

 

Mariners pass big test at Bierspool

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0 - Milford Haven 19

Milford bounced back from the disappointment of a first defeat the previous week to record their eighth win in nine outings, no mean feat since they were playing a strong Pembroke Dock Harlequins’ outfit at Bierspool, where few teams will win this season.

The Mariners led 5-0 after an absorbing first half where the Quins also had half chances, including a missed penalty by Neil Brace, but were unable to finish periods of pressure with any points as Milford showed good discipline in defence and centre Dan Jenkins grabbed their only points with a try.

It was a similar story after half time but the visitors had second row Tom Manning staking a claim for their man of the match alongside Jenkins, whilst Joseph Kiff called the shots nicely from the outside half berth.

Young scrum half Dan McClelland added Milford’s second try and Kiff sliced through for the third, as well as notching both conversions to set the seal on a big win for the Mariners before their top of the table clash on Saturday at home to Cardigan.

 

Joe Kiff - try and two conversions in vital Milford win

 
 

Wasps keep battling on

Llangwm 8 - St Clears 41

Llangwm went down to defeat against St Clears at Pill Parks but they had a squad of 19 players and there were optimistic signs that The Wasps would continue to battle through the season in their inimitable style.

Catching the eye for the Wasps were flankers David Reynolds and Rhys Mason, who both tackled as if their lives depended upon it, whilst Steve Picton settled in well at scrum half.

The Wasps’ try was scored by pacy winger Daniel Morgan alongside a penalty by full back Lewis Murphy but the Carmarthenshire Saints always had that edge as they ran in six tries to go with four conversions by No 10 Shane Morgan.

Morgan was also on the try sheet alongside No 8 Rob France, second row Aled Davies, a penalty try, flanker Matthew Dance and centre Tom Windsor – and now Llangwm have the challenge of their basement battle in St Davids to occupy their minds for a while!

 

 

Daniel Morgan - scored a good try for Llangwm

 

Gareth grabs vital All Blacks’ try

Neyland 7 - Laugharne 0

Gareth Lawlor was the toast of his Neyland colleagues and supporters who braved the elements at the Athletic Ground, the powerful second row ploughing over the line after 37 minutes for the game’s only try, which Patrick Bellerby converted.


That seven-pointer apart there was little to separate his team and Laugharne, who had their chances but could never quite breech the home defence despite the yeoman efforts of second row Tomos Rees, scrum half Aled Rees and his half-back partner Owain Thomas.


The All Blacks’ front row of Jack Harries, Craig Barnett and Luke Davies were good ball winners but this was an all-round team display by Neyland which earned them their third victory in 10 starts against a Laugharne outfit could have few complaints about collecting their fourth defeat in eight outings.

PHOTO:
Neyland pack put Laugharne under pressure