Ladies Rugby:

 
 
 

Haverfordwest Ladies 60 - Llantwit Fardre Ladies 22

 
 
Venue: Pembroke Road, Merlins Bridge
 
Referee Tom Carew
 
Haverfordwest Ladies produced one of their best performances in a long time as they gained a compressive win over Llantwit Fardre where their attacking play saw them run in ten tries to Llantwit’s four tries as the visitors deserve every credit for trying to run the ball at every opportunity.
 
Coach Morgan Ridley must have been impressed by the performance, especially in the second half when their fitness levels told,  since the teams had shared 44 points when the teams met earlier in the campaign – and they were only 22-17 ahead at the break after they had trailed early on when pacy winger Emilia Robbins sped up the left touchline to touch down in the corner.
 

Llantwit start well but The Blues battle back to lead at half time

 
The visitors also had other tries by prop Molly Lewis  and second row Taboki Hyde, one converted by No 10 Toni Lloyd, who called the shots well and made sure that their more limited possession was put to good use. But The Blues had real ball carriers in hooker Emma Busch and sisters Clare and Sarah Lawrence, ably assisted by a lively back row of Pip Kimberley, Bethan Jones and especially Emily Carrington, whose bursts down the middle created space.
 
Fleur Munday and Christine Selby  completed a lively pack with skipper Emma Summons snapping at their heels and linking well with a back division orchestrated well by Elin Williams.
 
They levelled matters when Niamh Mathias and Tatti Richards exploited space on the left, assailed by Becky Osborne, with winger Nadia Viggers finishing things off in the far corner.
 
Another move involving a 40-metre charge by Emily Carrington, supported by Bethan Jones, saw Sarah Lawrence crash through to the posts – but Llantwit levelled when their pack set up their try by Molly Lewis.
 
Haverfordwest were awarded a penalty try when their forward drive was illegally halted near the line and Nadia Viggers also crossed – but Llantwit had their third try, scored by Taboki Hyde, to restrict the home side’s lead to five points at half time.



 

Fitness tells in Haverfordwest’s favour in the second half

 
The second half saw The Blues change up a gear and their excellent handling produced tries by Emma Busch, her first for the club, and Nadia Viggers before Llantwit grabbed a deserved bonus point with Emilia Robbins’ second score – but from then on Haverfordwest took control as their replacements also played a big part.
 
.Rhian Swift, a constant threat at full back with her counter-attacking pace, set up a second try for Emma Busch before a late flurry saw Swift grab two tries as well as racing 70 metres to find Tati Richards in support. Emma Summons took a quick tap penalty to put flanker Bethan Jones over and Elin Williams finished with five conversions, missing out on another as her final kick rapped the upright.
 
And finally, a word of praise for referee Tom Carew, who took on the game at very short notice after the WRU had omitted to send a match official, and used his experience at men’s championship level to give lots of advice to both teams and explanations of his decisions. Without him there would have been no game – so well done Tom!





 
**Excellent images provided by William John**
 
Haverfordwest Ladies: Rhian Swift: Nadia Viggers; Tatti Richards; Niamh Mathias; Becky Osborne: Elin Williams; Emma Summons (Capt): Clare Lawrence; Emma Busch; Sarah Lawrence: Fleur Murphy; Christin Selby: Pip Kimberley; Bethan Jones; Emily Carrington. Replacements: Elise Christopher; Amber Manning; Cerys Phillips; Hannah Nayden; Georgie Korcher.