Otters win bruising development battle

 

Narberth Development Squad 13 - Crymych Development Squad 5

 
Narberth’s development squad was pushed all the way by their counterparts from Crymych before progressing to the second round in a match that was played at 100mph and would have left sore bodies the next day after 80 minutes of non-stop attack and counter-attack, with total commitment and huge tackles from both teams.
 
The Otters held a clear edge in the set-pieces but Crymych used their pacy backs to try and offset this advantage but faced the mighty boot of Narberth full Shane Rossiter punished any handling errors with his raking clearance kicks. Up front, skipper Luke Freebury, Owain Thomas and  Rhys Davies also caught the eye.
 
But it was the Preseli Men who grabbed the only try of the first half when good work up front by the likes of second row Gareth Owens and dynamic flanker Griff Lloyd set up the platform for powerful prop Gad Bowen to score an unconverted try.
 
The home side had their chances but Crymych’s defence held firm – but Rossiter slotted a 30^th minute penalty so his side trailed 3-5 at the interval.
 
Rossiter kicked his side into the lead very early in the second half after good work by Rhys Johns and Jac Norcross - as a little back chat cost Crymych ten metres and he fired over a 42-metre penalty with consummate ease.
 
Crymych also had their chances to claw their way back, especially in one backs’ move which looked about to produce a try until man of the match Declan Cole produced a bone-jarring tackle to save the day.
 
And then Dylan Walsh made the game safe for The Otters with a try inevitably converted by Rossiter so they now play Aberystwyth at home, in what appears to be one of the biggest clashes in the second round.
 
 

Seagulls survive Mariners’ come-back

 

Milford Haven 12 - Fishguard & Goodwick 15

 
Matches between these division two sides are usually close and very hard-fought and this KO Cup tussle at The Obs was no exception as The Seagulls led 3-0 thanks to a penalty by centre Mark Jones, moving quietly to 15-0 with two tries - before The Mariners fought back to within three points but failed to grab that vital late score and were left to reflect on 10 points missed from eminently kickable shots at goal.
 
For Fishguard, there were good performances by Jack Delaney, Rhys Lewis, Kial Keane, Jake Jenkins and man of the match second row Ben John, whilst Zac Davies, Aaron Mayne, Dan McClelland, Efan Morgan, Dan Jenkins, and coach Steve Martin put their experience to good effect for the home side, with Robbie Jones looking to catch the eye against his former colleagues.
 
The Seagulls increased their lead with an unconverted try by No 10 Jenkins as he spotted a gap and sliced through to the line - followed by a try by outstanding back rower Jac Delaney which Mark Jones converted.
 
Milford had suffered real set-backs right at the start of the game as they lost prop Ben Jenkins and then winger Dan Goodridge soon afterwards so that Lee Riley was called out of retirement and played for 70 minutes.
 
Then new skipper Jimmy Buirds sustained a damaged knew soon after half time but they battled on and some rousing charges by their pack, with Luke Ryan, Jack Morgan, Ieuan Davies and Dai Sweeny involved - and they earned penalties in The Seagulls’ 22 from which dynamic No 9 Dan McClelland took quick tap penalties to dive over for two tries, one converted by James Trueman.
 
But, try as they might, Fishguard held their nerve and go through to round two whilst the injuries sustained by Milford Haven have caused them something of a crisis so early in the campaign, leaving coach Steve Martin to find some replacements in a bit of a hurry!

 

Plain sailing for Seasiders as Colley grabs three tries

 

Tenby United 33 - Neyland 0

 
Tenby United gained their expected entry into round two but coach Jonathan Evans was quick to praise the way that Neyland kept battling away and never took a backward step under new skipper George Williams, who played well alongside brother Ben, Iestyn Evans, Matthew Cole and the rest, who were playing for the first time under new coaches Steve Hamer and Matthew Richards.
 
The Seasiders have established a very strong squad, with friendliest organised each week against clubs in the National Leagues set-up, which sadly The Seasiders were prevented from doing.
 
Last season saw flanker Dan Colley as the runaway top try scorer and the former centre, enjoying a new lease of life, was at it again at Heywood Lane as he lurked with intent to claim another hat-trick of tries.
 
Alex Jenkins returned from his amazing career at Narberth to score in his first game back with The Seasiders and young centre Brad Cramb rounded off the try county, with influential outside half Lloyd Thomas controlling play and also slotting four conversions.
 
 

Borderers show strength in the second half

 

Whitland 40 - Pembroke 12

 
Whitland battled back from a 12-7 interval deficit to gain a comfortable win over Pembroke at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn as they raised the tempo and scored 33 unanswered points after the interval as they used their pacy backs to race in for five tries to go with the one scored by outstanding No 8 Zac France Miller in the opening period.
 
Pembroke had used their forwards to build their platform for that first period as experienced props Johnny Palmer and Lloyd Davies were joined by youngster Danny Davies as good ball winners – and half backs Jarred Sharrett and Owen Johns clearly benefitted with a try apiece.
 
A clever cross-field kick set up a try by winger Morgan Lewi, followed by others from co-winger Jack Flanagan and Owyn Griffiths.
 
In the last ten minutes The Bordered grabbed two more quality tries as outstanding centre Owyn Griffiths added another, converted by Harry Fuller, as was the final score for their other centre Dom Davies.
 
 

Aberaeron pace too much for The Quins

 

Aberaeron 61 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 10

 
Aberaeron motored into round two with a compressive win over a Pembroke Dock Harlequins’ team which made the long journey to fulfil the fixture and battled all the way despite being out-gunned by an Aber side which ran in nine tries as their opponents managed a solitary try as reward for their willingness to try and compete.
 
Referee Colin Phillips handled the game well as he tried to maintain a flow to the play as Aber ran the ball well to score tries by winger Matthew Harries, hooker Owain Bonsal, flanker Daf Llewellyn and Dillon Harries, the first converted by Harries and the others goaled by full back Steffan DJ Jones.
 
The Quins battled hard through experienced players like Craig Barnett, Harry Owen, Liam and Lewis Scourfield and their response was a cracking try by skipper Ben Hathaway which he converted to go with an earlier penalty.
 
In the second half there were further tries from Harries, replacements Fin Webb and Bruce Gaskell (2), plus flanker Osian Davies, with Steffan DJ Jones rounding off the scoring with another three conversions.
 
 

Favourites Aber stroll through

 

Aberystwyth 52 - Cardigan 8

 
Aberystwyth confirmed their favourites’ tag for this season’s KO Cup with this convincing win over Cardigan, who were outgunned up front and were always under pressure from the home team’s pacy backs.
 
Sion Evans led the way for Aber with a try brace alongside others scored by Llywellyn Evans, Iestyn Thomas, Lee Evans, Leo Davies and Ben Jones. Dylan Benjamin also added a try as well as six conversions for a personal haul of 17 points.
 
For Cardigan, Shaun Leonard notched an early penalty and scrum half Aaron Evans marked his return to action with a try but although they battled hard The Teifisiders were out of the competition and into the Plate competition, where they are likely to do well if they can maintain their effort here!
 
 

Revised Draw - Round Two (Deadline 30^th November):

 
St Davids v Llangwm/Haverfordwest
Whitland v Aberaeron
Narberth v Aberystwyth
Fishguard v Tenby
 

Plate Competition – Revised Draw (Deadline – 30^th November):

St Davids v Llangwm/Haverfordwest
Pembroke v Pembroke Dock Harlequins
Narberth v Aberystwyth
Fishguard v Tenby