PHOTOS:
Try time for Crymych (above and below)
Milford Haven gather clean lineout ball


 

Knock Out Cup Semi-Final:

Milford Haven 12 - Crymych 38

Crymych made their expected passage to the 2010 Knock Out Cup Final with a comfortable win at The Observatory Field against Milford Haven, who are to be commended at the way they played their hearts out and were part of the reason this tie turned into an entertaining clash.

Praise from ‘Gully’ . . .

Having said that, The Mariners were 33-0 adrift at half time after The Preseli Men elected to take first use of the slope and the strong wind but as coach Nathan ‘Gully’ Williams said afterwards,

“We knew we would find it hard going but I’m pleased at the way we kept plugging away and actually outscored them by 12-7 in the second half.

“If we do gain promotion then tough tussles like this against a team two divisions above us can only do us good.”

. . . And from Randall as his team start well

Opposite number Randall Williams was quick to sing Milford’s praises and told us,

“We came to win and gave a run out to some of our squad members, which can only be good – and we scored six tries in the process. Now we have to wait to see who we play in the final and we are already looking forward to it.”

The visitors served notice of intent from the first minutes when play was switched in both directions at pace and winger Tomos Lewis was able to cross wide on the right before No 10 Ifan Phillips converted with an excellent kick.

Milford battle hard but concede more tries

Milford showed good hands, led by Steve Martin, Jamie Lewis and Dan Jenkins as they tried to run the ball against the elements, with Mark Wonnacott, Zac Davies, Ben Groves, Zac France-Miller and Sam Dolling securing the necessary possession.

But they were made to pay a heavy price when they lost the ball in contact and Crymych half backs Ifan and Dafydd Phillips set the likes of Nick Bevan, Gethin Gibby and Tomi Jones on powerful runs – and they scored two more tries via No 8 Guto Davies and winger Lawrence Headlam, both converted by Ifan Phillips.

Further Crymych pressure saw flanker Osian Davies cross wide out and Ifan Phillips superbly converted from wide out – but showed he was human after all when he failed to add the extra points when  prop Rhys Richards was impelled over the line after good work by skipper Harries, Ryan Rees, Matthew Freebury and big Ryan Bean.

Mariners work rate pays dividends . . .
 

It says much for The Mariners’ spirit that they started the second half with a series of raids into the bottom 22 and after winger Lee Riley and centre Jamie Lewis set up the platform it was powerful prop Zac France-miller who opened their account from close range, with scrum half Dan McClelland doing well to add the extras.

Then Riley and fellow winger James Trueman combined on the right flank but a promising platform was halted for a foot in touch and play was swept back upfield from loose play by Gethin Gibby’s blind-side run and kick ahead before he won the race for the touchdown in the top left corner.

. . . And they have the final word!

But it was appropriate that Milford should have the final say as replacements like Mike Cockburn, coach Williams and Ben Jenkins should feature before Sam Dolling capped an excellent performance with an unconverted try.

Both teams and referee Jason Summers deserve credit for their positive approach, which meant that the game was played at pace throughout before both sides settled down to watch Wales beat Scotland as a nice way to round off the afternoon!

Milford Haven: Steve Martin: James Trueman; Jamie Lewis; Dan Jenkins (Capt); Lee Riley: Efan Morgan; Dan McClelland: Zac France-Miller; Luke Ryan; Adam Rees: Dewi Williams; Andrew Ling: Ben Groves; Zac Davies; Mark Wonnacott. Replacements: Nathan Williams; Mike Cockburn; Ben Jenkins; Sam Dolling; Dean McSparron.

Crymych: Nick Bevan: Tomos Lewis; Gethin Gibby; Tomi Jones; Lawrence Headlam: Ifan Phillips; Dafydd Phillips: Rhys Richards; Aled Harries (Capt); Ryan Rees: Ryan Bean; Matthew Freebury: Osian Davies; Sion Colella; Guto Davies. Replacements: Steff Harries; Jason Nicholls; Llew Rees; Llyr Evans; Gareth Davies.

Referee: Jason Summers

PHOTO:
Milford Haven on the charge

Second team friendly rugby:

Borderers gain revenge against the Seasiders

Tenby United 2^nd XV12 - Whitland 2^nd XV14

Whitland Seconds gained revenge for an earlier defeat at home against their counterparts from Tenby United in this Friday Night Floodlit friendly at Heywood Lane in a match that showed the worth of reserve team rugby as it was played at pace and with no shortage of skill or commitment from either side.

Both sides had a mix of experience and youth in their formations and The Borderers took the lead with an unconverted try by hooker Danny Evans  after he had switched to play at No 8.

Geraint Jones missed the conversion but later notched three penalties that showed his kicking skills.
 

Borderers’ boys catch the eye . . .

The Borderers had back row men Jack Hirst, James Lewis and Rhodri Rees trying their hands respectively as full back, centre and wing – and the loudest cheer from the visitors’ camp came when Hirst elected to volley a high ball almost 50 metres down field, rather than risk catching it!

Jack Flanagan also caught the eye at scrum half, as did flanker Dylan Gibby and prop Scott Meakins, just back from Australia.
 

. . .And so do Seasiders’ youngsters!

For The Seasiders, there were good performances by second row Will Swales, their youth team skipper, and Tom Dietrich, playing his first game and joining Swales on the try-scoring last as Jimmy Davies landed one conversion. Harry Rossiter looked good at fly half before injuring a knee and other players who had good games were flanker Jack Brown and Jack Gooding, who moved from centre to No 10 after Rossiter was forced to depart.

The game was watched by an appreciative crowd and with the score tied at one match apiece there were suggestions that a decider might be in the offing before the end of the campaign!