Pembroke Dock Harlequins 12 - Pembroke County 27

 
Referee: Andrew Thompson
 
Rugby came back to Bierspool last weekend as a large crowd turned out to support Pembroke Dock Harlequins take on a Pembroke County team organised by ex-Quins’ player and coach Gareth Scourfield.
 
Planned over three very short weeks the idea was to raise funds because Craig Maxwell, a former Quins’ player, had been diagnosed with a rare form of genetic lung cancer and he wanted to raise much-needed funds for ‘Quic DNA‘, which has a base at Velindre Hospital, in Swansea.
 
So Gareth utilised the help of Steve Martin, who coaches Milford Haven; and his big brother Mike Scourfield and Richard McIntyre were roped in to coach a Quins’ team for this particular match, with Andrew Thompson (Llandyssul) recruited to referee the match.
 
Gareth’s father Lennie, the Quins’ legendary second row, collected money in a bucket around the ground to go with the gate money and fantastic sponsorship offered by local firms and individuals which ensured the fantastic sum of £3,000, alongside the chance to watch their first rugby of the forthcoming campaign.



 

Play fast and furious from the outset

 
So it mattered not one jot that play was restricted to 13 players per side because of other club’s commitments - and it was fast and furious from the outset as they showed total commitment, pace aplenty and good skills considering the fact the game has only just restarted.
 
Referee Thompson was intent on keeping things as fluid as possible and The Quins had Steve Martin directing operations from the No 10 berth as a way of helping as he showed the experience gained after so many years as a key player in the centre with Narberth.



 

Alfie scores – in his father’s shorts!

 
But the loudest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for for the final try of the match as the County were 27-5 ahead and some good work led by Quins’ forwards Lewys Scourfield, Matthew Clarke and Andrew Williams provided the chance for young prop Alfie Ball powered over for Adrian John to add the extra points.
 
The son of former Quins’ long-serving prop Marcus Ball, known to everyone as ‘The Bear’, ploughed over like his dad did in days of yesteryear - and Alfie had even found dad’s shorts in the attic and wore them with pride!




 

County start well

 
The County team made by far the better start as the Milford Haven contingent of Zac Davies, Aaron Mayne, Jimmy and Scott Buirds played their part alongside other locals in Owain Evans and Ben Williams (Neyland), Rhys Price (St Davids) and Ethan Morgan (Tenby United).
 
Josh Thomas, the powerful Haverfordwest centre, showed his ability to support well and break through tackles as he ploughed over for two unconverted tries, with Jimmy Buirds adding two more after good moves in which James Perkins, Mattie Lewis, Morgan Rees and Henry Forster (all Narberth) were involved.



 

Quins play their part in some attacking play

 
The Quins responded with a cracking try when Marc Davies, Owain Turner and James Booth set up possession for Kieran Machin and Steve Martin to take play into the right corner and the latter’s clever little chip saw winger Tom Donovan show his undoubted pace to claim the touchdown.
 
Pembroke County’s Richard Williams and Steve Thomas (both Narberth) helped Morgan Chell add the fifth try and conversion before he was awarded the man of the match trophy by Lenny Scourfield before the final whistle saw Pembroke County ease home after Ball’s late response.
 

And finally . . .

 
Gareth Scourfield told PembrokeshireSport.co,uk,
“I would like to thank all the players and officials for their support, alongside the fantastic turn out by the loyal Quins’ supporters and others from local clubs.
 
“The sponsors have been very generous and the end-product of this match is that the magnificent sum of around £3,000 will be raised for Craig Maxwell’s chosen charity to nicely round off a wonderful day.”
 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins:  James Booth: Tom Wheeler; Adrian John; Owain Turner; Tom Donovan: Steve Martin; Kieran Machin: Alfie Ball; Rhys Price; Marc Davies: Andrew Williams; Lewys Scourfield: Matthew Clarke.

Pembroke County:  James Perrins (Narberth); Matty Lewis (Narberth); Morgan Rees (Narberth); Josh Thomas (Haverfordwest); Morgan Chell (Narberth); Ethan Morgan (Tenby United); Aaron Mayne (Milford Haven) Jimmy Buirds (Milford Haven); Richard Williams (Narberth); Rhys Price (St Davids); Henry Forster (Narberth); Zac Davies (Milford Haven); Steve Thomas (Narberth); Owain Evans (Neyland); Scott Buirds; Ben Williams (Neyland).