Championship Division (West):

 

Second defeat on the trot for Otters

 

Brecon 25 - Narberth 20

 
This match was always expected to be something of a cracker, with Narberth defending a 100% record and having beaten Brecon by 19-15 at home - and that is exactly how it turned out as The Otters led by 20-15 at half time but then lost their way after the interval as Brecon battled back with ten unanswered points.
 
The visitors made an excellent start as their forwards, with Roy Osborn,  Alex Jenkins and Rhys Williams. Josh and Kyle Hamer, plus skipperTom  Powell earning quality possession, whilst props Lewis Davies and Tom Slater anchored the scrum well as hooker Hamer grabbed their first try from a push-over.

It was soon followed by a second unconverted score by skipper Powell after half backs Alex Williams and Jonathan Rogers had utilised hard-won possession before he crossed the whitewash - but Brecon showed they weren’t there to make up the numbers with an unconverted try by winger Sam Jones.
 
Back came The Otters as  Ashley Sutton, Dean James and Hedd Nicholas caught the eye and co-centre Ilan Phillips sliced through for a try which No 10 Rogers managed to convert before adding a penalty, following a kick on target from Brecon’s fly half Logan McIntosh to make the score 8-20 with time running out before the break - but then Brecon grabbed their second try by centre Tom Richards and Mackintosh added the extra points to close the deficit to only five points at the break.
 
The Otters weren’t able to produce their normal free-flowing rugby after the break, perhaps still suffering a little tiredness after their epic battle the previous week, and Brecon, sensing victory, added a try by winger Jake Crockett, which No 10 McIntosh converted alongside a penalty to give his team victory to take away Narberth’s wonderful record in the league.







 
Narberth:  Ashley Sutton: Dean James; Ilan Phillips; Hedd Nicholas; Lewis Gibby: Jonathan Rogers; Alex Williams: Lewis Davies; Kyle Hamer; Tom Slater: Rhys Williams; Alex Jenkins: Tom Powell (Capt); Josh Hamer; Roy Osborn. Replacements:  Ricky Guest; George Rossiter; Guto Davies; Will Blackburn; Aled Rees.




 
 

Division One (West):

 

Wanderers win with ease despite Borderers’ efforts

 
Whitland 0 - Llanelli Wanderers 50
 
Llanelli Wanderers warmed up for their Divisional Cup Final at the Principality Stadium next Saturday with this convincing win over Whitland as they scored eight tries and managed to keep a clean sheet despite The Borderers’ brave efforts to pick up some points as they played their part in an entertaining match.
 
The Wanderers  had won the reverse fixture at home by 44-3 and this game was over as a contest by half time as they led 31-0 and their ex-Narberth contingent played a significant role as scrum half George McDonald claimed their first two tries, with winger Nick Gale converting both, as he did for their third try, scored by Nicky Frampton.
 
Gale then scored himself but missed the conversion and Caine Rees-Jones, another former Otter, added his first before the interval and was on the try sheet again later as reward for his all-action play.
 
Jacob Williams, Elgin Morgan and Lloyd Pike also scored tries and McDonald was chosen as Man of the Match for his performance at No 9 to keep The Wanderers way out in front at the head of the table - and looking forward to their trip to Cardiff next Saturday! 
 
Whitland: Harry Fuller: Dom Davies; Gino Setaro; Trystan Rees; Owen Griffiths: Geraint Jones; Luke Marsh: Trystan Bowen Marc Jones; Jonny Phillips: Dan Bennett; Benji Kirk (Capt): Lewis Tingay; Cian Evans; Zac France-Miller. Replacements: Dom Bennett; Raff Williams; Charlie Watson; Sam Clarke; Deian Davies.
 
 

Division Two (West):

 

Great come-back earns  Seasiders’  a key victory

 

Tenby United 38 - Loughor 23

 
Tenby United’s top-four battle with Loughor was enjoyed by a big crowd from both camps and the end product was an absorbing clash where the visitors started with a bang and were still 23-12 ahead at the interval - before The Seasiders used their bench well to raise the tempo and score 26 unanswered points with four second-half tries to gain revenge for a 19-29 reverse at Loughor.
 
Tenby had their chances in the first period but lost the ball at key times, and Lloyd Thomas was off target with three penalties - and Loughor opened up a 13-0 lead with two penalties from scrum half Ryan Davies, who also converted a try by full back Jack Herbert.
 
The Seasiders eventually responded when skipper Luke Dedman popped up wide out after a sweeping move but Loughor replied with a try from Johnny Donaldson from the back of a maul.
 
The scoring continued apace as Dan Colley grabbed yet another try to round off some good ball retention and Thomas added the extras - but again Loughor came back when No 9 Davies sniped through from a quick tap and go near the line.
 
Whatever coach Jonathan Evans said at half time, and the new legs he introduced, like back rowers Jack Broadhurst and Jake Roberts, plus Kyle  Rossiter, certainly had their effect and there was a quartet of tries from Cam Broadhurst, Max Brindley, Kyle Rossiter and then Luke Hartland from the last move of the match, three of them converted by Lloyd Thomas, who had directed play well.
 
 Tenby United: Gwion Jones: Max Brindley; Jack Gooding; Luke Waygood; Luke Hartland: Lloyd Thomas; Cam Broadhurst: Ethan Morgan; Dan Allen; Rob Lucy: Liam Pugh; Luke Dedman (Capt): Howells baker; Jack Brown; Dan Colley. Replacements:Kyle Rossiter; James Morgan; Jack Broadhurst; Jake Roberts; Brad Cramb; Harry Rossiter; Will James; Fletcher Broadhurst.
 
 

Seagulls share the spoils at The Moors

 

Fishguard & Goodwick 22 - Mumbles 22

 
Fishguard & Goodwick were unable to make their hoped-for start against Mumbles at The Moors, which was especially disappointing since they had played so well in their previous match against Nantgaredig, and soon found themselves 10 points adrift against a Mumbles’ team in search of the double after their convincing win at home by 34-7.
 
But it says much for The Seagulls resilience that they fought their way back for a share of the spoils as the lead changed hands a few times in a compelling clash.
 
Mumbles claimed the only scores of the first quarter  as full back Will Jones landed a penalty and then pacy centre Matthew Hill sliced through the middle for Jones to add the extra points - before the home side woke up and reduced the interval deficit to three points as a series of forward drives allowed Sion Colella to burst ahead and pop up the try-scoring pass to scrum half Max Jones as reward for his support play - with James Griffiths adding the extra points.
 
Colella was again involved at the start of the second half as he scored a try from a driving maul and skipper Griffiths added a penalty soon afterwards - but back came centre Hughes to score a cracker of a second try and Jones converted to give his side the lead.
 
Worse was to follow as a careless pass let in visiting second row Ethan Morgan for a soft try fortunately for The Seagulls, the conversion was off-target and with four minutes left they managed to salvage a draw as Jake Jenkins put in a delicate chip over the top near the Mumbles line,  regathered and scored a try which Griffiths converted, leaving the teams with a share of the spoils; perhaps the fairest result after so much effort.
 
Fishguard & Goodwick: Kial Keane: Dan Evans; Dylan Scott; James Griffiths (Capt); Dan Cleary: Jake Jenkins; Max Jones: Will Delaney; Liam Wilkes; Iwan McVeigh: Osian Rowe, Rhys Lewis: Will Lewis; Simon Colella; Jac Delaney. Replacements: Ryan McVeigh; Bryan Thomas; Cai Llewellyn; Ben John; Creegan Foot.
 
 

Mariners battle back in good second half

 

Milford Haven 19 - Nantgaredig 12

 
Milford Haven were able to claim their eighth win of the season at home to Nantgaredig to gain revenge for a 19-12 loss for The Mariners earlier in the campaign, a deserved victory where they trailed by seven points at the interval but had done the real spade work as they defended really well against the elements - and then maintained their discipline after the interval to run in three tries from some good running rugby.
 
Nantgaredig lead by a converted try as pacy winger Logan Davies sped through the home defence and outside half Rhys Williams slotted the conversion - but good defence from The Mariners back row of Been Groves, Ieuan Davies and especially Ryan Mansell alongside solid tackling from  Dan Jenkins, Efan Morgan and James Williams ensured there were no further points for Zac Davies’s side to chase.
 
No 10 Williams managed an unconverted try in the second half for Nantgaredig but The Mariners maintained control through half backs Ollie Rothero and Dan McClelland as they responded with tries from Jimmy Buirds, Robbie Jones and No 8 Mansell, two of them converted by James Trueman that saw them achieve a deserved success.
 
Milford Haven: James Williams: Robbie Jones; Dan Jenkins; Efan Morgan; James Trueman: Ollie Rothero; Dan McClelland: Ben Jenkins; Luke Ryan; Jimmy Buirds: Jay Goodall; Zac Davies (Capt): Ben Groves; Ieuan Davies; Ryan Mansell. Replacements: Aaron Mayne; Dai Sweeney; Scott Buirds; Lee Riley; Dean McSparron.
 
 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Teifisiders too strong as Lumb strikes again

 

Pembroke 13 - Cardigan 45

 
John Lumb was again the toast of his Cardigan colleagues as their ace finisher added another four tries at Crickmarren to his significant tally this campaign - and helped The Teifisiders to the double, having already beaten The Scarlets 25-5 at home.
 
Cardigan were already 28-8 ahead at the interval as Lumb sped over for an early try brace before gritty flanker Aaron Tomkinson added a third - and then Lumb claimed his hat-trick score, all four converted by experienced full back Shaun Leonard.
 
In reply, Pembroke had  an early penalty by Luke Alderwick and a try by industrious second row Will Edwards try, but the visitors were well on the way to retaining their top spot in the table.
 
Jordan Evans did add a second score fairly late in the game as reward for The Scarlets’ never-say-die spirit but by then Lumb had grabbed try No 4 and others came from hooker Luke Palmer-Davies and replacements Jack Taylor to give The Teifisiders a 14th win of the season.
 
Pembroke: Simon Stanford: Barry Alderman-John; Charlie Sheils; Rhys Johns; Darcy Langston: Luke Alderwick; Ross McNally: Tom Cabot; Dan Gosnold; Lloyd Davies (Capt): Will Edwards; Dai Beynon: Andrew Evans; Jordan Evans; Rhodri Walters. Replacements: Seamus Wiseman; E Phillips; A Davies; S Powell; E Lewis.
 
Cardigan: Alun Jenkins: Callum Woolley; Kieran Greenland; Emyr Harries; John Lumb: Shaun Leonard;  Marcus Castle: Ben Hughes; Luke Palmer-Davies; Nathan Bowen: Simon Phillips; Kester Adams: Tom Taylor; Aaron Tomkinson; Colin Davies. Replacements:   Rhodri Parry Jones; Dean Harries;  Jackson Tucker Lynch; Jack Taylor; Llyr Jones. Travelling Reserves: Cameron Silcox; Rhodri Davies.
 
 

Setaro steers Laugharne to vital victory

 

Aberaeron 22 - Laugharne 26

 
Player/coach Nico Setaro was again the match winner for Laugharne as they eased home in their table-topping clash at Aberaeron to go with their 25-19 victory at home on the first day of the season, going through the card of scoring methods in his 21 points to go with his 34 points scored in last week’s win.
 
Yet Aberaeron made the better start as they scored a good try by flanker Bruce Gaskell, converted by Rhodri Jenkins, - but then Laugharne’s Tom Davies raced clear for a try converted by Setaro, who also thanked three penalties and scored a try which he also converted to put his team 23-10 ahead at the interval after Jenkins had slotted an Aber penalty.
 
It says a great deal about Aber’s resolve as they fought back after the oranges with a penalty and a try from replacement Rhys Jones, one converted by Jenkins,  but Setaro inevitable had the final word because his snap drop-goal made sure they could hold on for victory but it was mighty close in the final analysis.
 
Aberaeron: Morgan Llewellyn (Capt): Dyfrig Davis; Ollie Sawyer; Rhodri Jenkins; Steffan DJ Jones: Steffan Rees; Owain Watson: Ceri Davies; Ryan Williams; Alex Danton: Richard Francis; Bleddyn Thomas: Bruce Gaskell; Heflin Williams; Gethin Davies. Replacements: Rhys Jones; Owain Wozencroft; Osian Davies; Dafydd Llewellyn; Rhodri Thomas. Travelling Reserve: Tudor Jenkins.
 
Laugharne: Lennon Reynolds: Tomas Davies; Liam Price; Tomas Jameson; Tyler Reynolds: Nico Setaro; Aled Davies: Rhys Thomas; Richie Waters (Capt); Mike’s Ryan: Tomas Rees; Tom Lloyd: Iwan Lewis; Rhodri Rees; Mike’s Williams. Replacements: Tom Waters; Lewis Jones; Carwyn Jones; Rhys Evans; Matt Tait.