Rugby Reports 11th May 2013

Championship Division:

Borderers finish on a high note

Whitland 30 - Glamorgan Wanderers 19

Whitland certainly completed their league programme on a high note as they deservedly beat Glamorgan Wanderers at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn

A brace of tries from in-form winger Fraser Watson helped the Borderers to a 27-7 interval advantage after winger Mike Stephens had opened the scoring with a try converted by Ianto Griffiths.

Will Davies replied for Whitland and prop Gethin Jones grabbed a try converted by Johnny Thomas before Watson rounded off a good handling move and then sped into the line on a run to the posts for Thomas to add the extra points.

Glamorgan Wanderers had second-half tries from winger Ed Doe and full back Owen Marshall, one converted by Griffiths and although all the Borderers could muster was another Thomas penalty they were already good value for a deserved success from an all-round team effort.

Fraser Watson on the burst for Whitland

Division Two (West):

Crymych grab promotion as due reward

Maesteg 11 - Crymych 14

A late, late dropped goal by full back Dyfan Dafydd helped Crymych gain a narrow, nerve-jangling win at Maesteg which saw them complete an end-of-season run of 11 consecutive wins, and with it deserved promotion to division One.

It was a fitting climax to a long campaign where the Preseli Men have done so well after losing their first four games following promotion the previous season, and a tribute to the coaching of Lyn Williams, now stepping down from a role he has carried out so well for over a decade, and John Davies, the former Welsh prop who has led by example as captain.

Crymych trailed early on to an unconverted try before Rhys Davies kicked a penalty for them and Gavin Thomas maintained his good form with another five points to give the Preseli Men an 8-5 interval lead but playing against the elements in the second half.

Two penalties for Maesteg had Crymych facing the prospect of just missing out on a second promotion on the trot but their outstanding pack raised the tempo and they drew level with a dropped goal by Jonathan Harries before Dyfan Dafydd found the target for another dropped goal – and Crymych certainly deserve their elevation to Division One after this!

Dyfan Dafydd - vital dropped goal for Crymych

Division Three (West):

Mariners sunk at the Observatory Field

Milford Haven 14 - Amman United 54

Milford Haven found it hard going as they entertained promotion-celebrating Amman United and although they scored two good tries they were unable to stop Amman scoring ten tries and going past the half century mark in terms of points.

Ashley Bevans and Dewi Williams claimed the Mariners’ tries, both converted by Lee Riley, but Amman captain Andrew Lacey led by example as he sliced through for four tries alongside Liam Mangan, Joel Forster, Jonathan Bevan, David Matthews, Jonathan Mage and a penalty try, with Gavin Lewis contribution two successful conversion kicks.

Dewi Williams - scored a try for Milford Haven

Division Four (West):

Seagulls too hot for Furnace

Furnace 17 - Fishguard and Goodwick 36

Fishguard and Goodwick produced a cracking second half performance that ensured the Seagulls finished off a great season in style.

John Hateley and Leighton Barnes scored tries for Furnace whilst Ashley Powell landed both conversions and a penalty whilst James Griffiths raced 50 metres for a try and also kicked two penalties before the interval.

But it was all Fishguard in the second half as they scored tries by Gavin Walsh (2) and Ed Bendall, with Griffiths slotting two conversions and another two penalties for a personal haul of 21 points.

James Griffiths - 21 points for Fishguard No 10

Blacks beaten on Cardigan Bay

Aberaeron 23 - Neyland 12

Neyland finished off their season with defeat against Aberaeron after a long trek up the Cardigan Bay coastline.

They were 10-0 at half time and 23-0 adrift before they finally lost their travel-sickness and scored two good tries by Ashley Bevans and Adam Collins, both converted by Patrick Bellerby.

For Aberaeron, tries came from centre Bleddyn Henson, No 8 Tudur Jenkins and wing Owen ap Dafydd, plus a conversion and two penalties by outside half Owen Williams.

Adam Collins - another try for Neyland centre

Division Five (West):

Depleted Scarlets pay the price

Swansea Uplands 107 - Pembroke 7

Pembroke completed their league programme in the worst possible manner as they took a depleted team to a Swansea Uplands’ side assured of promotion and paid the inevitable price.

The Scarlets did manage a try by Dom Colman which Simon Hooper converted but the Uplands ran in 17 tries in a one-sided affair.

Harry Lees led the way with four tries as brothers James, Tom and Sean Edmunds claimed three, two and one tries respectively. Others were scored by Rhys Williams (2), Alex Greenslade (2), Ben Davies, Paul Beck and Sam Jones. Jones (4), Sean Edmunds (4), Lees (2) and James Edmunds shared the conversion-kicking duties and it was a sad way to go out for the Scarlets’ long-serving coach Ossie Boswell in his final fixture with the club he has served so well.