WRU National Cup Second Round:

 

Quins too strong in second half

Narberth 19 - Carmarthen Quins 52

Narberth stayed in contention for the whole of the first half in their WRU Cup tie against Carmarthen Quins but then the greater pace and power of the Premiership side paid dividends as they ran in five second-half tries to just one by the gritty Otters.

The match was televised live on BBC TV and although the home side refused to budge an inch they conceded a penalty try in each half as the gap between their respective sections was all-too evident after Narberth led 9-5 thanks to three penalties by Ianto Griffiths, who also added a fourth kick on target before the break.

But by then the Quins had recorded a penalty try neatly sandwiched by others from Rhys Williams and former Narberth prop Nathan Williams, now coaching with the Quins, with two of them converted by scrum half Connor Lloyd, another former Otter.

The visitors changed up a gear after the oranges, however, and all Narberth could manage was a try from replacement back rower Callum Tree from a lineout drive, superbly converted from wide out by another replacement in Jonathan Rogers.

But as well as their second penalty try, this time converted by Craig Evans, other Quins’ tries came from winger Kieran Thomas, Morgan Griffiths, full back Chris Banfield and replacement Lawrence Reynolds, three of them goaled by Evans.

Prop Nathan Williams grabbed a try for Narberth

 

WRU National Bowl Quarter Final:

 

Teifisiders deservedly take a semi-final spot

Cardigan 16 - Milford Haven 6

Cardigan took another step closer to the WRU National Bowl Competition Final at the Principality Stadium by beating Milford Haven in a titanic clash at the King George Vth Ground which was watched by one of the biggest crowds seen at a local match for many years.

The Teifisiders now join Amman United, Cilfynydd and Caerphilly in eagerly awaiting the semi-final draw with just one more match the tantalising carrot being dangled in front of them after showing their inner strength in this tussle where they led 8-3 at the break and an identical scoreline afterwards ensured their position.

They took the lead early on with a penalty from Llyr Jones after good work by Richard Jones, Bedwyr Davies and Tomos Evans in the ball-winning stakes alongside skipper Llyr Griffiths, Colin Davies and Kieran Hurley.

Back came The mariners with a penalty by full back Craig Barnett before cardigan left winger Daf Watkins sped through for an unconverted try.

It was a similar story after the interval as Iestyn Crompton joined the fray for The Teifisiders at pivot and full back John Lumb added his team’s second try which Llyr Jones was unable to convert but soon made amends with his second penalty.

Barnett’s second kick on target kept Milford in with a chance but the home defence was exemplary and as Milford Haven team manager Alan McClelland told us afterwards, the marginally better team on the day moved forward as District H representatives in this national competition for teams across Wales who play their rugby at Division Three level.

Llyr Jones played well for Cardigan

 

Division One (West):

 

Borderers disappoint as Llan complete a double

Whitland 16 - Llangennech 29

Llangennech completed the double over Whitland with this win at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, following up their 21-15 home success with the bonus of an added point for scoring four tries whilst The Borderers had nothing to show for their efforts.

The teams were locked at 5-all in an absorbing first half where winger Sean Coles raced over for Whitland and Llan’s unconverted try came from Rhodri Owens – with Whitland unlucky that Nico Setaro rapped the woodwork with three penalties as well as going close from the conversion.

Setaro did manage to land two penalties after half time and Coles confirmed his reputation as a very good finisher with his second try – but further tries from Jordan Price, Richard Thomas and Rhys Phillips ensured a bonus point for the visitors, with Tom Neale converting all three whilst also notching a penalty.

 

Sean Coles raced over for a try for Whitland

 

Preseli Men dent Wanderers’ promotion hopes

Llanelli Wanderers 6 - Crymych 8

Crymych battled their way to a narrow, but deserved, victory over promotion contenders Llanelli Wanderers which might have lacked a lot of points but was a tense tussle with dramatic moments before the Preseli Men were rewarded with the verdict.

If the Wanderers miss out they will look back on two nerve-jangling defeats by Crymych from only three losses so far alongside 12 wins.

The Preseli men had already won 15-10 at Parc Lloyd Thomas and this return match was always going to tight as Jonathan George landed a penalty for the homesters and Crymych responded with an unconverted try by No 8 Guto Davies, who formed an impressive breakaway unit with Richard Sharp-Williams and skipper Tom Powell, with Steffan Harries, Lee Griffiths and Lewis Davies getting through some yeoman work in the set pieces.

Lloyd Thomas scored the Wanderers’ other points with a penalty but with Dion Gibby in man of the match form alongside Rhys ‘Beaky’ Davies in the second row for Crymych they sealed victory when replacement centre Sion Leonard stepped up to land the all-important penalty kick to take Crymych back along the M4 with their ninth win from 15 matches – and a deserved fifth place in the section table!

Crymych skipper Tom Powell led from the front

 

Division Two (West):

 

Makeshift Blues pay a heavy price

Hendy 64 - Haverfordwest 8

Haverfordwest were again forced to travel to promotion candidates Hendy with a makeshift side and paid a heavy price, although club officials were quick to praise those who played for the way that they stuck to their task.

This never say die approach was never more evident than when Richard Brazell came off the bench, the former flanker coming out of retirement and giving the total commitment that was very much his trademark in the many years he played for The Blues.

They had lost 24-3 at home to Hendy and the writing was very much on the wall as they trailed by 45-3 at the interval in this return match, but battled hard in the closing stages to keep the score down – and were rewarded with a try from stand-in stand-off Danny Morgan, who had also landed a first-half penalty.

Hendy scored tries by Richard Kinnear (2), Tom Harvard, Matthew Witherspoon, Dan Lloyd (2), Ifan Thomas (3) and Dylan Williams; with Steff Howells landing seven conversions to complete another heavy defeat for The Blues as they stand at the foot of the section table.

 

Seasiders miss out in Mumbles

Mumbles 35 - Fishguard 26

There was plenty of action in this entertaining tussle but it was Mumbles who eventually came out on top against a Fishguard & Goodwick side which battled hard throughout but were unable to take several chances against opponents who did.

Alun George gave The Seagulls an early lead which was cancelled out by three points from Mumbles kicker James Griffiths before a Mike Jenkins’ try put the visitors ahead again.

The lead was short-lived however as Mumbles claimed tries from Lewis Buckley (2) and No 8 Tyler Owen, one converted by Howells, to establish a 20-11 interval lead as another George penalty was Fishguard’s only reply.

The Seagulls fought hard to stay in contention through good tries from Ed Bendall and Simon James to go with a George conversion and penalty but they had claims for two other tries disallowed and a late Mumbles try from Andrew Ebbs ensured they didn’t even have the consolation of a bonus point for all their hard work.

PHOTO:
Good St Clears defence

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Saints stay top as Lewis leads the way

Llangwm 7 -St Clears 33

St Clears remain top of the table as this win at Pill Parks against a committed Llangwm side meant they extended their lead at the top since all the other candidates for promotion were otherwise engaged.

But they were made to battle particularly hard in the first half as The Wasps had the bulk of possession through the forward toil of Dave Reynolds, Ashly Giles, Gareth Lawlor and Ian Griffiths amongst others, but still could only muster a try and conversion from outside half Lewis Murphy as other chances went astray.
But The Saints utilised the experience of Shane Morgan, Mike Georgiou and Lee Glanville in midfield to establish a good defensive cover and went in at half time with a 14-7 advantage.

Astute young coach Michael Jones also stiffened his forward resolve by bringing on Gareth Jones in the front row and setting the platform for three more tries in the second period which helped secure a bonus point.

Georgiou also got amongst the try scorers alongside skipper Matthew Lewis (2), Tom Rees and Carwyn Davies, whilst young full back Geraint Jones landed four conversions.

PHOTO:
Rhys Mason - busy for Llangwm

 

Laugharne revival pays a points dividend

Tregaron 16 - Laugharne 45

After 43 minutes Laugharne trailed Tregaron by 11-10 but then they upped the tempo to such a degree that they contributed another 35 points whilst conceding just a solitary score by Tregaron.

The home side’s points came from unconverted tries by Alan Rudge and Dan Rees alongside a brace of penalties by Gethin Davies – and Laugharne’s first half tries were claimed by outside half Owain Thomas and flanker Mike Williams.

But ‘The Boathouse Boys’ really found another gear once centre Steffan Thomas crossed the whitewash for a cracking try, converted by co-centre Tom Jameson.

Others came from second row Tomos Rees, another by the dynamic Williams, winger Jack Morris and Carl Smith, all converted by Jameson to send Laugharne on the long journey home with a bonus-point win.

PHOTO:
Fraser Watson sets skipper Rhys Price on a run

 

All Blacks grab ten-try success

Neyland 58 - St Davids 23

There were tries aplenty at the Neyland Athletic Ground as the home side ran in ten tries to secure what was eventually a comfortable bonus point win against a St Davids outfit whose contribution merited a bonus point by they finished just short.

But in a real game of two halves, The All Blacks were up against it for large parts of the first period, as they edged into a 17-13 lead before cutting loose with 41 further points after the break.

Indeed it was The Saints who took the lead when centre Daf Williams landed a simple penalty, after being off target with a more difficult attempt moments earlier, whilst Neyland responded with a counter attack from deep, that culminated in skipper Mark James crashing over in the corner.

Steve Martin’s men then struck again from long range when winger Delme Bateman broke up-field and set up a try for hooker Luke Dawes, that scrum half Mark Riley converted.

Bateman himself sped over for an unconverted score, before The Saints responded when No 9 Fraser Watson, playing for the first time since Christmas due to injury, sniped over from a quickly taken tap penalty. Williams converted.

But the introduction of veteran Neyland centre Adam Collins at half time proved pivotal, as in the opening moments of the half he broke through to create a try for winger Matthew Coles, before powering over himself from 22 metres out.

St Davids fought back when winger Paul Clayton, on permit from Haverfordwest, touched down in the corner - and then the same player scored again after latching onto a floated pass from outside half Mathew Bennett.

But The Saints couldn’t get the fourth try needed for a bonus point, and it was the home side who dominated the final quarter as Coles again, fellow winger Ben Goodridge, and Craig Grice (2) all punished some tired defence – before outside half Jonathan Lloyd rounded things off with a solo 35 metre effort late on.

Riley added a further three second half conversions, to round off an entertaining 80 minutes at The Athletic Ground!

PHOTO:
Rhys Mason - busy for Llangwm