PHOTO:
Jack Price races over for a try 

 

Championship Division:

 

Otters battle to deserved win

Narberth 19 - Glynneath 12

Narberth maintained their place in the section’s top three but not before they were really tested by a street-wise Glynneath side which was strong up front in the first half and had backs capable of causing problems.

The Otters struggled a little up front in the first half but still had enough fire-power behind the scrum to lead 12-7 at half time – and coach Sean Gale brought on 42 year old prop Justin Hughes to successfully anchor the set pieces.

Indeed, The Otters had plenty of chances to grab the fourth try that would have assured a bonus point but sloppy handling let them down at times after young scrum half Lewys Gibby and centres Ollie Reyland and Jack Price always looked likely to make strong breaks.

Price sets Narberth in the right direction

It was Price who opened the scoring with an unconverted try after Gibby, Ianto Griffiths and James Stephenson engineered the space.

But Glynneath hit back through No 8 Stuart Leach, flanker John Smith and skipper James Parry to set up a try by scrum half Ben Jones, converted by No 10 Dylan Francis.

Glynneath pressed for a another score before the break but a floated pass allowed winger Nick Gale to intercept and race over 60 metres for a Narberth try at the posts which he also converted.

Similar second half story

It was a similar story in the second half as Reyland and Price posed a threat but the final pass went astray a few times before The Otters finally added a third try after a strong period of pressure involving Pat Roberts, Steffan Phillips and Dewi Williams allowed prop Dylan Cooper to crash over the line and Gale converted.

Liam Hutchings looked sharp when he came on as a replacement wing but Narberth were unable to turn further pressure into points – and Glynneath deservedly had the final word with an unconverted corner try by winger Aled Evans that sent them back home with at least something to show for their efforts.

Narberth: James Stephenson: Nick Gale; Ollie Reyland; Jack Price; Joe Hutchings: Ianto Griffiths (Jake Jenkins); Lewys Gibby: Dylan Cooper (Bradley Davies); Dan Smith; Ryan Rees (Justin Hughes): Jake Simm; Alex Jenkins (Capt): Pat Roberts; Dewi Williams; Steffan Phillips. Other replacements: Callum Tree; Liam Hutchings.

Glynneath: Josh Ferriman: James Roberts; Jordan Griffiths; Jed O’Reilly; Chris John: Dylan Francis; Ben Jones: Owen Jordan; Craig Tennant; Keelan Marney: Ryan Tibbett; Nathan Ace: John Smith; James Parry (Capt); Stuart Leach. Replacements: Dai Jones; Adam Nation; Callum McFee, Alex Burton.
Referee: Gavin Roberts

PHOTO:
Dylan Cooper is held up

 

National Plate – Round Two:

 

Crymych eased out after point-less second period

Abergavenny 13 - Crymych 10

Crymych came close to moving into the third round of the National Plate competition but, try as they might in a titanic clash at Abergavenny, they were unable to pull back a 13-10 interval deficit as neither team was able to add to their tallies after the oranges.

The Preseli Men had Dylan Phillips and Ifan James leading up front as full back Gethin Gibby scored their try, which was converted by outside half Rhys Davies, who also landed a penalty.

But the home side, who are currently sixth in Division Two (East), had two unconverted tries from second row Dan Horler alongside a penalty by fly half Rhodri Webster to stand three points to the good at the half way mark.

Both teams had half chances which came to nought in an equally tight second period but with no further scores it was Abergavenny who celebrated success over a disappointed Crymych team and supporters.

PHOTO:
Luke Hansford crashes over for a try for Tenby
Picture: Brian McKehon

 

Seasiders all-square but miss out as home team

Tenby United 22 - Llanishen 22

Tenby United conceded a last ditch converted try and conversion to Llanishen centre Tom French which saw the teams share 44 points in an absorbing clash – and forced the disappointed Seasiders out of the National Plate competition by dint of the fact that the Cardiff-based opposition outscored them by four tries to three.

Tenby had deservedly led Llanishen by 12-5 at half time thanks to two tries by dynamic flanker Luke Hansford, one converted by outside half Johnny Morgan, whilst Llanishen replied with an unconverted try by second row Alex Bourne.

The Seasiders moved 19-5 in front when Morgan sliced through for a try which he also converted but the warning signs were there for the homesters as they began to concede ground and Llanishen grabbed unconverted tries from centre Simon Williams and a second from Bourne.

Morgan notched a Tenby penalty to extend his team’s lead to seven points but good work from the Llanishen pack allowed centre Tom French to power his way over the line and held his nerve to also land the vital conversion that ensured safe passage into round three for his team mates and large band of supporters they brought with them.

PHOTO: 
Dan Birch scored a terrific try brace for The Mariners

 

National Bowl – Round Three:

 

Mariners' late points’ glut pays off

Milford Haven 38 - Pontardawe 18

Three tries in the final eight minutes saw Milford Haven book their place in Round Four of the National Plate after they were given a tough test by a stubborn Pontardawe side at The Obs.

The Mariners began as clear favourites against a side currently sixth in Division Three (West Central) C, and started well as centre Dan Birch cut through for a try that Craig Barnett converted.

The No 10 then added a penalty, before Pontardawe got on the board when full back Mathew Edwards landed three points of his own.

But winger Jimmy Thomas extended Milford’s lead when he threw a dummy and sped 40 metres for a try that Barnett again goaled.

At that point, a comfortable afternoon appeared on the cards for skipper Jamie Parr and his side – but to the credit of the visitors, they dug deep and Edwards proved deadly accurate with the boot, landing three further penalties to reduce the deficit to 17-12 at half time.

He kicked another three points just after the interval, and then after Milford has been guilty of wasting a string of chances, landed a potentially decisive blow with a superb penalty from the half way line to edge his side 17-18 up with just 12 minutes left.

But with time running out, home No 8 Mark Wonnacott picked up from a scrum won against the head and popped a pass to flanker Sam Dolling, who crashed over from 15 metres for a try that Barnett converted.

And Josh Thomas, who had earlier switched from the wing to the centre, made the game safe when he took a short pass from Barnett and powered through in midfield to score under the posts.

Barnett again converted, and then did the same when Birch added his second try out wide from the game’s final play – ensuring The Mariners sailed safely into the next round, albeit with a final scoreline that was slightly harsh on the visitors.

PHOTO:
Josh Thomas moved from winger to centre and powered over for a try

 

Teifisiders edge home after tense extra time

Cardigan 10 - Usk 7

Luke Rogers was the hero for Cardigan in their nerve-rackingly narrow win over Usk in the National Bowl as he slotted the 87th minute conversion from wide out that saw them level at full time – and the Teifisiders’ outside half added a penalty at the start of extra time that ultimately sealed success.

But huge praise must be heaped on Llyr Griffiths and the rest of his players in the second half of extra time for their yeoman defence because at one time they were reduced to 13 men when Rogers and replacement hooker Aled Phillips were in the ‘sin bin’, and when Emyr Harries became the third Cardigan player to fall foul of the referee in the closing minutes.

A measure of how tight the game was going to be came in the first half, when Rogers missed two penalties and his opposite number John Green was off target with his only attempt, leaving the interval scoresheet blank.

But then Usk took the lead with a try by John Peggington which Green converted but then a late surge by the home pack saw skipper Griffiths able to cross wide out and Rogers atone for his earlier misses with the difficult conversion.

It nicely set up a nerve-jangling finale before The Teifisiders edged though, but not before some of their supporters’ fingernails were bitten down to the quick!
 

All Blacks well beaten at home

Neyland 19 - Tonyrefail 42

Tonyrefail are currently ninth in the National League Division Three (East Central) B but carried too much fire-power for a Neyland side which battled hard and played their part in an entertaining tussle by scoring three tries.

But the visitors to the Athletic Ground were already 21-5 in front at half time thanks to tries by scrum half and captain Alex Pugsley and full back Sam Christopher alongside a conversion and three penalties from outside half Owen Lewis.

Second rower Sam Katakai crossed for Neyland and other tries in the second period came from No 8 Ben Williams and prop Luke Dawes, both converted by No 10 Adam Cawley – but Tonyrefail added further tries by winger Chris Rand, flanker Liam Roberts and replacement hooker Mitchell Jones, all converted by Lewis, to take their deserved place in the draw for the fourth round.