Championship Division:

Otters struggle at Pontypool Park

Pontypool 40 Narberth 6

 
Pontypool had signed ten new players for their latest assault on a return to the top echelon and their greater strength in depth was in evidence as they comfortably beat a Narberth which trailed 16-3 at the interval and never really looked likely to salvage anything from the game as Pooler turned late pressure into points.

Yet the Otters started well enough but were unable to turn pressure into points – and were punished as Matthew Jones slotted a penalty for Pooler and added a second just before the interval after he had failed to convert excellent tries from full back Kieran Leek and winger Josh Hurley.

All Narberth could muster was a penalty from Nick Gale and he added another three-pointer as the Otters’ only second half score just after the restart.

Pontypool coped with the unpleasant weather conditions much better and were rewarded with a push over try by Robert Ash, followed by three late tries from Gareth Rusby-Jones, Josh Hurley again and Ben Sparkes, plus conversions by Jones and Kevin Meek to give the scoreline a bit of a skewed look at the final whistle.
 

Division One (West):

 

True grit earns the Preseli Men a good start to their new campaign

Crymych 9 Waunarlwydd 8

Crymych started their new campaign in this tough division with victory by the narrowest of margins against a determined Waunarlwydd side which pushed the Preseli Men all the way at a wet Parc Lloyd Thomas.

The home side led 6-5 at the halfway stage but had to defend against the elements after the oranges as Waunarlwydd looked favourites to take the verdict but reckoned without the determination of a Crymych pack which worked superbly as a defensive unit in which Aled harries, Dylan Phillips and Guto Davies shone, whilst backs Rhys Davies, Tomos Phillips and Dylan Thomas caught the eye as part of a determined back division.

It was Rhys Davies who opened the Preseli Men’s account with two well-judged penalties but prior to the break an unconverted try from winger Rhys Slattery took Waunarlwydd to just a point adrift.

Visiting centre Lee Evans kicked a penalty as his team’s only second-half points but Rhys Davies landed his third kick on target – and a terrific rear-guard action saw the Preseli Men able to celebrate success.
 

Rhys Davies - three tries for Crymych in narrow win

 

Borderers baulked by Felinfoel nuptials

Whitland v Felinfoel – Match postponed

The match between Whitland and Felinfoel was postponed by mutual agreement because of a wedding in the visitors’ playing staff.
 

Division Two (West):

Seagulls fly high at the Seaside

Tenby United 11 Fishguard & Goodwick 15

This much-anticipated Pembrokeshire derby was extremely hard-fought, with neither side giving an inch, before Fishguard eased home to a welcome win which left Tenby United with only the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Pundits were unanimous in forecasting a tight contest and they were right as The Seagulls edged ahead by 10-6 at the break and showed good commitment to stay in front thereafter, despite some yeoman work for the Seasiders in which outside half Toby Smith, winger Dan Colley, No 8 Andrew Crooke and flanker Luke Hansford caught the eye.

Kial Keen gave Fishguard the lead with a penalty that was soon cancelled out by three points from Smith, who added a second penalty to nudge the home side ahead.

But then good work by the Fishguard eight allowed influential No 8 Simon James to plough through for a try which Keen converted.

The second half followed a similar pattern of attack and counter-attack and the Seagulls looked to have settled matters when winger Ed Bendall raced over the whitewash but back came Tenby with an unconverted try by Hansford to set up a tense finale.

But neither team was able to add further points and so Fishguard made the journey back across Pembrokeshire with the precious win points, leaving Tenby United to reflect on what might have been.

Ed Bendall - scored a try for Fishguard as they beat Tenby

PHOTO:
Haverfordwest outside half Mikey Jones releases his backs

Blues beaten at home

Haverfordwest 7 Mumbles 11

Mumbles’ scrum half James Griffiths was the toast of his team mates at Merlins Bridge as Haverfordwest hopes of a bright start in this new division suffered a set-back against the Gower-based outfit as The Blues failed to turn pressure into points.

This was very much so in the first half where they showed some positive play into the strong breeze and also defended really well when they had to and conceded just a penalty to Griffiths in two attempts.
But they took wrong options at times and certainly weren’t helped by a few refereeing decisions that went against them, whilst Mikey Jones also missed an early chance to put them ahead with a penalty from the 22 metre line.

Griffiths added a second penalty soon after the restart and after more unrewarded pressure from the homesters it was Griffiths who claimed the vital first try for Mumbles.

It says much for Jonathan mason and his men that they refused to submit and their efforts were finally rewarded when replacement centre Liam Manwaring crossed for a try which Jones converted.
But, try as they might, Haverfordwest were unable to grab that second score and so had to settle for a solitary bonus point – but coaches Simon Lepetit and Matthew John will surely have taken positives from this performance that they can build on!

PHOTO:
Mumbles match winner James Griffiths

 

Division 3 (West) A:

 

Scarlets succeed despite brave Blacks’ fight back

Pembroke 29 Neyland 22

Pembroke resisted a stern second-half challenge from Neyland to win this local derby and whilst coach Geraint Lewis was pleased to get a first success under his belt he was also quick to praise the All Blacks for the way that they stuck to their task to pick up a deserved bonus point.

The Scarlets were forced to play regular back-rower Dom Colman at tight-head prop and he not only scrummaged solidly but claimed two tries, as did bustling centre Mark Williams with a score in each half. Second row Dai Beynon also crossed the whitewash as No 10 Ryan Wilkins converted two tries.

The All Blacks were able to welcome back Steve Martin from Narberth, who played at outside centre in a back division that also included Adam Collins, Mark Riley and Ashley Sutton, who joined talented young winger Ben Goodridge in pouching a try brace apiece.

Sutton also landed a conversion but The Scarlets were still a converted score ahead despite Neyland’s last-gasp final score and on the strength of this performance it could be that both clubs will feature well this season!

Dom Colman - two tries for Pembroke's flanker turned prop

 

Cardis cash in as Saints struggle

Cardigan 66 St Davids 12

Cardigan are expected to again challenge for the Division Three West A title this season – and got their campaign off to the perfect start with a bonus point win over St Davids.

The Teifisiders crossed twice in the opening five minutes, as scrum half Luke Rogers rounded off a flowing blindside move, before following up a kick ahead for his second try and No 10 Llyr Jones converted.

But the depleted Saints, who travelled with just 16 men, responded when centre Fraser Watson sniped over from 15 metres out, and winger John Miles converted.

The home side reassumed control though, as flanker Kieran Hurley, centre Marcus Castle, and full back Alun Jenkins all grabbed tries – and Jones added the extras on each occasion to secure a 33-7 half time lead.

St Davids got a second try straight after the break as centre Anton Matthews sped over after good work from full back Rhys Evans.

But the strong running Castle sealed his hat trick with two quick-fire tries for Cardigan , with Jones converting the latter score – as he did when No 8 Colin Davies powered over from close range.

Jenkins then cut through for his second try from halfway, this time converted by Rogers, before second row Dean Harris rounded off the scoring from close range, with Rogers again doing the honours.
It meant a solid opening to the season for The Teifisiders, while St Davids can take heart for a committed display in which new flanker Curt Buchanan stood out.

The two sides meet again, for the third time already this season at the same venue, in September 17 in the National Bowl.

Alun Jenkins - try brace in Cardigan's big winn over St Davids

 

Mariners battle hard in Mid Wales

Tregaron 15 Milford Haven 20

Milford Haven had to switch this fixture because their brand-new pitch isn’t yet available but the Mariners’ long journey up the Cardigan Bay coast to section newcomers Tregaron proved worthwhile as they picked up a hard-fought win in difficult conditions.

Skipper Jamie Parr led a Mariners’ pack which went well and youngsters of the calibre of Ben Groves, Archie Smithers and Sam Dolling were in excellent form, with winger Jimmy Thomas as their man of the match and former coach Mark Wonnacott leading by example when he joined the fray in the second half.

Milford opened up a ten-point lead as Craig Barnett notched a penalty and then added the extra points to his own try before Tregaron narrowed the interval gap to five points with an unconverted try from winger Rhydian Davies.

In the second period they were Milford tries from replacements Smithies and Dolling and although Tregaron countered with a try from Gareth Jones alongside the conversion and penalty by Llifon Jones there was no doubting that the Mariners were still good value for victory.
 

Craig Barnett - 10 first-half points for Milford Haven

 

Big win for Laugharne at Pill Parks

Llangwm 6 Laugharne 50

Laugharne got their new season off to an excellent start as they were too strong in most departments for a relatively young an inexperienced Llangwm side which already 24-6 adrift at half time and were unable to wrest the initiative back as ‘The Boathouse Boys’ added another 26 points with response.

The Laugharne first-half try scorers were hooker Ritchie Waters, flanker Barry John, prop Rhys Thomas and skipper Carl Smith, playing at No 8, with two conversions by Tom Jameson.

Home outside half Kieran Walkden landed two penalties for The Wasps as young replacement second row Ashley James, James Lewis at No 8, playing on permit, James Lewis at flanker, the former club captain, Tom Meehan as the other back row man and Paul Jonkers, making his debut from Pembroke Dock Quins, caught the eye.

But Laugharne had further tries as Carl Smith and Barry John both claimed their second scores alongside others from winger Gareth Spiers, and Owen Johns to go with two more Jameson conversions and another by Johns.

 

Saints start well against Quins

St Clears 22 Pembroke Dock Harlequins 5

St Clears started off their new campaign with a solid home win over a Pembroke Dock Harlequins’ outfit which had coach Ossie Boswell pleased with the performance of a relatively side which played especially well up front under the leadership of skipper Thomas Doyle in the centre and Steff Halwood as pack leader.

The Carmarthenshire Saints were 7-0 up after a tight first half as scrum half Owen Davies crossed for a try which Geraint Jones did well to convert from wide out after earlier missing a much easier penalty chance in the wind.

The home side made a very good start after the oranges when Jones added a penalty and also converted a try by flanker Thomas Rees before right winger Thomas Gosling also got his name on the Saints’ scoresheet.

But with prop Jack Davies ploughing over for the Quins and having a second score disallowed there is hope in the Quins’ camp as they had 21 players in attendance and ready to play their hearts out in the black and white strip!