PHOTO:
Whitland RFC celebrate winning the Division 2 West title

Whitland 43 - Mumbles 10

 
Whitland deservedly claimed the Division Two West title with an emphatic 43-10 victory over Mumbles at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn.

The last time these two teams met earlier in the season, Mumbles won 19-12 in a game with uncontested scrums, but this time round The Borderers showed their title credentials with a tremendous team effort and grabbed six excellent tries in the process.

There was a brace each for Nico Setaro and Liam Price, plus one apiece for Sean Coles and Josh Thomas, with star man Setaro kicking the rest of the points with his trusty right boot.

Deserved lead at half time

The Borderers led 22-10 at half time, and they got off to a flier as outside half Setaro kicked two early penalties; the first try soon came when good hands by centres Josh Thomas and Scott Lloyd created space for Coles, the left winger speed over in the corner for an unconverted score.

But the visitors were not prepared to lie down as they created space for left winger Joe Rimell who cantered over in the corner and touched down under the posts for full back Rhys Cotterill to add the easy extras.
Midway through the first half Whitland’s blindside flanker Ryan Morgan took a knock and was replaced by Benji Kirk, but opensider Ryan Michael and No 8 Jack Mason were carrying over the gain line and constantly punching holes in the visitors’ defence.

The Borderers added a cracking third try, running from deep Coles made good ground down the left before slipping a scoring pass to powerful centre Josh Thomas to score; Setaro adding the conversion.
Then on the stroke of half time The Borderers were penalised at the breakdown and full back Cotterill kicked an easy three points for the visitors.

Borderers stay in control

After the break opensider Michael made a tremendous break and did well to find Liam Price out wide, and the winger finished clinically for Setaro to convert.

Whitland scored a well-orchestrated fifth try, as No 8 Mason broke blind from a scrum on half way, fed Adam Davies, who made good ground, the nippy scrum half cleverly slipped a scoring pass to Price who sped over the whitewash for his second try of the afternoon. Setaro kicked the conversion to open up a healthy 36-10 lead.

With just eight minutes remaining Ryan Michael was replaced and given a standing ovation by the Borderers’ supporters, as he had announced he was playing his last game for the club, following a sterling career and he certainly went out on a high with the title in sight.

But the final say was left to star man Setaro as the fly half jinked his way through the tired Mumbles defence inside their 22, and he also added the extras to seal an emphatic bonus point victory for the newly crowned Division Two West champions.
 

Fitting reward

Only last season, the Borderers suffered relegation and heartache but twelve months later they were celebrating a thoroughly-deserved title winning campaign, and proud coaches Gareth Bennett and Dan Mason will surely be relishing cutting their teeth with an immediate return to Division One West next season.

After the final whistle Whitland skipper Marc Jones received the title winning bowl from WRU District H representative Gordon Eynon, much to the delight of his team-mates and everyone connected with the club.

Whitland: Jonathan Thomas, Liam Price, Scott Lloyd, Josh Thomas, Sean Coles, Nico Setaro, Adam Davies, Aaron Mayne, Marc Jones (Captain), Tomos Evans, Raff Williams, Dai Ebsworth, Ryan Morgan, Ryan Michael, Jack Mason. Replacements: Gethin Lewis, James Lewis, Danny Evans, Benji Kirk, Aaron Ebsworth, Tom Parry.
 

PHOTO:
Johnny and Josh Thomas congratulate Nico Satoro 
Nico Setaro kicks a conversion
Pictures by Susan McKehon

 

Division One (West):

 

Preseli Men just keep on winning

Crymych 55 - Tycroes 5

Crymych added another five points to their impressive recent tally and earned another climb up the league table as they ran in nine tries against the already-doomed bottom club Tycroes.

Full back Nick Bevan gave The Preseli Men an early lead from an unconverted try and winger Tomos Lewis raced over for their second, which was converted by Gavin Thomas.

Tycroes did manage five points of their own from a try by Rhodri Evans but Crymych moved smoothly into a 26-5 interval lead thanks to further tries by centre Carwyn Phillips and Lewis again, both goaled by Thomas.

The only score for Tycroes after the break was a penalty but Crymych combined well through forwards and backs to add five more tries, starting with Lewis's hat-trick score alongside others by Ifan James, Luke Rogers, Lawrence Headlam and Richard Walters, two more of them converted by Thomas.
 

PHOTO:
Tomos Lewis - try hat-trick for Crymych

 

Seasiders still in with a sniff of safety

Dunvant 35 - Tenby United 16

Tenby United's hopes of a win at Dunvant which would end their relegation worries came to nothing as they were already 25-9 adrift at half time and although they never gave up trying The Seasiders now face a nervous seven-day wait until they travel to champions Felinfoel knowing that nothing else but a win will keep them in Division One (West).

Their points in that first period came from Craig Barnett’s three penalties on target and he also converted their only try by Luke Hansford after half time.

But Dunvant always held the edge up front and had tries from Adam Williams-Parry (2), Craig Hawkins, Rhys Tucker and Mark Roberts alongside two conversions and two penalties by Sam Evans to seriously dent The Seasiders’ hopes.
 

PHOTO:
Luke Hansford - only Seasiders' try

 

Division Two (West):

 

Seagulls’ safety is assured

Fishguard & Goodwick 28 - Amman United 6

Fishguard and Goodwick RFC will remain in Division Two West as they finished with a flourish by beating Amman United – a result which relegated the visitors for the second time in three seasons.

Needing a win to secure safety, The Seagulls led 6-3 after an inevitably tense first half, with outside half Jake Jenkins returning on permit from Crymych to land two penalties, either side of a three pointer from opposite number Rhys Thomas for Amman.

The home side did fail to turn later pressure into points in that first period, but then hit their stride straight after the break as Jenkins cut through a gap to and showed great strength to make the line for an unconverted score.

Thomas responded with a second penalty but then it was Jenkins who gave his side further breathing space with a second try that he also converted.

The visitors did keep pressing but with back row players Sion Colella and Chris Shousha outstanding, Fishguard added a third try when winger Jamie Lewis, on permit from Milford, showed his pace to score in the right corner.

There was still time for a bonus point try from replacement prop Adam Bowen, as much to the relief of coaches Huw Evans and Gareth Thomas and team manager Min Walsh, The Seagulls secured their Division Two status for another season.

Fishguard: Robbie Jones, Thomas George, Mike Jenkins, Mike Jenkins, Jamie Lewis, Jake Jenkins, Alun George, Ryan McVeigh, Gavin Walsh (capt), Neil Perkins, Jac Evans, Luke Freebury, Jordan James, Sion Colella, Chris Shousha. Replacements: Liam Wilkes, Adam Bowen, Gwilym Evans, Lewis Davies, Andrew Williams.
 

PHOTO:
Jake Jenkins - 18 tries for old club Fishguard

 

Division Three (West) A:

Pembroke win title with an impressive performance at Cardigan

Cardigan 19 - Pembroke 48

Pembroke deservedly collected the Division Three (West) A title with this convincing win against Cardigan at Parc Lloyd Thomas.

The Scarlets were already 26-14 ahead at half time after trailing 14-0 within ten minutes as Cardigan came at them like demons and scored a good try from player/coach Colin Davies and full back John Lumb, who converted both.

But Pembroke got back into the game with a terrific try by winger Barry Alderman-John and a close-range effort from No 8 Sam Smith, whose brother Toby at No 10 added a third try to nudge them ahead.

Alderman-John, who caught the eye wide out with Elliott-Evans, then sped away for his second score as Luke Hartland (2) and Toby Smith added conversions.

The visitors moved into an unassailable lead when full back Hartland scored two superb tries from near half way, with other from the in-form Dan Colley and replacement second row Cyle Weatherall, one converted by Hartland before Cardigan claimed a late consolation score through an unconverted try be replacement No 10 Iwan John.
 

PHOTO:
Barry Alderman-John - try brace for Pembroke

 

Quins unable to field a team for long haul

Tregaron P-P Pembroke Dock Harlequins
** Quins unable to raise a team  to travel to Tregaron