WRU National League reports involving teams from Pembrokeshire
Saturday, 27th April 2013
Championship Division:
Vale show just why they are the champions
Narberth 28 - Ebbw Vale 45
Ebbw Vale showed just why they are champions of the Championship Division as they overcame a strong challenge from Narberth in an entertaining game where the visitors were already assured of the silverware with two games still to play after this one.
There were ten tries scored, six of them from Ebbw Vale and a nice touch by the sporting Otters as they clapped their opponents onto the pitch.
There was also applause from an appreciative audience as scrum half Adrian Killa led out the homesters in recognition of his 200th league appearance and winger Nick Jones scored in his final game before retirement in what was his 199th appearance before both players’ efforts were officially recognised in
the clubhouse afterwards.
The Otters took first use of the cold breeze but still trailed 11-21 at the interval as James Stephenson slotted two penalties and Ollie Reyland claimed a try from an Ebbw error.
Nick Jones ran 60 metres for his try in the second period alongside a try for lively flanker Wayne Williams and another by replacement winger Rhys Lane, converted by Stephenson.
But Ebbw always held the edge as they had tries from winger Dan Ajuwa, powerful centre Sa’i Polo Uhi, full back Charlie Simpson, centre Adam Jones and winger Wes Cunliffe (2) alongside six conversions and a penalty from Dan Butler.
They ensured a 23rd win in 24 starts for the Steelmen whilst Narberth finish a reasonable seas
on in sixth place and with 14 wins and 12 losses.
Alex Jenkins wins good lineout ball for Narberth
Ebbw Vale's Dan Butler gets the ball away from Alex Jenkins
Dan Smith grabs hold
of Dai Jones
Pictures by Bill Carne
Borderers well beaten by Bargoed
Whitland 43 - Bargoed 12
Bargoed had already secured second spot in the table but confirmed that position by outlasting Whitland, for whom Scott Newton banged over four penalties as they trailed 22-12 at the break.
But the Borderers were unable to sustain their challenge in the second half as Bargoed used the breeze to build periods of pressure from which they added another 21 unanswered points.
The Whitland pack battled hard, especially in the first half but they were unable to prevent Bargoed bagging tries by Darren Humphries, James Pizey, Sam Parry and Humphries again, one converted by Josh Prosser.
Humphries sped over for his hat-trick after the interval and others came from Chris Mapps and Kris Parry, all three converted as Prosser found his kicking boots – and Whitland had to endure their 20th loss from 23 games, despite a lot of effort against a good team.
Fraser Watson making one of several first-half runs.
Picture by Paul Rogers.
Division Two (West):
Crymych secure second spot in the table
Crymych 33 - Seven Sisters 13
Crymych moved into second place in the Division Two (West) table as they scored 22 unanswered points in the second half to deservedly leap-frog their opponents in the table.
But it was their first-half performance which set the platform for a cracking win as they played into the wind and showed good discipline to trail by just two points as Rhys Davies notched two penalties and Gavin Thomas grabbed a try.
Seven Sisters responded with unconverted tries by Alun Jones and James Pike alongside a penalty from Dan Short but there was no denying the Preseli Men as they had other tries from Andrew Phillips, Rhys Davies and Richard Sharp-Williams. Rhys Davies also added another penalty and two conversions to help push Crymych up to second place – and the Preseli Men still have a game in hand over their closest rivals!
Richard Sharp-Williams - a good try for Crymych
Blues bounced out in second half
Maesteg 62 - Haverfordwest 10
Haverfordwest finished off a disappointing season in Division Two (West) as they collapsed in the second half against Maesteg, who managed to turn a narrow 17-10 half time lead into a massive victory by adding a further 45 points without response from the Blues in a one-sided second period.
Prior to this game, Maesteg were only seventh in the table and the Blues had a try by replacement forward Matthew Clark, which was converted by Ashley Sutton to go with a well-struck penalty.
The ‘Old Parish’ team had tries from scrum half Owain Evans (2), centre Lance Epson, winger Nicky Fisher, second row Carl Hocking (2), second row Mark Hopley, No 10 Corey Butler, and full back Lewis May (2). Butler landed six conversions to round off the points glut and set the Blues on their long journey home with little to show for their efforts.
Division Three (West):
Teifisiders too strong for floundering Mariners
Cardigan 47 - Milford Haven 11
Cardigan distanced themselves even further from the bottom two as they eased their way home against Milford Haven, outscoring the Mariners by seven tries to one in the process.
The Teifisiders were 14-6 ahead at half time and tries by Llyr Griffiths, Colin
Davies, Rhydian Jenkins, Tom Turner (2) and Iestyn Crompton (2) rounded off a comfortable win as Crompton also contributed six conversions to a good all-round performance the Teifisiders. No details are available for Milford Haven.
Rhydian Jenkins - another try for Cardigan winger
Seasiders slip up at The Bont
Pontarddulais 19 - Tenby United 16
Tenby United completed their season in disappointing fashion as the third-paced Seasiders went down to defeat against a Pontarddulais outfit who were four places lower in the table.
The Seasiders were 13-6 in front at half time through good tries by Gregg Caine and
Luke Dedman to go with a Lloyd Thomas penalty as Ceri Williams kicked two penalties for The Bont.
Williams added a try after the break which he converted, as he did when Phil White scored a try – and all the Seasiders could muster in reply was a second Thomas penalty which meant they finished their season three points adrift and suffering a loss, but still in a creditable third place in the section table!
Luke Dedman - try for Tenby United forward
Division Four (West):
Seagulls shot down by Nantgaredig
Nantgaredig 32 - Fishguard and Goodwick 14
Fishguard and Goodwick understandably rested a number of key players prior to next Saturday’s big match against Wattstown in the Millennium Bowl Final at the Millennium Stadium.
The Seagulls battled hard nonetheless and after trailing 22-0 at the break fought back well with tries by Rhodri Thomas, and Mark James both converted by Sam Kurtz.
But Nantgaredig had tries by Rhydian Evans (2), Gethin Page (2) and Owen Rees to go with two conversions and a penalty by the experienced Barry Thomas.
Victory kept Nantgaredig just ahead of the Fishguard and Goodwick in third place but the Seagulls have two matches in hand – and the little matter of a Millennium trip on their minds next Saturday!
Blacks miss vital late chances
Burry Port 26 - Neyland 17
Neyland maintained their recent improvement despite defeat at Burry Port, with the All Blacks left to reflect on missed late chances and a soft score conceded to give Burry Port a win they didn’t fully merit.
Owen Thomas, Nicky Wilson (2) and Dai Booth scored Burry Port’s tries, with a conversion apiece for Dai Booth, Adam Ruddle and Dan Ettridge, with the All Blacks responding with tries from hooker Tony Parsley, centre Adam Collins and full back Patrick Bellerby, who is in good form at the moment.
Bellerby also added one conversion in a match that was delayed when waiting for the Air Ambulance after a home player sustained a neck injury.
Tony Parsley - try for Neyland hooker
Division Five (West):
Gowerton go for glory
Gowerton 78 - Pembroke 5
Gowerton made it 21 wins in as many matches as they showed a makeshift Pembroke side why they are runaway champions and red-hot favourites to complete the season with a 100% record.
Gowerton were already 36-0 ahead at half time and although Pembroke opened the scoring with a good try by winger James Skeels which started in the Scarlets’ 22 and saw the ball pass through several pairs of hands, it was mainly one-way traffic as Gowerton finished up with no fewer than 12 tries, six of them converted by Rob John and the final three by Josh Hamer.
Strong-running centre Gareth John led the way with four tries, plus a try brace each by Gethin Lillycrap and Carwyn James. Other tries were scored by Liam Hedges, Rob John, Josh Hamer and Luke Jones as Gowerton romped home at the expense of a well-beaten Scarlets’ side.
Saints snatch deserved double
St Clears 33 - Llangwm 5
St Clears completed a speedy double over Llangwm having beaten the Wasps the previous week at Pill Parks.
The Saints went 9-0 up with three well-struck penalties from James Davies, who also added two conversions out of four as tries came from experienced centre Ceri Jones (2), Dafydd page and Aled Mason.
Steve Rees battled hard at prop for Llangwm and young Matthew John played really well in the second row to mark him out as one to watch in the future. Winger Lewis Murphy ran in the only Llangwm score as St Clears were clearly the stronger and more experienced team on the day.
Uplands too strong in first half
Swansea Uplands 33 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 10
Pembroke Dock Harlequins played quite well in the second half against high-flying Swansea Uplands but by then the home side had established a 28-5 interval lead and had little trouble in hanging on to their advantage thanks to tries from Sam Jones (2), James Edwards, Peter Davies and Hywel Roberts.
Four of them were converted by Tom Pugh and all the Quins could muster in reply was a try apiece for Gareth Scourfield and Alex Pearce.
Gareth Scourfield - try for the Quins