Championship Division (West):

 

Gibby guides Otters to vital victory

 

Narberth 31 - Bonymaen 15

 
Narberth took another major step towards winning the WRU Championship trophy with this victory over Bonymaen which also completed the double against a team they had previously beaten 22-13 in their away match – and this success means that The Otters now need to gain a minimum of two points against Maesteg Quins next Saturday, a team they beat two weeks previously by35-10, to be crowned champions.
 
Bonymaen came to The Lewis Lloyd Ground nicely fired up to cause an upset and they certainly had the better of the first quarter in terms of possession – but The Otters well-drilled defence made sure no points from this facet of play.
 
And once they had settled into their rhythm Narberth scored 17 points before the break, with Jonathan Rogers continuing his good form with a well-struck penalty and then converting two tries from his half-back partner Lewys Gibby, the first from the Bonymaen 22 when he received the ball after a good break by winger Josh Evans and the second a corker where No 8 Roy Osborn put him away on the blind side and he sped to the posts without a hand laid on him!
 
The Otters continued to be in charge after the interval and they added furth tries from skipper Tom Powell as reward for his total involvement, Rogers again adding the extras, as he did with a fifth try after a brilliant break by centre Aled Rees (who sadly hurt his ankle in the process) and No 8 Osborn was on hand as ever to apply the finishing touch.
 
Perhaps Narberth took their foot off the gas late on because Bonymaen bounced back with late tries from Kyle Garnett, James Osborne and Tom Darnell, all converted, but there was little chance of them ever over-hauling The Otters at that stage.
 
But coach Liam Gadd will be preaching against any signs of complacency before then, especially since his squad is carrying injuries to some key players, with Brecon waiting in the wings for any hint of a slip-up – although at this stage it is hard to see that happening with his group of talented players who have worked hard for each throughout this long campaign.
 
Narberth: Ashley Sutton: Josh Davies; Aled Rees; Hedd Nicholas; Josh Evans: Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby: Bradley Davies; Kyle Hamer; Tom Slater: Will Blackburn; Alex Jenkins: Richard Rees; Josh Hamer; Roy Osborn (Capt). Replacements: Tom Clarke; Lewis Davies; Tom Powell; Matthew John;  Jack Price.




 
 

Crymych show true grit with a makeshift side

 

Brecon 38 - Crymych 13

Crymych rounded off their first season in the championship league with defeat at probable runners-up Brecon but their final eighth place in this tough section pays tribute to the hard work and commitment of coach Elgan Vittle and his relatively young squad of players from within their own area.
 
They had already lost 32-26 to Brecon at Parc Lloyd Thomas and with so many players out injured, travelled to Brecon with only 18 players and were expected to lose heavily by some local pundits – but they gave total commitment and were only 7-0 down at half time as they tackled like demons and  gave 100% in all aspects of their game.
 
The pressure began to tell in the second half but with livewire flanker Jon Hill popping up score a try, converted by full back Adam Phillips, who had also notched two good penalties, The Preseli Men found themselves only 19-13 adrift and still in with a bit of a chance of an upset.
 
But Brecon have built an experienced squad under New Zealand coach Dale ‘Chief’ Macintosh and their managed to raise the tempo as Jake Crockett grabbed a hat-trick of tries alongside a conversion, with others coming from Dewi Edwards and Rhys Williams, plus Logan Macintosh, whose brother  Dion landed three conversions as they won their 19^th game from 21 starts.
 
Crymych: Luke Alderwick: Iolo Phillips; Tomos Phillips; Laurence Headlam; Ianto Davies: Adam Phillips; Dafydd Phillips: Luke Griffiths-Dawes; Carwyn Rees; Lloyd Davies: Rhys Davies; Matthew Freebury: Sam Davies; Jon Hill; Carwyn Phillips (Capt). Replacements: Alfie Fecci-Evans; Jamie Gimblet; Daniel Morgans.

 

Division Two (West):

Seasiders make sure of promotion

Carmarthen Athletic 16 - Tenby United 38

 
Tenby United assured themselves of a deserved promotion place with this ultimately-comfortable win at Carmarthen Athletic which means even a possible end-of-season anomaly can’t deny them a deserved place in Division One (West).
 
But The Seasiders looked a little uncomfortable as they trailed by 16-7 until just before half time when a brilliant Max Brindley try hauled them back to within two points of opponents they had beaten 23-17 at Heywood Lane and saw them added an unanswered 24 points as they raised the tempo even more.
 
Outside half Scott Maynard gave The Athletic the lead with a penalty but Tenby fought back with yet another try by Dan Colley as the veteran back-rower rounded off some good forward play as he does so often, before No 10 Lloyd Thomas slotted the wide-angled conversion.
 
But the home side gained the upper hand for a while with a try from full back Deian Morgan, converted by Maynard, who then landed two more penalties to open up a nine-point gap before  winger Max Brindley showed his attacking flair, he received the ball on half way, skipped outside a defender and inside another before jumping clear of a despairing last tackle en route to the posts for Lloyd Thomas to convert.
 
This piece of sheer flair seemed to raise The Seasiders’ spirits and with their pack as a good ball-winning unit further tries came from replacement back rower Jack Brown, converted by Thomas along with a penalty, and flanker Hywel Baker claimed their fifth try, which replacement Harry Rossiter goaled, to make promotion a certainty for coach Jonathan Evans, skipper Luke Dedman, their squad and supporters a very happy bunch indeed!
 
Tenby United: Gwion Jones: Will James; Jack Gooding; Luke Waygood; Max Brindley: Lloyd Thomas; Tom Lewis: George Rossiter; Dan Allen; James Morgan: Tom Barrass; Luke Dedman (Capt): Hywel Baker; Dan Colley; Jake Roberts. Replacements: Ethan Morgan; Jack Brown; Jack Broadhurst; Harry Phillips; Harry Rossiter; Jordan Asparassa.
 

Seagulls miss out in points bonanza

Nantgaredig 40 - Fishguard & Goodwick 34

 
Fishguard & Goodwick went down to narrow defeat at Nantgaredig but the two bonus points for scoring four tries and getting so close to their opposition meant that they have preserved their position in this tough division – no mean feat when their average age is only 22 and they have blooded so many former youth players, especially in their pack,  who have quickly come of age.
 
The Seagulls opened their account with a nice try from nippy scrum half Max Jones, converted by skipper James Griffiths, and they also added a second from winger Dan Evans, but still trailed by 20-12 at half time as Nant’s response was two penalties by Lloyd Williams, who also converted tries by experienced centre Rhys Schiavone and scrum half Iwan Millard as co-centre Aled Byron and outside half Llyr Tobias, who played so much of his rugby in Pembrokeshire,  gave them a helping hand.
 
Fortunes continued to ebb and flow in the second half and The Seagulls had two tries by Shane Rossiter, playing on permit from Narberth Development Squad, one converted by Griffiths alongside a penalty was again countered by Nant adding tries by second row Chris Ludgate and replacement Wyn Jones.
 
But in a late surge from Fishguard, replacement prop Ryan McVeigh ploughed through for a try, converted by influential No 10 Jake Jenkins, and it was enough to secure the brace of league points that see The Seagulls in seventh place – and already looking forward to 2024/25 with a strong squad and an experienced set of coaches.
 
Fishguard & Goodwick: Kial Keane: Dan Evans; Dan Cleary; James Griffiths (Capt) Creegan Foot: Jake Jenkins; Max Jones: Will Delaney; Liam Wilkes; Iwan McVeigh: Osian Rowe; Cai Llewellyn: Will Lewis; Sion Colella, Jac Delaney. Replacements: Ryan McVeigh; Bryn Thomas; Simon James; matt Driver; Shane Rossiter.
 

 

Division Three (West) A:

Blues gain vital promotion duel victory

Haverfordwest  45 - Aberaeron 27

 
Haverfordwest outlasted Aberaeron  at Merlins Bridge to set up what could be a title clincher in midweek at Laugharne – and left  Aber’s hopes of the silverware confined to rugby’s bin after playing so much attractive rugby all season and having beaten The Blues by 19-7 at home.
 
And this was a game that lived up to expectations as both teams had periods of supremacy with some rugby of a quality that was a credit to both clubs before The Blues finished the stronger and left Aber without even a single bonus point as reward for their slick passing, running at pace and a willingness to work hard for each other.
 
But leading the way for The Blues were two teenagers in centre Iestyn Arnold (18) who grabbed a splendid hat-trick, and scrum half Ioan Hawkridge-Jones (19), our man of the match for his total involvement beyond his years in all The Blues did – and the ideal link between forwards and backs.
 
The home side also had a powerful front row in Messrs Lovell, Zambas and Berry, outstanding play by Jon Mason and Matty Phillips in the back row alongside Mikey Phillips, plus work-horses in Jack Clancy and skipper Karl Busch in the second row.
 
With quality backs as well it proved too potent for Aber, whose skipper Morgan Llewellyn caught the eye until he left the field with a facial injury, his brother Dafydd who had pace to burn in the centre, an outstanding goal-kicker in Rhodri Jenkins and some big ball-carriers up front but always struggling in the scrummaging area.
 
The Blues scored straight from the kick-off as Liam Eaton’s excellent kick-off caused chaos and great work by Clancy and Mason saw Hawkridge-Jones put Arnold over for an unconverted try.
 
Rhodri Jenkins served notice of intent with a successful 35-metre penalty but again Aber failed to deal with Eaton’s canny kick-off  and mason scythed over for another unconverted try.
 
Aber’s backs showed terrific pace to draw level via Dafydd Llewellyn’s class try and Jenkins’ difficult conversion and then they took the lead when winger Dyfrig Dafis crossed the whitewash and Jenkins converted to put them 17-10 ahead.
 
The Blues went in to half time at 22-17, however Busch and Mason combined to put Arnold over again at the posts – and after  Roberts converted it was Matty Phillips who broke through several tackles, as he did all afternoon, and Hawkridge-Jones took play into the opposition’s 22 and after good work by that fearsome front row it was prop Dan Berry who plunged over the line.
 
The second half was played at a similar frantic pace and quick hands by Jack Evans and Scott Candler put Arnold in for his third score, converted by Roberts – but Aber refused to submit and when home centre Jack Evans was yellow-carded the partisan away crowd was delighted when forward Bobby galloped 25 yards to score and Jenkins added the simple extras.
 
At 29-27 it was still anyone’s game but with Aber’s key second row Richard Francis also taken off injured The Blues gained the upper hand and added two excellent tries by Matty Phillips, surely the best flanker in the section, and Jack Evans, plus two well-struck Roberts’ penalties, it was Haverfordwest who eased through, to set up Wednesday evening’s nail-biter at Laugharne!




 
Haverfordwest: Owain Roberts: Scott Candler; Jack Evans; Iestyn Arnold; Gabriel Thicker:  Liam Eaton; Ioan Hawkridge-Jones: Dan Berry; Jamie Zambas; Terry Lovell: Karl Busch (Capt); Jack Clancy: Mike Phillips; Matthew Phillips; Jonathan Mason. Replacements: Andrew Edwards; Paul Dungey; Dylan Williamson; Lewis Tingay;  Jake Evans.
 
Aberaeron: Morgan Llewellyn (Capt): Dyfrig Dafis, Dafydd Llewellyn; Rhodri Jenkins; Matthew Harries: Steffan Rees; Rhodri Thomas: Owain Wozencroft, Rhys Jones; Alex Danton: Richard Francis; Bleddyn Thomas: Will James; Hefin Williams;  Tudur Jenkins. Replacements: Ryan Williams; Ceri Davies; Gethin Hughes; Bobby Jones; Ollie Sawyer.





 

Laugharne run riot with 13 tries

Laugharne 87 - Llangwm 3

 
Laugharne continued their late quest for the section silverware with another huge points haul, this time against a plucky Llangwm side shorn of a number of players through injury – but had the temerity to actually take the lead early on with a penalty by outside half Dylan Philpott after good work up front by  Gethin Thomas, Ashley James and the ex-youth players giving 100% in such a difficult away match at the end of a long and difficult season.
 
But Laugharne were already 40-3 in front at the interval and again it was centre Liam Price who  caught the eye with another four tries, to give him, by our estimate, 15 in his last four games, whilst player coach Nico Setaro grabbed two tries alongside 11 of the 13 conversions for another massive  personal haul of 32 points.
 
Other Laugharne tries came from Antonio Setaro (2), Lennon Reynolds, Lee Glanville, Mikey Williams, Jack Mason and Tom Davies – and now they know that victories in the three remaining matches against Haverfordwest (in reality a title clincher) plus Pembroke Dock Harlequins (twice) will see them crowned as champions as reward for playing so many games recently in such a short time.
 
Laugharne: Lennon Reynolds: Tyler Reynolds;  Liam Price; Lee Glanville; Antonio Setaro: Nico Setaro; Adam Davies: Gwyn Morris; Tom Waters; Mikey Ryan: Tomos Rees, Carwyn Jones: Aled Thomas; Rhys Evans; Mikey Williams. Replacements: Richie Waters; Tom Lloyd; Jack Mason; Tomos Davies; Owain Thomas.
 
Llangwm: Ollie Kersey: Tom Wheeler; Jack Roberts; Ollie Gerson; Owen Evans: Dylan Philpott; Ian Griffiths: Charlie Wilson; Gethin Thomas; Joe Newton: Jake Thomas; Gavin Jones: Morgan Scott-Walker; Flynn Tjoonk; Ashley James. Replacements: Matthew Rees; Phil Llewellyn; James Lewis; Ben Elrick.