Simon subs well for Wales Under 20s
Simon Gardener in action for Wales Under 20s against Ireland Under 20s. > >
Picture supplied by Matthew Kelly
Talented prop Simon Gardener again featured in the Wales Under 20 squad as the Scarlets’ Academy and Llanelli front row man completed a successful campaign at this level as he came on replacement in the 9-6 defeat against their counterparts from Ireland at Parc y Scarlets on Friday evening.
Simon came on for Scott Andrews in a tough front row tussle and again proved his worth in a score-less second period after Wales trailed by three points in a tense first half where full back Jason Tovey landed two penalties and Irish No 10 Andrew Burke notched three successful kicks.
Welsh outside half Dai Leighton tried his luck with two long-range penalties after the interval but hit the woodwork on both occasions as Simon and Co worked extremely hard up front to wrest the initiative from the big Irish pack.
But there was no scoring throughout the second period and saw Simon Gardener and the rest of the Wales under 20s join their senior counterparts in a disappointing and narrow defeat.
Well Done Whitland Youth
Whitland Youth played superbly well to beat Ammanford Youth in the Welsh Youth Cup Final by 19-3. Full match details in rugby report.
Whitland Youth prepare for big rugby match
Whitland Youth are preparing for a match of huge importance to them as they will take on Ammanford Youth in the semi-final of the Webb Ellis Welsh Youth Cup on the 20th March.
The match is scheduled to take place at Carmarthen Park, starting at 7.15pm and it is to be hoped a big crowd turns up to cheer them on.
GOOD LUCK LADS!
Midweek League 1 West match 18th Feb 2009
Howells too hot for Otters
Felinfoel 27 points Narberth 17 points
Narberth scored tries in the first and last minutes of their Division One floodlit match at Felinfoel but still lost by ten points as winger Jason Howells claimed a hat-trick of tries which sent the Otters skidding to a surprsie defeat against a team much lower than them in the table.Classy centre Steve Martin cut through for Narberth after only 35 seconds and Aled Davies converted - and landed a penalty after Felinfoel had responded with a try from prop Nicky Harries which Andrew Burder converted.
Two tries by Howells after 30 and 39 minutes, one converted by Burder, gave Felinfoel a 19-10 interval lead and Burder notched a penalty soon after the restart. Narberth were in real trouble when Howells raced clear for his third try and although Nick Jones grabbed a late try by winger Nick Jones, converted by Aled Davies, it was too little, too late to even claim a bonus point.
Narberth: Matthew Davies: Nick Jones; Steve Martin; Richard Davies (Craig Barnett); Johnny Morgan (Tom Bonnell): Aled Davies; Adrian Killa: Tom Slater (Ryan Perrott); Dan Smith; Justin Hughes: Dai Ebsworth (Jason Jennings); Alex Jenkins: Gethin Bateman; Thabani Sangwani (Richard Sharpe-Williams); Jamie Bohata.
Well Done Whitland Youth!
Whitland Youth beat their counterparts from Newbridge to go into the semi final for the second year in a row of the Webb Ellis Welsh Youth Cup after a never say die team preformance saw them winning by 12 points to 10.
Newbridge dominated first phase with a strong scrum and a faultless lineout and Whitland found it hard but a gutsy preformance from the whole squad, allied to their huge team spirit saw them edge home and claim a deserved semi final spot.
Fullback James Stephenson kicked Whitland into an early lead with two penalties before Newbridge scored the only try of the game when flanker Ben James crossed and centre Josh Steer converted but then missed two penalties before Whitland's second row Carl Smith was yellow carded and home outside half Ben Farley stepped up and slotted the penalty to extend the lead to 10 points to 6. James stephenson slotted his third penalty during injury time and again with Steer missing on the stroke of half time it left the score 10 points to 9 in favour of the home side.
The second half was a very tense affair with neither side wanting to make a mistake and with Whitland's flanker James Davies yellow carded for hands in the ruck after 23 minutes it looked a tall order but again Steer missed the penalty and Whitland's young guns dug deep, tackled their hearts out, disrupted everything and were awarded a penalty which James Stephenson kicked to edge Whitland in front, For the next 8 minutes they battled hard but kept Newbridge at bay and booked their place in the semi final after what can only be described as an heroic preformance .
Well done lads!
Wales make it a win double
Congratulations to Wales on beating England at the Millennium Stadium by 23-15 thanks to a try by Lee Halfpenny, who also slotted a penalty, plus five other penalties by Steven Jones. Mike Phillips had another strong game at scrum half until Dwayne Peel took over in the 72nd minute and Tom Shanklin was the second Welsh player with Pembrokeshire connections as he looked very strong throughout in the centre.
Jonathan Thomas has a fortnight to get fully fit and hopefully can make it on the bench for the next match, against France, in the first-ever Friday evening match, starting at 9pm!
Scott joins Simon in Welsh under 20s
There were two players with Pembrokeshire connections in the Welsh under 20 team that lost 28-16 to their counterparts from England on Friday evening at the Brewery Field, Bridgend.
Simon Gardiner, who comes from Haverfordwest, again came on as replacement prop and gave his usual committed display whilst centre Scott Williams caught the eye with his pace and strong tackling. Last season Scott was a member of the Whitland Youth team and played for the Scarlets' Academy - and is the step-son of popular former Whitland No 8 Derek Thomas, who also played for Newcastle Emlyn, and the Borderers' supporters were delighted to see him play for his country. So well done both Simon and Scott!
Pembrokeshire well represented in Wales' win
Pembrokeshire was well represented as Wales beat Scotland 26-13 at Murrayfield, with Tom Shanklin, who hails from Tenby, grabbing the opening try after good work by former Whitland scrum half Mike Phillips, who also provided the scoring pass for second row Alun Wyn Jones to cross the line.
Sadly, there was no third representative since popular Pembrokian Jonathan Thomas was still troubled by a groin injury but told pembrokeshiresport.co.uk that he was pleased that Warren Gatland had kept faith with him by including him in the squad.
So well done to Tom and Michael - and we wish 'JT' a speedy return to action with Wales in this Six Nations' Championship.
Simon wins Wales Under 20s Cap
Congratulations to Simon Gardner on winning a Wales Under 20s Cap on Friday, 6th February, at Perth in Scotland.
Simon Gardner > >
Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk and rugby fans from around the county are delighted to hear that Gardener, from Haverfordwest, replaced Dragons’ Dan Watchurst at loose head prop in the 72nd minute after Wales were trailing 15-10 - to win his first Cap at Under 20s level.
Unfortunately for Gardener and Wales they narrowly lost 18-17 come the final whistle in their opening Six Nations clash against the brave Scots.
Full back Peter Horne kicked six penalties for the triumphant Scots, despite two cracking individual tries by Wales’ vice captain and exciting wing prospect Kristian Phillips.
Next up for Wales is a home match against England at the Brewery Field, Bridgend next Friday night (February 13th).
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