JUNIOR FINALS DAY – CONTINUED:

 

 

Today, PembrokeshireSport.co.uk continues its blanket coverage of one of the best days of the year in our local rugby calendar – with mighty matches and high-quality rugby from four very talented teams – and tomorrow we finish in style with the Blue Riband event – The Under 16s Final!









 

Under 14s Final: 

 

Tenby take their chances to snatch a tense victory

 

Neyland 17 - Tenby United 18

 

The closest finish of a great day of rugby came in the Under 14s’ final where both teams showed total commitment and high skill levels before Tenby edged home in a thriller where both teams have grown so much this season from terrific coaching available in both camps and clearly benefiting from it because their skill levels, and commitment to the cause, ensure any game between them is bound to be action-packed.
 
The first half was a tight affair as both teams showed their outstanding defensive qualities and The All Blacks claimed a cracking try when a period of pressure established by Caspaar Farmer, Logan Kinnersley and Jack Echeverria, ably assisted by Iestyn Roberts, Euan Lawlor and Aidan Jones allowed Cian Riley to set his backs in motion and strong-running centre Karter Williams ploughed over for an unconverted try.
 
At the other end, Tenby also had their attacking spells where Leo Werner grabbed a try which was converted by Bobby Field-Thomas, alongside a penalty after good work by Ethan Brace, Tyler Lewis and Iwan Wright.
 

A terrific tussle after the interval

 
Neyland started the second half on top and drew level when  Riley launched No 8 Aidan Jones on a run to the line after  Braidy Greggain, skipper Measka Cataki and Evan Hewitt featured well – but then they conceded a kickable penalty and Field-Thomas put Tenby back ahead.
 
But the All Blacks took the lead at 17-13 with centre Williams’ second try from a set-piece move from within his own half that was converted by No 10 Ethan Holmes, who worked hard trying to keep his pack going forward whilst bringing his backs into action whenever possible.
 
It was still anyone’s game, however, and it was Tenby who had the final word when outstanding Charlie Allen, Jevan Guymer, Walter Evans and Rupert James helped create a platform before No 8 Jack Broadhurst claimed his team’s second try, which went unconverted but was still just enough to secure victory and inflict a second successive final defeat on the disappointed Neyland camp – but under Jack Kinnersley and Co they will surely come back and one day grab the deserved silverware they are desperate for.
 
Tenby United Coaches: Nick Guymer, Ben Field-Thomas, Jason Cole, Phil Davies, Dan Foster
Team Manager & First Aid: Amy Drewett
 
Neyland Coaches: Jack Kinnersley, Rhys Holmes, Leo Power, Sam Cataki, Luke Griffiths-Dawes
Team Manager: Kack Kinnersley   First Aid/Physio: Andy Williams
 
Neyland: Evan Hewitt: Maxi Rodriguez; Karter Williams; Mesake Cataki (Capt); Braidy Greggain: Ethan Holmes; Cian Riley: Caspaar Farmer; Logan Kinnersley; Jack Echeverria: Dylan Worsley; Marley Lanthum: Iestyn Roberts; Euan Lawlor; Aidan Jones: Replacements:  Blake Thomas; Henley Fletcher; Finley Neale; Harley Rone; Noah Hewitt.
 
Tenby United: Ethan Brace: Tristan Williams; Leo Werner; Iwan Wright;  Craig Roberts: Bobby Field-Thomas;  Dylan Drewett: Jack Mitchell; Theo Morgan; Charlie Allen: Walter Evans; Rupert James:  Iestyn Cole; Jevan Guymer; Rhys Broadhurst.  Replacements: Alfie Prater; Yori Chrichton.

 
















 

 






 

Under 15s Final:

Superb Seagulls snatch victory in fantastic final

 

Neyland 31 - Fishguard & Goodwick 41

 

 
Fishguard & Goodwick joined Neyland in producing an enthralling under 15s final that had it all: scintillating tries, hugely high skill levels, total commitment that belied their ages, and acceptance of refereeing decisions that showed why Pembrokeshire Junior Rugby always punches well known above its weight ‘up the line’.
 
The game ebbed and flowed and the noise from supporters was deafening as the urged their players on, cheering every big tackle or touch of skill, and going wild when their boys scored!
 
Inevitably there were stars in both teams, with Neyland skipper Lachlan Davidson, Rhys Tennick, Ellis Bateman and especially No 8 Kai Carr catching the eye for the All Blacks, and with  Mikey Bolger,  Owain Williams, outstanding skipper Dewi George, Steffan Cornockand Owain Williams leading the Seagulls by example, as No 8 Williams grabbed four tries as reward for his powerhouse performance and terrific support play
 
But the old cliche’ that rugby is a team game was never truer because every player who joined the fray gave 100% and a pace that no senior side in our county could improve upon - there were surely aching bodies in both camps the next day!
 
A cracking first half set the scene for a thrilling second period
 
Fortunes ebbed and flowed from the start as  each side grabbed two tries in the first half as The Seagulls had two tries from Owain Williams, both as the result of power play from their pack and converted by No 10 George.
 
Neyland claimed two tries, the first as Freddie Sturley latched on to a poor line-out throw and ploughed over the line - and the second from skipper Davidson from a well-executed set-piece move as he worked a loop around and sliced through to the line without a hand laid upon him.
 
The second half started well for F&G as Charlie Miles took a quickly tapped penalty and quick hands from  saw Charles Mansell supply the scoring pass for Owain Williams to claim his hat-trick try, again well converted by George.
 
But Neyland again bounced back with a sensational try from an 80-metre run up the left touchline by No 8 Kai Carr, where he shrugged off a defender, outpaced another and although ankle-tapped near the 22 managed to get up and power his way to the line before Ethan Blockwell converted.
 

No letting up of effort

 
Outstanding outside-half George showed his all-round attributes when he slotted two penalties from to put distance between the teams at 27-17 - only for The All Blacks to come back again when their pack, with Jake Lewis and Jayden Sanderson-Horrocks heavily involved in winning a penalty and a quick tap and go by Henry Phillips saw Carr go close before Lewis Reynolds was well-placed to crash through and Blockwell’s conversion took the deficit to just three points.
 
Dewi George than sliced through for a converted try for F&G and Owain Williams crashed over for a try, converted by George but then Neyland responded again when No 8 Carr took the scoring pass from Ellis Bateman to grab his second converted try.
 

And finally . . .

 
It brought to an end the scoring and in the final analysis The Seagulls were just about worthy of victory of a fantastic final but every player in both teams deserves credit for their part, with great sportsmanship shown by both sets of coaches showing their class during and after the final whistle.
 
This pundit believes that Dewi George’s performance marked him as the best player in the finals but with team-mate Owain Williams perfectly placed to score four tries and Kai Carr a bundle of energy for Neyland - there were a number of other players who really showed their emerging skills and attitude to the game.
 
Neyland Coaches: John Tennick, Matthew Reynolds, Delme Bateman; Simon Phillip
Team Manager: John Tennick         Physio/First Aid: Matthew Reynolds & Delme Bateman
 
Fishguard & Goodwick Coaches: Rhys Williams, Matthew George, Sion Colella, Osian Rowe, Rhys Lewis
 
Neyland: Rhys Tennick: Jacob Aldred; Ellis Bateman; Charlie Holder; Ethan Blockwell: Lochlan Davidson (Capt); Henry Phillips: Darin Barlas; Iwan Jones; Kieran Thompson: Tyler Davies;  Freddie Sturley: Jayden Sanderson-Horrocks; Jake Lewis; Kai Carr. Replacements: Charlie Hargrave; Ethan Davies; Lewis Reynolds.
 
Fishguard & Goodwick:  Harrison Battey: Jake Williams; Olly Sinnott;  Charles Mansell: Iolo Davies: Dewi George (Capt); Charlie Miles: Harry Smith; Robert Franklin; Dafydd Cottrell: Roman Chesters; Jacob Pearce: Mikey Bolger; Steffan Cornock; Owain Williams. Replacements: Rhys Davies; Charlie-Jay Kenniford; Harley Webb; William Miles; Brayden Bent; Alfie Costello.

Referee: Martin Rudd