Neyland v Pembroke County – Why not get along and watch today?

 
Referee: Alex Yau (Lampeter)
Touch judges:  Craig Grey (Laugharne) & Charlie Watts (Neyland)
 
Rugby lovers whose teams are not playing on Saturday could have a special treat if they get along to Neyland and watch The Pembrokeshire All Blacks take on the Pembroke County XV in the annual Valero-sponsored Charity Match for what this year will be known as the Valero Diamond Jubilee Cup in celebration of the fact that is the 60^th year of the Pembroke oil refinery.
 
The game starts at 1.30pm and features players from a range of clubs in the county, with Marc Jones (Whitland) as captain, and a good mix of experience and young talent at the disposal of coaches Gary Price (Pembroke), Steve Martin (Milford Haven) and Gareth Thomas (ex-Tenby United and selector Gareth Scourfield (former Pembroke Dock Quins’ player)
 
It would be worth arriving there an hour earlier because there will be some fantastic tag rugby involving the under 7s teams from Neyland, Pembroke Dock Harlequins and Fishguard & Goodwick – plus under 9s rugby featuring Neyland, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock Harlequins
 
You could enjoy a pint beforehand and still be home in plenty of time to watch Wales take on England at Twickenham – surely any rugby fan’s dream to watch some local rugby and cheer on our country afterwards!
 
Gareth Scourfield,  a Valero employee, has again been charged with the task of getting the county squad available and he told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk,
“We are delighted with the fact that we will be collecting much-needed funds for our deserving charity of the year, which is the Autism charity ‘ASD Family Help’. We have already been given every help by Neyland RFC and we are confident that this year’s special match will be every bit as successful as the previous two Crickmarren and Bierspool.”
 
Neyland coach Steve Evans confirmed that his team are eagerly looking forward to the chance to test their skills against a county team.
“We have some talented young players who are growing in experience and this will be invaluable experience of a different sort from league rugby – and a treat for some of our more experienced players like Owain and Iestyn Evans, Mark James, George Evans and Andrew Slark  so we are really looking forward to playing, hopefully in front of a big crowd at the Athletic Ground.”
 

Pembroke County Squad versus Neyland – Saturday, 10^th February, 2024

 
Backs:
Iwan Thomas (Narberth Development) – scrum half
Euan McDonald (Pem Dock Quins) – Outside half
Craig Barnett (Pem Dock Quins)  - Outside half/Full back
James Jones (Pembroke) – Centre
Jordan Asparassa (Pem Dock Quins) – Centre/Wing
Oli Bujega (Whitland) – Wing
Luke Alderwick (Pembroke) – Outside half/Full back
Josh Thomas (Haverfordwest) – Centre
Rhys Nicholas (Whitland) – Scrum half/Wing
Trystan Jones (Crymych) – Scrum half
Trystan Rees (Whitland) – Whitland winger
Forwards:
Marc Jones - Captain (Whitland) - Hooker
Jamie Brayford (Pembroke) – Prop
Lloyd Davies (Pembroke) – Prop
Will Delaney (Fishguard & Goodwick) – Prop
Geoff Martin (Tenby United) – Prop
Nicky Guymer (Tenby United) – Hooker
Scott Powell (Pembroke) – Second row
Will Edwards (Pembroke) – Second row
Dai Beynon (Pembroke) – Second row
Dewi Williams (Milford Haven (Flanker)
Zac France-Miller (Whitland) – No 8
County Committee: Freeman Brawn (Narberth) & Robert Johns (Neyland)
County Selector: Gareth Scourfield (Pem Dock Quins)





















 
Neyland Squad:
 
Owain Evans (Capt); Iestyn Evans; Mark James; Andrew Slark;  Luke Griffiths-Dawes; Alex Swales; Ben James;  Dan Hart;  Owen Hamer; Harri Williams; George Evans; Tom Hughes; Alex Codd; Liam Rees; Jake Griffiths; Kieron Cookson; Lewis Hallett, Joel Thomas; Jasper Endean; Daf Edwards; Simon Phillips; Callum O’Riordan; Matthew Richards.