WRU Bowl Competition – District H1

 

Blues win top of table tussle

 

Neyland 10 - Haverfordwest 20

 
With both teams taking a played three, won three, record into this match at a rain-swept Athletic Ground something was about to give and in the final analysis it was Haverfordwest’s greater experience in key positions that saw them keep their 100% record against a Neyland outfit which played its part in providing an entertaining tussle, despite the weather.
 
Home coaches Graham Richards and Steve Evans could certainly take some consolation from the fact that their young side never gave up trying and for a 20-minute period in the first half showed some terrific ball retention that defied the elements – but were unable to turn pressure into sufficient points.
 
Much of that failure owed much to terrific defensive work by The Blues, where their back row of skipper Matty Phillips, Jon Mason and man of the match Will Blackburn were immense.



 

A real battle royal as total commitment is shown in both camps

 
The Blues took the early lead with an excellent try by player/coach Matthew John after a charge by their pack, converted by No 10 Mikey Jones – and a blow for The All Backs was that talented scrum half Chris Morgan was injured in the process and had to leave the field.

But Neyland raised their tempo and their back row of Ben Williams, Owain and Iestyn Evans featured – and finally it was second row Nathan Banner who scored an unconverted try.
 
But The Blues used the slope to their advantage as Jack Clancy, Karl Busch, Terry Lovell, Jamie Zambas and Tom Errington claimed the hard years and No 10 Mikey Jones slotted two penalties as gritty flanker Ben Williams added a second five-pointer for the All Blacks to see them trailing 13-10 at half time.
 
The second half saw the torrential rain finally ease but there was no let-up in the commitment on the field – but was equally competitive, as one would expect in a local derby between two undefeated teams, but although both sides pressed hard the only score came from Blues’ industrious lock Jack Clancy, again converted by Mikey Jones.
 
Neyland: Henry Macbeth: Steve Roberts, George Williams; Alex Codd; Delme Bateman: George Evans; Chris Morgan: Ben Jones; Gavin Campbell; Luke Griffiths-Dawes: Paul Busby; Nathan Banner: Ben Williams; Owain Evans; Iestyn Evans. Replacements: Steve Hamer; Craig Power; Mark James; Alex Swales.
 
Haverfordwest: Jake Morgan: Jack Evans; Josh Thomas; Matthew John; Craig Barnett: Mikey Jones; Lee Summons: Terry Lovell; Jamie Zambas; Tom Carrington: Jack Clancy; Karl Busch: Will Blackburn; Matty Phillips, Jon Mason. Replacements: Gareth John; Lee Davies; Ieuan Bevan; Jonathan Clout; Lewis Tingy.



 

Quins win bonus point victory

 

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 22 - Llangwm 3

 
Two tries in each half earned Pembroke Dock a bonus-point victory over Llangwm and leave the luckless Wasps still seeking a first win after four outings.
 
The Quins were 12 points to the good at the end of a first half which was a little more competitive than the scoreline suggested as young outside half Euan McDonald sped over a try which he also converted as well as hitting the crossbar with a penalty.
 
Then powerful No 8 Jack Bowen added a second score for The Quins, this time unconverted, as he rounded off a period of pressure.
 
The Wasps also had chances as Ieuan Power carried well up front, David Lewis played well at scrum half and  his half back partner Fynn Elrick made a promising debut before he had to go off with an injury.
 
Josh Bowen, playing on loan from Tenby United, added the Quins’ third try from his berth on the right wing and Jack Bowen grabbed his second score after a bout of interpassing had set up the platform, with McDonald’s conversion falling just below the bar.
 
But it mattered little because The Quins were good value for victory in front of an appreciative crowd which appreciated both teams’ efforts in such dire weather.
 
 

Match postponed at St Davids

 

St Davids P Cardigan P

 
**Match postponed – to be replayed at a later date
 
 
 

WRU Plate Competition - District HI

 

Preseli Men battle to victory in close contest

 

Crymych 10 - Fishguard & Goodwick 3

 
Crymych gained their third win in four outings as they beat a Fishguard & Goodwick side which battled hard but suffered their second successive loss after a good start to their campaign.
 
In awful weather conditions at Parc Lloyd Thomas all the points came in a first half where the Preseli Men had good unconverted tries by flanker Carwyn Phillips and winger Tomos Lewis – and The Seagulls responded with a solitary penalty by outside half James Griffiths.
 
A lot of the second half was played outside both 22s as the conditions worsened – but Crymych were twice denied when Rhydian Howells and Trystan Griffiths were held up over the line.
 
At the other end there was some good covering from Eilir George and Tomos Lewis in support of Andrew Phillips as Seagulls’ half backs  James Griffiths and Andrew Williams probed for openings in vain, the latter making a welcome return to action.
 
Adam Bowen carried well at prop as he came on as a replacement alongside Griff Williams, who won some useful lineout ball – but in the final analysis it was those two tries for Crymych in the first period that proved vital as Fishguard and Goodwick were unable to cross the whitewash themselves.
 
Crymych: Andrew Phillips: Eilir George; Declan Harries; Ilan Phillips; Tomos Lewis: Osian Hill; Dafydd Phillips: Steffan Harries; Trystan Griffiths; Ryan Rees: Llyr Davies; Matthew Freebury: Carwyn Phillips; Rhydian Howells; Osian Davies. Replacements: Aled Hughes; Ifan James; Rhys Richards; Ianto Davies; Gavin Thomas
 
Fishguard & Goodwick: Robbie Jones: Jo Dunn; Rhys Evans; Sion Rowlands; Max Jones: James Griffiths; Andrew Williams: Iwan McVeigh; Will Delaney; Ryan McVeigh: Gwilym Evans; Ben John: Lewis Davies; Sion Colella; Chris Shousha (capt). Replacements: Gavin Walsh; Simon James; Andrew Bowen; Griff Williams; Creegan Foot.
 
 

Borderers too strong for The Scarlets

 

Whitland 36 - Pembroke 14

 
Whitland ran in five tries to Pembroke’s one at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn to claim a bonus-point win that keeps them at the top of the table, whilst The Scarlets could at least take some consolation from the fact that they were able to give a run out to second-team players who stepped up to the mark and showed their capabilities.
 
It was talented scrum half Lewys Gibby who claimed The Scarlets’ try in the first half as Evan Sheldon played well in the second row alongside influential skipper Scott Powell, and although outside half Luke Alderwick missed the conversion he contributed three penalties.

But The Borderers greater fire-power paid off as  centre Aron Ebsworth opened their account before skipper Marc Jones added another and there were further scores by scrum half Josh Thomas and a brace for replacement Ceirion Evans.
 
Outside half Scott Newton controlled the game well, especially in the second half, after good work by Jack Mason and Co up front, with full back Jonathan Thomas landing four conversions and a penalty – and coach Gareth Bennett must have been pleased with the way his players competed and took their chances.
 
Whitland: Jonathan Thomas: Ollie Hughes; Dylan Richards; Aron Ebsworth; Trystan Rees: Scott Newton; Josh Thomas: Tom Finucane; Marc Jones (Capt); Trystan Lewis: Courtney Bowman; Jack Richards: James Thomas; James Lewis; Jack Mason. Replacements: Trystan Bowen; Ceirion Evans; Aled Phillips; Dai Ebsworth; Nico Setaro.
 

Match off in Mid Wales

 

Aberystwyth P-P Milford Haven

 
**This match was postponed because of illness and will be played at a later date.
 
 

Youth Rugby:

 

Wasps Youth win after a long wait!

 

Tenby United 14 - Llangwm 29

 
Wasps Youth played their first match in almost a decade at Heywood Lane and came away with a win over their counterparts from Tenby United in a game watched by a large, knowledgeable and appreciative crowd.
 
Wasps’ full back Harry Makepeace certainly caught the eye as he proved a handful all evening which was rewarded with two tries whilst winger Owen Davies also took his chance well – and also on the Llangwm try list was scrum half Iwan Davies, who also notched three conversions and a penalty. Owen Phelps also had a good game, running the patterns of play from outside half.
 
For The young Seasiders there were excellent tries by Ollie Burkett and Iwan Davies, both converted by Archie Treadaway-Davies – and there was a high level of good sportsmanship which saw The Seasiders on Twitter congratulating The Wasps and saying that they were looking forward to another good game when the teams meet at Pill Parks.
 
In the meanwhile, Llangwm coaches Jeff Asson, Joe Kiff and Dafydd Bowen were delighted with the start The Llangwm team has made and praised the performances of both teams.
 
Llangwm:  Harry Makepeace: Ben Hawkins, Evan Thomas; Dom Asson; Owen Evans: Owen Phelps, Iwan Davies: Charlie Wilson; Lucas Chamberlain; Jake Thomas: Sam Rickwood; Flynn Tjook: Joseph Phillips; Solomon Oxenham; Arwyn O’Loughlin. Replacements: Matthew Cole; Seth Willington; Ioan Jarman; Sion James; Matthew Charles.