Rugby Reports - 30th November 2019
Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup:
Seasiders secure deserved success
Whitland 8 - Tenby United 13
Tenby United produced an excellent all-round performance at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn to create the shock result of the round as they deservedly dumped holders Whitland out of the KO Cup.
In the final analysis The Seasiders won by only five points but they were better than that until The Borderers reduced the deficit from the final move of the match – showing much more composure in taking the right options, retaining possession and never letting the Whitland really settle.
Seasiders start well
Whitland head coach Gareth Bennett made a lot of changes from the previous week but again it was the same saga as they lost loads of possession on the ground to a Seasiders’ outfit who seemed much more up for the battle up front, where veterans like Luke Hansford and Wyndham Williams found support from the likes of Jack Brown, Jack Broadhurst, Tom Barrass and the rest.
Half backs Ben Pugh and Lloyd Thomas cleverly utilised the breeze in the first period to get Matthew Davies, Andrew Quill, and Yannic Parker involved, whilst centres Jimmy Davies and especially Andrew Cooke were outstanding in defence and attack.
As a result they looked positive and No 10 Lloyd Thomas gave them a good start with a well-struck penalty from 40+ metres out – and The Borderers failed to cash in on several periods of pressure where the final pass seemed to go to ground or where a wrong option was taken.
Whitland go close but Parker powers over for Tenby
Young Whitland hooker Iwan Lewis seemed to finally cross from a lineout drive in the right corner but referee Michael Bulpitt was well-placed to rule off side – and other promising surges from Jack Mason, Ryan Morgan and Courtney Bowen were ended when knock-ons seemed the order of The Borderers’ day.
And then The Seasiders grabbed the opening try of the game right on half time from a clever cross-kick/pass by Lloyd Thomas to winger Matthew Davies, who sidestepped John Thomas and found No 8 Jack Broadhurst in support near the 22 – and full back Yannic Parker was perfectly placed to take the scoring pass before Thomas added the easy extras from the final touch of the half.
Borderers fail to use breeze
The pundits in the stand generally felt that with the wind at their backs The Borderers could still win but home frustration grew as every attempt to haul themselves back was spoilt by taking of wrong options or passes that were too long in the cutting cold and a stop-start game ensued where Rob Clark, Jim Brace and Ethan Morgan were in the thick of things for Tenby so there was no Borderers’ scores in the third quarter.
They eventually managed three points from a simple Geraint Jones penalty but Tenby had a penalty by No 10 Thomas which was well-judged against the breeze.
Assistant coach Nico Setaro joined the fray and tried to call the shots for The Borderers but Tenby replacements Rob Luly and especially Will Swales were effective in helping their pack in breaking up play and made sure that their side were successful in winning loose ball.
Borderers battle back too late
With time running out, Whitland’s desperate attempts at clawing something back saw Tenby conceding a string of penalties which finally saw Mr Bulpitt show a yellow card to Hansford, who had done so much work, and a cross kick by Setaro found James Stephenson wide out and the centre crossed in the corner.
He failed to drop-kick the conversion but it didn’t matter because the final whistle came straight afterwards and Tenby United were in the next round and avenging a massive defeat in last year’s competition.
Jonathan Evans: (Tenby United coach):
“We have worked very hard in recent weeks and it really showed here because I felt we were the team which appeared to want the win more.
We didn’t give an inch in the set-pieces and worked really well in the loose thanks to our tireless pack; the backs were really well organised by Lloyd Thomas and I thought Andrew Cooke was again outstanding. Our replacements all played and made an impact so it was a cracking performance which I hope can now be translated into our play in league rugby.”
Whitland: Ollie Hughes: Josh Thomas; Jonathan Thomas; James Stephenson; Scott Candler: Geraint Jones; Josh Thomas: Aaron Mayne; Iwan Lewis; Tom Finucane: Courtney Bowman; Raff Williams: James Thomas; Ryan Morgan; Jack Mason.
Replacements: Marc Jones; Jamie Styles; Ben Kirk; Adam Davies; Nico Setaro.
Tenby United: Yannic Parker: Mattie Davies; Jimmy Davies; Andrew Cooke; Andrew Quill: Lloyd Thomas; Ben Pugh: Rob Clark; Jim Brace; Ethan Morgan: Tom Barrass; Wyndham Williams: Jack Brown; Luke Hansford; Jack Broadhurst. Replacements:
Replacements: Rob Luly; Will Swales; Parsley Blue; Luke Dedman; Calum Serafino; Nicky Guymer.
Referee: Michael Bulpitt (Swansea)
Division Three (West) A:
Bonus point away win for ‘Bydder’
Llangwm 3 - Llanybydder 25
For 30 minutes it was absolute stalemate between Llangwm and Llanybydder before the visitors went on to raise the tempo, especially in the final quarter, to secure a bonus point win.
But they had to come through a difficult opening where The Wasps piled on the pressure, with skipper Gethin Thomas putting in his usual shift while the home side were also boosted by the likes of Terry Lovell, Gethin Bateman, Dan Murphy, and Josh Atherton on permit.
The home side failed to capitalise though and a breakaway attack resulted in Bydder No 10 Llyr Tobias breaking the deadlock with an unconverted try.
Another five-pointer followed as No 8 Ricky Davies added to his big try tally for the season, but Llangwm deservedly got something on the board before half time when No 10 Louis Murphy slotted a penalty.
Early in the second half though Tobias notched three points to make it 3-13 and although the home side kept in the game, with No 9 Ollie Davies another to impress, they ran out of steam in the final quarter.
That coincided with losing Murphy to injury and Bydder’s third try came via Aled Evans and Tobias converted, before Tom Adams got the important fourth score.
PHOTO:
Ollie Davies - played well for Llangwm