The weather again intervened to reduce Pembrokeshire clubs’ involvement to just four fixtures, with pride of place going to Pembroke’s terrific win over Deri in the WRU Bowl quarter-final:

PHOTOS:
Pembroke line-up before Bowl success
Deri centre Thomas Edwards grabs an early try
Dom Colman crashes over for Pembroke

 

WRU Bowl Quarter Final:

 

Superb Scarlets power way to Bowl Last Four

Pembroke 24 - Deri 7

 
A terrific all round team display by the entire Pembroke squad saw them move just one match away from the Bowl Final at the Principality Stadium by beating a very strong Deri team, from near Caerphilly, which sits atop Division Three (East) B with only one defeat in 12 starts.

Great start for visitors

They arrived at Crickmarren with a huge support from vociferous fans who were cheering the opening try of the match when good work by outside half Aaron Hughes and winger Julian Poole allowed centre Thomas Edwards to find the perfect angle and stretch for the line near the posts so that No 10 Hughes could add the extra points.

It certainly showed evidence of Deri’s attacking qualities and they also showed determination in defence as the home side had the better of the territorial advantage but were unable to turn pressure into points in the opening quarter.

Scarlets serve notice of intent

Deri countered neatly before left winger Rhys Edwards’ clever kick and chase was halted by Luke Hartland’s sound defence – but Pembroke had strength up front from Johnnie Palmer, Seamus ‘Moose’ Wiseman and Lloyd Davies which allowed Will Edwards and skipper Scott Powell to feature in attack alongside the outstanding Billy Wood, Dom Colman and Sam Smith to exert more and more of an influence.

Smith served notice of intent with a typically bulldozing run down the middle and with six minutes left of the period the Scarlets grabbed a deserved unconverted try from a lining drive out which allowed Colman to plough over the line.

Pembroke power in front . . .

It was a key moment because in the second half Pembroke got on top as half backs Tom Lewis and Toby Smith called the shots and coach Geraint Lewis judicially used his strong ‘bench’ to keep the pressure firmly applied, despite the efforts of Deri skipper Martyn Morgan to revive his flagging to troops.

Pembroke took the lead for the first time when Sam Smith burst through after Deri had been set back on their heels in a series of well-organised phases - and centre Shaun Dalling added the simple conversion.

. . . And finish in style!

The Scarlets’ growing forward superiority was further evidenced when a splendid drive from a close-range lineout forced the visitor’s defence to splinter and referee Simon Harries, who had a good game, awarded a penalty try.

And Pembroke finished in style as halves Lewis and Toby Smith spread play wide and a cut-out pass from the latter put full back Hartland over in the corner and ensured they continued their exciting journey before finding out who they will play in the semi-finals at a neutral venue.

*Prior to the match there was a minute’s clapping from players and supporters as a mark of respect for the late Ross Taylor, who did so much good work in coaching the Pembroke Youth team.

Pembroke: Luke Hartland: Barry Alderman-John (Fraser James); Shaun Dalling; Dan Colley (James Davies); Elliott Evans (Simon Stanford): Toby Smith; Tom Lewis: Lloyd Davies (Jamie Brayford); Seamus Wiseman (Rhys Mainwaring); Johnnie Palmer: Scott Powell (capt); Will Edwards (Cyle Wetherall): Dom Colman (Rhodri Walters); Billy Wood (Alex Thomas); Sam Smith.

Deri: Aaron Jones: Julian Poole; Jacob Rowe; Thomas Richards; Rhys Edwards: Aaron Hughes; Andrew John: Scott Cooper; David Greening; Jordan Goode: David Iles; Scott Kirby: Jonathan Morgan; Martyn Morgan (Capt); Jason James. Replacements: Brendan Richards; Andrew Greening; Hywel James; Jamie Cook; Alex Lees; Geraint James; Matthew Chesty.

Referee: Simon Harries (Port Talbot)
Assistant Referee: Martin Jones (St Clears)



PHOTO:
Deri line-up before kick-off
 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Lloyd leads Blacks to bonus point win

Neyland 31 - St Davids 3

Two tries from Jonathan Lloyd helped Neyland recover from a slow start to notch a comfortable bonus point win over St Davids.

The All Blacks led 10-3 at the break after tries from winger Lloyd and flanker Iestyn Evans, and crossed three more times thereafter through centre George Williams, No 8 Scott Buirds and then Lloyd again.

It was the visitors who kicked off with the slope and wind in their favour, and after Matty Mcleod was off target with a long range penalty, the Saints’ No 10 made no mistake with a second attempt from close range after the All Blacks had been penalised for offside in midfield.

But Neyland responded as player coach Steve Martin’s clever pass set hooker Kyle Hamer off down the right wing, but he was denied by a scrambling Saints’ defence.

Moments later the All Blacks were ahead though, as a charge from second row Luke Dawes set up the platform from which a long miss-pass from outside half Martin put Lloyd over in the corner.

And just before the break the home side had their second try through a combined back row effort – as No 8 Buirds broke several tackles on a run into the 22 before off-loading to flanker Ben Williams, and although he was dragged down short, a third back rower in Iestyn Evans was on hand to dive over.

The try of the game came early in the second half with an individual effort from centre George Williams, who broke clear on half way before cutting inside two tackles to go under the posts.

Martin converted and added the extras as The All Blacks then sealed a bonus point with Buirds again the instigator, powering through in midfield and setting up a try for Dawes.

The Saints did have the ascendancy in the scrum and tried to respond as winger Gavin Smith broke into the 22 but it his off-load failed to go to hand – and then a close range line-out went to waste after centre Scott James had kicked a penalty into the corner.

Neyland went close again themselves as replacement scrum half Mark Riley executed a clever chip kick that just ran into touch with Dan Goodridge chasing – before the home side lost skipper Mark James to a yellow card for not retreating from a quick penalty.

The Saints also went down to 14 as replacement Josh Hicks, on permit from Llangwm, was sin binned following a scuffle, and it prompted an unsavoury confrontation on the side-line as he left the field.

Thankfully it was the rugby that had the final word as a break and pop pass from Dawes set up Lloyd to score from close range, and Riley drop kicked the conversion as Martin’s men completed a sixth league win of the season.

Neyland: Chris Morgan, Benn Goodridge, Alex Codd, George Williams , Jonathan Lloyd, Steve Martin, Andrew Slark, Richard Jones, Kyle Hamer, Jimmy Buirds, Mark James (capt), Luke Dawes, Ben Williams, Iestyn Evans, Scott Buirds. Replacements: Mark Riley, Craig Power, Ryan Hill, Dan Goodridge.

St Davids: Rhys Morgan, Luke Brooks, Scott James, Moritz Neumann, Gavin Smith, Matty Mcleod, Harvey Godkin, Will Davies, Noel Lyons, Dan Murphy, Rhys Price (capt), Gethin Bateman, Andrew Groves, Scott Riches, Anthony Davies. Replacements: Ben Evans, Josh Hicks, Tanapon Phumkhonsan, Dafydd Williams, Tommy Reynolds.

PHOTO:
Good defence by Neyland against The Saints

 

Mariners stay second after 'awful start'

Milford Haven 24 - Tregaron 8

Milford Haven eventually claimed a comfortable bonus-point win over Tregaron after six weeks of inactivity and in doing so completed the double over their Mid Wales opposition.

Perhaps that is why coach Alan McClelland reflected afterwards on their start to the game and said,
“In that first 20 minutes we were awful but managed to find some form as we went back to the basics and played our normal game to run in four tries.”

Tregaron opened up an eight-point advantage through a good try by Llyr Ebenezer and a penalty from Ieuan Wynn – but with Mark Wonnacott using his wealth of experience to good effect the Mariners grabbed two tries before the interval, one converted by Dan McClelland.

Outside centre Jamie Lewis opened their account to round off a period of pressure where their ball retention was better, cutting inside and then outside of his marker to reach the line.

Then busy flanker David Round ploughed over to give his team a 12-8 interval lead and coach McClelland’s interval talk certainly helped raise the tempo and although they managed just two more tries they made sure Tregaron were never able to claw their way back into contention.

The third Milford score came from scrum half Dan McClelland, who dummied his way through to confuse the opposition back row went over from close range before Jamie Lewis added his second score to keep The Mariners in second spot.
 

PHOTO:
Jamie Lewis - outside centre crossed for a try for Mariners

 

Cardis denied by Jenkins in last seconds

Aberaeron 8 - Cardigan 6

Aberaeron outside half Rhodri Jenkins was the toast of his team-mates and supporters as his last-gasp penalty gave them victory over Cardigan and the season’s double since they had already won at the King George Vth Playing fields by 27-10.

Yet it looked as if The Teifisiders might gain revenge at Parc Drefach as they led 6-5 with the referee looking at his clock after a penalty in each half from powerful centre John Lumb on the back of some sterling work up front by Andrew Fletcher, Sion Phillips, Ben Hughes, Guto Davies and Dafydd Roti, joined by Tom Taylor and Luke Palmer-Davies.

Aberaeron had taken the lead after an even first quarter when Morgan Llewellyn went over for a try before Lumb replied in the 32nd minute with a well-judged three-pointer.

The second period was equally as evenly-contested, other than a 46th-minute penalty by Lumb, so with chances few and far between it looked as if the Cardis had done just enough.

But they reckoned without Jenkins’ ability to absorb pressure as he stepped up in what was timed as the 87th minute and slotted his kick between the posts to keep his team in fifth place in the section table, ahead of the Teifisiders in sixth slot!