PHOTOS:

Haverfordwest players and coaches

Dewi Williams looks for a big tackle

 

 
Featured Match:
 
Division Two (West):

 

All square at Merlins Bridge

 

Haverfordwest 13 - Penlan 13

The match between Haverfordwest and Penlan ended all square in a tight tussle where the Blues battled hard from start to finish but made basic errors galore and conceded far too many penalties.

This was evident from the outset as the Blues enjoyed early pressure but Danny Morgan ran away from his support at a tapped penalty and his pack conceded several penalties in their eagerness to gain possession.

They were punished after visiting No 10 Steve Davies missed a penalty but atoned with the conversion of a try by prop Liam Richards after sustained pressure in the top right corner.

The Blues bounced back with an excellent try by winger Scott Candler after quick hands had given him the chance and Morgan added the extra points – but Penlan showed why they are in the top four with some good control of the ball which saw the Blues punished and Davies slotted the comfortable penalty.

Morgan soon levelled matters, however, with a similar kick and a good burst by Blues’ skipper Salmon set up a useful platform which again was frittered away – and Davies added another three points for Penlan..

Morgan found the target with a penalty to have the teams sharing 26 points at the oranges and although both sides had half chances after the break they were unable to score any points and in the end perhaps a draw was a fair result as neither side deserved to lose – or to win for that matter!

Haverfordwest: Darren Salmon (Capt): Dane Pindare; Dave O’Leary; Moritz Neumann; Scott Candler: Matthew Davies; Danny Morgan: Neil Phillips; Gareth Green; Terry Lovell: Liam Brown; Brett Davies: Dewi Williams, Dan John; Ryan Banner. Replacements: Jamie Zambas, Adam Williams; Lee Summons; Lawrence Hancock
 

Championship:

Otters miss out against section leaders

Bargoed 23 - Narberth 16

Narberth battled hard against table-toppers Bargoed but in the final analysis they were unable to find enough impulsion in a hard-fought second half after they trailed by 18-6 at the interval.

Home outside half Josh Prosser gave his side the lead with a sixth-minute penalty but opposite number Ianto Griffiths levelled matters two minutes later, only for Bargoed to grab two tries by winger Lewis Protheroe and centre
Darren Humphreys, the latter converted by Prosser.

Ianto Griffiths kicked a second Narberth penalty to reduce the deficit but a Prosser three-pointer kept Bargoed in control at half time.

But the Otters showed their mettle early in the second period with Griffiths again on target with a penalty and the conversion of a very good try claimed by full back Johnny Morgan that hauled them back to within two points of tough opposition.

But they were unable to maintain their momentum and Bargoed kept their 100% record as Rhys Humphreys sliced through for a try which Prosser converted to keep his side on top as news filtered through that Swansea had lost their unbeaten tag with defeat by a single point at Merthyr!
 

Division One (West):

 

Impressive success for Preseli Men

Ammanford 20 - Crymych 22

Crymych produced a gritty performance at Ammanford to secure their third win in five starts as their pack battled really hard and there was some excellent defence from the entire team as the homesters tried desperately to snatch the game in a late flurry of attacks.

The Preseli Men made a terrific start with tries from winger Gavin Thomas and outside half Sam Phillips, both converted by the latter player, before Ammanford opened their account with two penalties from Rhydian Morris, who also added the extra points to a try from second row Jake Simm.

Morris converted his own try in the second period to nudge his side in front but centre Carwyn Phillips crossed for an unconverted try for Crymych and his namesake Sam dropped a neat goal to set up that late defending to protect their two-point advantage.

 

Borderers grab bagging rights in local derby tussle

Tenby United 21 - Whitland 23

There have been many tough battles over the years between these old adversaries but it was Whitland who grabbed the bragging rights as they led 10-8 at half time and managed to maintain that two-point advantage when the final whistle blew.

Pacy winger Will Davies opened the scoring for the Borderers with a try converted by outside half Johnny Thomas before Scott Newton extended the lead with a mighty penalty from inside his own half.

But Tenby were eager to hold on to their coveted top spot and bounced back with a try from Jason Ronowitz which Jonathan Rogers was unable to convert but made amends with a well-struck penalty.

Rogers put the Seasiders ahead for the first time with another penalty but Thomas was on target from 30 metres with a penalty and prop Gareth Jones rounded off a push-over attempt for Thomas to slot the conversion.

Tenby secured a vital seven points when they were awarded a penalty try and Rogers kicked the simple conversion before landing another penalty to nudge his side 21-20 ahead.

But Whitland clawed their way back with a late Newton penalty from 30 metres out and although Tenby tried hard to snatch the verdict there was excellent defence from Jack Mason and co in the Whitland pack as they knocked the Seasiders down to third place in the section table and moved up to eighth place as their reward.
 

Scott Newton on the burst for Whitland in their win over Tenby United.
Picture Susan McKehon.

 

Division Two (West):

 

Cardis miss out in second half collapse

Cardigan 20 - Hendy 40

Cardigan were very much in contention as they shared 26 points with unbeaten Hendy in a tight first half but the visitors raised the tempo after the break and secured a bonus-point win that keeps them as the only undefeated team in the table.

Cardigan’s first-half points came from a try by second row Tristan Lewis which Iestyn Crompton converted to go with two penalties, whilst Hendy responded with a try by hooker Chris Jones alongside a conversion and two penalties from No 10 Jos Batcup.

The Teifisiders added their second try, this time by inside centre Aaron Tomlinson, and again goaled by Crompton, but Hendy responded with further tries by outside centre Steffan Jones, right winger Gruff Jones, Tom Harvard and Rhys Phillips as Batcup provided the rest of the Hendy points with his reliable kicking.
 

Division Three (West) B:

 

‘Yoda’ scores four for Mariners

Milford Haven 52 - Llangwm 19

Four tries from experienced winger Craig Thomas helped Milford Haven to a comfortable win over near neighbours Llangwm in an entertaining clash at the Observatory Field.

“We played quite well,” said Milford team manager James Hall, “but we still need to take more chances at vital times.”

Known to his team mates as ‘Yoda’ after the ‘Star Wars’ character, Craig Thomas raced through almost from the kick-off but Llangwm responded with an interception try by outside half Luke Brock which he also converted.

Steve Picton put the Mariners back in front with an unconverted try and they consolidated that advantage when No 8 Jonathan Coe scored a try which No 10 Ewan Morgan converted.

This was followed by an unconverted try from scrum half Dean McSparron before Luke Brock notched a Wasps’ penalty to restrict Milford to a 22-10 interval lead.

The Mariners superior forward power told in the second half as they added tries by Craig Thomas (3), prop Nathan Rees, Coe and centre James Thomas, only one converted by Morgan.

Llangwm’ stuck to their task and had a try from Ben Llewellyn which Luke Brock converted but it was too little, too late as the Mariners were good vale for victory.
 

Milford Haven on the attack against Llangwm - picture by Sheila Witts-Sear

 
 

Hat-trick for Patrick as Blacks pound the Quins

Neyland 53 - Pembroke Dock Quins 12

Centre Patrick Bellerby was the undoubted star of Neyland’s big win over Pembroke Dock Quins as he scored three tries, six conversions and two penalties for a personal haul of 33 points.

The writing was already on the wall for the Quins, still seeking their first success, as they trailed 25-0 at half time as flanker Sam Katakai, full back Richard Smith and centre Adam Collins claimed good tries for the All Blacks and there were two conversions and two penalties by Bellerby.

The Quins had useful performances by Alex Pearce and Steff Hallwood, and did manage consolation tries for Paul Jonkers and prop Josh Boswell, converted by Danny Brooks, but Bellerby added three tries alongside Delme Bateman’s score, kicked the conversions and ensured a comfortable third win for the All Blacks.

Steve Hamer makes a pass under pressure for Neyland

 

Scarlets surrender second spot in the table

Pembroke 30 - Laugharne 42

Pembroke lost second place in the section as a result of this high-scoring tussle where they led Laugharne by 20-18 at half time but had to settle for a single bonus points as Laugharne’s second half display earned them a full five points and the chance to go top since Fishguard were without a match.

Dan Colley put the Scarlets ahead with an unconverted try before Tom Jameson landed a penalty and Mike Williams scored the first of his three tries for the visitors.

Jordan Gwilliam responded for Pembroke with a try converted by James Davies but Laugharne clawed their way back with unconverted scores by Luke Starkey and Williams – and as fortunes ebbed and flowed a Davies penalty and bulldozing try by Sam Smith put the Scarlets two points ahead at the interval.

But Williams claimed his Laugharne hat-trick and there were other scores for Gary Jones and Rhys Thomas, one converted by Jameson, before Pembroke ensured a bonus point for scoring four tries as skipper Max Hayward and James Skeels got on the try sheet, one converted by Davies.
 

Pembrokeshire Saints smashed by Carmarthenshire counterparts

St Clears 57 - St Davids 0

St Davids travelled to St Clears with only 15 players and coach Jack Dudley on the bench, and paid the inevitable price as their inexperienced team were 22-0 behind at half time and conceded a further 35 points after the oranges as tiredness inevitably crept in.

Strong-running centre Ceri Jones claimed their first try which was followed by a brace from No 8 Andy Davies, the second converted by outside half Matthew Lewis before Davies completed his hat trick from close range just before half time.

Second half tries came from prop Luke Hannah, Ceri Jones again, centre Tom Windsor, and outside half Lewis, with Jones taking over the kicking duties and slotting five conversions to show his overall worth to his team as young prop Dan Murphy and scrum half Rhys Price caught the eye for St Davids with their non-stop tackling.
 

St Clears No 8 Andy Davies on his way to scoring his first of three tries against St Davids

 

Seagulls stymied by Swalec

Fishguard v Aberaeron

*The match between the Seagulls and Aberaeron was postponed because of Aber’s involvement in the Swalec competitions.