PHOTO:
Sam Smith - the Pembroke No 8 powers over for a try against Tumble

 

Division Two (West)

 

Scarlets too strong for basement battlers

Pembroke 58 - Tumble 8

Pembroke were able to field something like their best squad for their home match against a Tumble side which was never able to come to terms with Scarlets’ pack which was on top from the outset and a back division led by Toby Smith which revelled in the superb conditions at their Crickmarren ground.

The Scarlets scored three tries to lead 26-3 at the interval and although Tumble grabbed a try as reward for their never-say-die spirit they were unable to stop Pembroke running in another six tries and cause coach Geraint Lewis to admit that he thought this was their best performance so far, especially since the overhead conditions were abject.

Good start but one lapse of concentration cost Pembroke points

The Scarlets were soon on top as their front row of Johnny Palmer, Seamus Wiseman and Jamie Kaijaks ruled the set pieces and they were soon ahead as Dan Colley was set loose by Rhys Cadogan and showed his centre class with a well-taken try converted by Toby Smith.

But a moment’s indiscipline cost Pembroke three points when there appeared  to pose no danger as a Tumble kick ahead was grounded for what appeared to a drop-out 22 – but something said at the restart caused the referee to give the visitors a simple penalty which Steff Butts converted.

Scarlets soon show their skills

They were soon back on the attack, however, and the Pembroke’s twin powerhouses were heavily involved as No 8 Sam Smith put over second row Dom Colman for a try in the left corner which skipper Smith did well to convert.

Dynamic flanker Cyle Weatherall was denied a try as he was given a poor low pass when perfectly placed – but Jordan Gwilliam, who worked really well alongside Alex Thomas, set up the chance for Sam Smith to receive a scoring pass before brother Toby added the extras.

Points soon mount as Lewis leads the way

Toby Smith also started the second half scoring from a dropped goal and then Colman claimed his second try after good interplay between him, Sam Smith and Kaijaks saw Colman power 40 metres up the right touchline.

Then Tom Lewis, home from Hartpury College and replacing Cadogan at the base of the scrum, scored two tries in quick succession, the first as reward for good support play and the second a typical No 9 snipe from a scrum five.

Also involved in the scoring was Fraser James after he had been switched from wing to centre, benefiting from a flat Colley pass and reaching the line for Toby Smith to slot the conversion.

Skipper Smith rounds off Scarlets’ solid performance

Tumble did manage a late unconverted try from outside half Steff Butts but even then The Scarlets had the final word when good interpassing amongst forwards and backs allowed Toby Smith to round off a long-range attack and although he missed the conversion it mattered little because Pembroke had shown they belong in this division and capable of doing well in the top half of the table.

Pembroke: Luke Hartland: Barry Alderman-John (Simon Stanford); Dan Colley; Toby Smith (Capt); Fraser James: James Davies; Rhys Cadogan (Tom Lewis): Johnny Palmer; Seamus Wiseman (Jim Brace); Jamie Kaijaks: Dom Colman (Scott Powell); Cyle Weatherall (Will Edwards): Alex Thomas; Jordan Gwilliam; Sam Smith.

PHOTO:
Toby Smith - the outside half uses a strong hand off

 

Seagulls’ slow start costs them dearly

 

Mumbles 31 - Fishguard & Goodwick 19

Fishguard and Goodwick produced one of their infamous slow starts at away games as they conceded two tries almost as soon as they stepped into the action and a penalty meant that The Seagulls were 17-0 adrift in only eight minutes!

It says much for their battling qualities that they refused to be overwhelmed after such a dire start but coaches Nathan and Steve Jenkins will have to correct their sluggish early play if they are to move up the table.
 

No time to settle in!

On an amazingly dry pitch and with little of the wind and rain that they encountered on the drive up to Mumbles The Seagulls were under the cosh from the very first move of the match when some weak covering that allowed  home second row Joe Evans to score a try which full back Tom Richards converted.

And before Fishguard had time to settle they conceded a second score as winger Tom Powell rounded off some quick hands before Richards again added the extra points and landed a penalty!

It says something for The Seagulls’ resolve that scored a 35th minute try after a Thomas George break and a series of quick drives led by forwards like Jordan James, Gavin Walsh, Simon James and Chris Shousha that Kyle Keane converted – but Mumbles finished the half 24-7 in front as second row Ben Fox crashed through and Richards converted.

 

More second half points not enough

Kyle Keane initiated the first score of the second half with a long pass that missed out three players and young winger Osian Lewis leapt high to secure the ball and speed in from the 22, with Keane adding the conversion.

Back came Tumble with a try from Andrew Evans and although Fishguard had the final word via a good try by replacement Ed Bendall it was too little, too late as Mumbles picked up five points and The Seagulls had nothing to show for their efforts.

Fishguard & Goodwick: Rob Jones: Osian Lewis; Thomas George; Rhys Evans; Sion Rowlands: Kyle Keane; Andrew Williams: Gavin Walsh; Liam Wilkes; Adam Bowen: Richard Hunter; Luke Freebury: Simon James; Jordan James; Chris Shousha (Capt). Replacements: Neil Perkins; Will Delaney; Ed Bendall; Louis Davies; Scott Riches.

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Saints celebrate first win since last December

St Davids 10 -  Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0

It wasn’t pretty, but they won’t care in St Davids.

After a predictably hard battle with Pembroke Dock Harlequins, in adverse weather to say the least, the Saints grabbed their first win of the season with second half tries from centre Gavin Smith and winger Luke Brooks.

And yet, the fact two backline players grabbed the winning scores was ironic, after a fierce (and scrappy) battle up front, that was well controlled by referee Ross Grieve, left the game scoreless for more than an hour.

Chances few and far between

Chances were few and far between in the first half as the rain teemed down, although away hooker George Bellmaine went close but was bundled into touch by the corner flag after pouncing on a loose ball from a lineout.

A box kick from No 9 Elliot Lewis also caused panic for the home defence, but Josh White was adjudged to have been in front of the kicker as he hacked on – and the Quins were also held up on over the Saints line before failing to capitalize on the five metre scrum that followed.

St Davids had moments of pressure themselves but a failure to retain the ball in attack cost them dear - firstly following an outside break from full back Rhys Morgan, before a series of forward drives came to nothing and Lewis duly turned defence into attack with a sharp break upfield.

But the best chance came from the final play of the half after a burst from flanker Tommy Reynolds, outstanding for the home side, set up an overlap but Morgan’s pass to Brooks drifted forward.
 

Second half in similar vein but The Saints strike

The second half followed a similar vein, and the Saints missed the chance to put three points on the board as outside half Matty Mcleod was off target with a wide angled penalty.

To their credit, the Quins kept trying to play, despite the worsening conditions, and full back Rhys Bradney and centres Tom Doyle and Harry Owen all threatened with runs in midfield that ultimately came to nothing.
But as the half wore on, it was the Saints who tightened a grip on thing and after 62 long minutes, the first try came, albeit in messy circumstances.

Player coach Anthony Davies led a series of charges towards the line, but the Quins had seemingly repelled the danger when the ball went loose, only for outside half Aaron Cookson to have his clearance kick charged down by Mcleod and Smith dropped on the ball over the line to score.
 

Brooks seals success for The Saints

The conversion was off target and the Quins responded with a spell of pressure in which No 8 Hywel Baker featured heavily, but again, the home pack’s dominance at the scrum proved crucial as they won a penalty 10 metres from their own line.

And with eight minutes left the second score came after No 8 Davies and centre Jack Jones had taken turns to charge down the blindside, and Mcleod duly risked a cross field kick that bounced up into the hands of Brooks and the winger did the rest from close range.

The visitors did finish on the front foot though and were cruelly denied a losing bonus point from the game’s penultimate play, as scrum half Lewis seemingly sniped over but the ball was dislodged as he went over the line.
It meant the Saints celebrated a first league victory in almost 10 months, while for the Quins the winless start to the season goes on.

Anthony Davies (St Davids’ player coach)
“It feels good.
“We’ve had possession and control in games all season but not turned it into the points. Today we got the tries we needed.
“The boys dug deep, and we’ll definitely take it.”

Tom Doyle (Quins captain):
“It was a tough game in even tougher conditions.
“We didn’t take our chances when they came and there are a lot of things we need to put right. But fair play to St Davids they defended their line well.”

Man of the match: Gethin Bateman (St Davids)

It wasn’t a day for the purists, and therefore fitting that a front five player was deemed man of the match.
Young flanker Tommy Reynolds was everywhere for the Saints, while scrum half Lewis was a threat around the base for the Quins, but it’s Bateman who gets the nod.

On a day when the set piece was always going to be crucial, his handling in the lineout was flawless. And both in the ball carrying stakes, and the tackling ones, he featured heavily for 80 minutes.

His play was more solid than spectacular. But on a day like today, solid was exactly what was needed!

St Davids: Rhys Morgan, Tanapon Phumkonsan, Luke Brooks, Gavin Smith, Jack Jones, Luke Brooks, Matty Mcleod, Harvey Godkin, Will Davies, Rhys Price, Dan Murphy, Rhys Tudor Price (capt), Gethin Bateman, Dan Jenkins, Tommy Reynolds, Anthony Davies. Replacements: Ben Evans, Andrew Groves, Noel Lyons, Fraser Watson, Chris Jenkins.

Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Rhys Bradney, Will Nicot, Harry Owen, Tom Doyle (capt), Elis Williams, Aaron Cookson, Elliot Lewis, Chad Monk, George Bellmaine, Darren Potter, Ben Gibby, Martin Cully, Josh White, Liam Scourfield, Hywel Baker. Replacements: Gareth Spure, Carl Williams, Joe Grey, Ian Osborne, Phil Hughes.

Referee: Ross Grieve.