PHOTOS:
Haverfordwest RFC celebrate winning the league
Blues' skipper Jonathan Mason receives the trophy from Gordon Eynon, WRU District H representative
Blues' fly half Mikey Jones kicked four penalties

Featured Match:
 
Division Three (West) A:

Blues battle their way to section silverware

 

Haverfordwest 12 - Cardigan 9

Haverfordwest were crowned worthy Division Three (West) A champions to receive a cut-glass memento from District H representative Gordon Eynon as their reward for a cracking season where they only lost one match.

That was against opponents Cardigan, who had edged out the Blues by 23-22 at the King George Vth Ground, and came mightily close to upsetting the Blues' applecart and giving themselves a chance of success until the final whistle saw the Blues celebrate by dint of the fact that they had outscored the opposition by four penalties by outside half Mikey Jones to three from Cardigan centre Iestyn Crompton.

In doing so they gave a great send-off to coach Jason Davies, who is a serving soldier and has just received a commission to the rank of captain so is off to Catterick after just one season at the helm with Haverfordwest. Davies is a cool customer but even he found it a little nerve-wracking so that at one stage he went from the touchline on a short walk to replenish his batteries.

No quarter asked for – or given

On the field there was no quarter asked for or give, with the Blues just shading the scrums but with the Teifisiders strong at the breakdown and taking the lead early on with Crompton’s first left-foot three-pointer.
 But the lead was short-lived as good work by Terry Lovell, Ilesi Vulli and skipper Jon Mason set the platform for No 10 Jones’ successful response.

Jones put the Blues ahead after 33 minutes, following a good drive initiated by Mason, Liam Brown, Richard Walters and Mike Griffiths – but they were unable to quell the Cardigan back row of Kieran Hurley, Gethin Jones and skipper Llyr Griffiths from which Iestyn Crompton pumped over a penalty to ensure interval stalemate at 6-all.

The second half followed a similar pattern as both teams failed to take half chances and again Jones put Haverfordwest in front with a three-pointer before Crompton slotted his third kick on target – and both kickers also missed from longer range.

Fresh legs pay off

Haverfordwest used all their replacements and fresh legs saw a penalty awarded in front of the posts which Jones kicked from 25 metres – and although Cardigan were on the attack in the last seconds they were unable to break down the home defence and the final whistle brought jubilation for the Blues and disappointment for the Teifisiders, who had given their all in an absorbing clash!

**It was also a great day for former Haverfordwest RFC president, chairman and treasurer Dai 'Swiper' Griffiths, who celebrated his 86th birthday and admitted he hadn't been so nervous during a match for as long as he could remember in his 64-year association with the Blues - whilst current club treasurer Delyth Summons admitted she had been so nervous that she had to get up and make a cuppa at 5am on the two days prior to the win!

Haverfordwest: Danny Morgan: Matthew Morgan; Moseses Naivalu; Dane Pindair; Scott Candler: Mikey Jones; Lee Summons: Ashley Mathias; Jamie Zambas; Terry Lovell: Liam Brown; Ilisi Vulli: Richard Walters; Mike Griffiths; Jon Mason (Capt). Replacements: Ashley George; Daniel John; Tom Parry; Gareth John; Craig Barnett.

Cardigan: Alun Jenkins: Rhydian Jenkins; Emyr Harries; Iestyn Crompton; Llyr Jones: Luke Rogers; Aaron Evans: Tomos Evans; Bedwyr Davies; Richard Jones: Rob Connolly; Dean Harries: Gethin Jones; Kieran Hurley; Llyr Griffiths (Capt). Replacements: Ifan James; Aled Phillips; Gruffydd Lewis; Sion Hughes, William Brice.

PHOTO:
Blues' flanker Mike Griffiths takes the contact against Cardigan

Championship:

Otters’ descent continues

 

Narberth 18 - Newbridge 22

Narberth's disappointing run of results continued with a home defeat to Newbridge which has seen them plunge into the bottom four with only two games left of a long and demanding season.

Not so long ago the Otters were in the top half of the table and they had already won at Newbridge but the writing was already on the wall at half time as they trailed 17-8 - and. try as they did, they were unable to wrest the initiative back from the Gwent club and made it three home defeats in quick succession.

Yet Narberth made the better start as good work up front set the platform for Nick Gale to slot a penalty and then slick handling along the back division saw centre Ollie Reyland speed through for an unconverted try.

But then Newbridge started to exert an influence via their pack power and midway through the half they opened their account with a try from prop Luke Ledington which outside half Kieran Meek converted before putting his team ahead with a penalty.

Meek also added a further two points just before the interval as Lloyd Peart crossed the whitewash and the Otters were already regretting a golden chance thrown away when a break took them to the line but a final pass to Jordan Roberts was way too high for him to grasp.

Nick Gale again opened the scoring after the oranges with a penalty but Newbridge winger Ryan Lee raced clear for an unconverted try before Narberth’s replacement prop Ollie Evans ploughed through for a try which Gale goaled.

But it was too little, too late because the Newbridge cover kept their scoreline intact to give them a vital victory in their quest to stay in the championship for next season!


 Ollie Evans - try for Narberth prop


Division One (West):
 

Great double victory for Preseli Men

 

Crymych 15 - Felinfoel 12

If Felinfoel miss out on promotion they will look back on two defeats in three weeks against a Crymych side which somehow seems to play better against the top clubs.

The Preseli Men won by 16-11 in Felinfoel and repeated the success at Parc Lloyd Thomas after the teams shared ten points in a tough first half before the home side made periods of pressure pay off.

Crymych had beaten Llanelli Wanderers in midweek by 28-19 and this latest win more or less assures them of their status in Division One (West) for next campaign - and it was full back Tomos Phillips who claimed their first-half score to tie up a Felinfoel try from No 8 Steffan Phillips.

The visitors also opened the second half scoring with a try from Elliott Dawe which Aled Roberts converted but Crymych centre outside half Ianto Griffiths reduced the deficit with a penalty.

At this stage the Preseli Men scented the chance of the double and centre Dyfan Dafydd grabbed the all-important try which Ianto Griffiths converted to set the seal on a cracking win and a richly deserved double over such strong opposition

 Dyfan Dafydd - vital try for Crymych

 

Seasiders suffer again in second half

 

Kidwelly 32 - Tenby United 22

 
With all the odds stacked against them Tenby put in a solid performance in the first half against Kidwelly and turned around 10-8 in front, only to yet again lose their momentum during the second half,  a trend that has dogged them for most of the season.

Gareth Rees gave Kidwelly an early lead with a penalty and the Seasiders had the chance to level matters after good work by skipper Luke Hansford but Scott James was off target with his penalty.

Hansford was quickly back into as he linked neatly with centre Jordan Asparassa, who in turn passed the ball to the supporting Dan Colley for a fine try, which was converted by James.

Kidwelly strung a series of passes together which ended with outside half Robin Davies crossing the Tenby line for an unconverted try but their  narrow 8-7 lead was short lived as Scott James fired over a penalty for off side at the breakdown to give the Seasiders a two-point interval  lead.

Kidwelly were clearly galvanised into action for the second half and from an early lineout, classy number eight and captain Jonathan Williams was driven over the line.

Tenby’s No 8 Rob Weston was denied a try soon afterwards for an infringement by Timoci Kaumaitotoya and home scrum half Alex Davies exploited some sloppy defending around a scrum to go over unopposed for an unconverted try.

Tenby totally went off the boil following this set back and allowed Kidwelly to extend their lead through fly half Robin Davies before the rampaging home back row released centre Ricky Williams to score try number five, converted by Rees.

Tenby battled hard in the final quarter, though, and Scott James went over for a try before Dan Colley, now playing at fly half, was put clear by Rob Luly , with Jimmy Davies adding the extras the game closed with the home side emerging victorious.

Dan Colley - scored a try brace for Tenby

 

Borderers unlucky not to gain at least a point

Whitland 15 - Dunvant 23


Whitland played really well against table-topping Dunvant and were in with a chance of victory deep into the game but in the final analysis were denied even a consolation bonus point because they were eight points adrift at the finish - and a long-range penalty from Nico Setaro fell just short so they were unable to receive any sort of reward.

Dunvant started the better as outside half Richard Lewis crossed for a try he was unable to convert but the Borderers drew level from a classic backs move where full back Scott Newton scored near the corner as reward for a good all-round display in attack and defence.

Two more Lewis penalties hauled Dunvant to an 11-5 interval lead and they added another seven points from a penalty try which Lewis goaled after the referee decided the Borderers had illegally halted a push-over attempt.

But Zac France-Miller, another excellent worker for Whitland on the day, powered through after picking up at a close-range scrum to score a try converted by Setaro to haul them within three points of the leaders.

But Dunvant followed up their equally hard-fought recent 31-21 home win over the Borderers with an unconverted try by hooker Ceri Davies, leaving Whitland reflecting on what might have been with just a little more luck!

Scott Newton - try for Whitland

 
Division Two West):

 

Seagulls just too sharp for Amman

 

Amman United 21 - Fishguard & Goodwick 27

It was another nerve-jangling win for Fishguard and Goodwick, who moved a step closer to safety after overcoming a nightmare start in Amman United.

From the game’s first play, Amman were awarded a penalty which scrum half Joel Foster landed, and just a minute later, after The Seagulls spilled possession in midfield,  Foster hacked ahead and pounced for a try he also converted.

But the visitors responded as flanker Chris Shousha, later forced off injured, touched down from a rolling maul after good work led by assistant coach Nathan Jenkins and Ryan McVeigh.

Winger Fraser Watson, playing on permit from St Davids, then scored in the corner following a break by centre Mike Jenkins – and No 8 Mark George grabbed Fishguard’s third try, simply dropping on the ball after a huge shove from The Seagulls’ pack at a close range scrum.
Outside half James Griffiths was off target with all three of the difficult conversions, but just when it seemed the visitors had taken control, Amman centre Sean Mangan punished some poor tackling to score an unconverted try – before Foster kicked another penalty to put his side 18-15 up at the break.

There were no tries in the second half, but Griffiths levelled matters with a penalty, and after he was off target with another effort, landed a sublime 30 metre drop goal to edge his side ahead.

The Seagulls’ No 10 kicked two further penalties to effectively seal the win, but the home side did grab a crucial bonus point from the last kick of the game when Mangan added a three pointer of his own.

 Mark George - simple try for Fishguard

Division Three (West) A:
 

Try fest as Scarlets continue to shine

Pembroke 47 - Laugharne 29

Matches between Pembroke and Laugharne certainly seem to produce excitement and tries in equal measure and this end-of-season clash was no exception as there were 14 tries to be savoured, nine of them from a Scarlets’ side which has recently been in rampant mode after returning to something like full strength.

Laugharne had won at home by 35-25 but there was no chance of a double for the 'Boathouse Boys' as they were already 32-10 adrift at the oranges but did really well to keep plugging away and were rewarded with four more tries afterwards to secure a deserved bonus point.

Scarlets' coach Geraint Lewis was understandably delighted that he was again able to play five members of the current youth squad in centre Jack Parkinson, who scored a try and the only conversion on debut, winger Tom Kinnear, full back Luke Hartland, replacement prop Lloyd Davies and scrum half Lewys Gibby, who must be in with a shout for the club's player of the year award, with the final two Scarlet tries.

Laugharne spokesman Alun Jenkins, who spent the afternoon reminiscing in the stand with old centre rival Jeff Teague, enjoyed a first half try from Mike Williams, who also added a second later on to go with others by outside half Owain Williams, skipper Carl Smith and centre Tom Jameson, who also slotted two conversions.

For the runaway Scarlets there were first half tries by flanker Dom Colman, winger James Skeels, No 8 Sam Smith, winger Barry John, Parkinson and skipper for the day Scott Powell.

Others followed for burly prop Johnny Palmer, as reward for his total commitment to the cause, and Gibby's brace to finish things off in typical Scarlets' style in a match which showed all that is best in Division Three (West) A rugby!

Johnny Palmer - try for popular Pembroke prop