PHOTO:
Blues centre Ross McKenzie pounces for a try

 

Featured match:

 

Division 3 (West) A:

 

Blues too strong for battling Wasps

Haverfordwest 53 - Llangwm 5

Haverfordwest completed a high-scoring double over old rivals Llangwm at Pembroke Road as they followed up a 54-5 success at Pill Parks with this nine-try victory and an almost identical scoreline.

As we seem to say each week, one couldn’t understate the brave part in events staged by The Wasps but they were unable to recover from conceding 24 unanswered points in the first quarter as Llangwm were reduced to 14 men after Josh Hicks (who again vied for their man of the match tag) was shown an early yellow card for a technical offence.

Hicks claimed the Wasps only try late on as The Blues were reduced to 13 men as replacement scrum half (who had started well with an excellent try) was red carded before another try scorer in Terry Lovell was given ten minutes in the sin bin and The Blues were reduced to 13 men when Hicks’ efforts were finally rewarded.

Opening onslaught pays dividends

In that opening Blues’ onslaught there were tries by Lovell from a forward drive and centre Ross McKenzie, who did well to score after an unusually poor pass from flanker Dan John, followed by another close-range effort by hooker Jamie Zambas (after good work by Gareth Philips and Liam Brown), followed by a good score from winger Josh Atherton alongside two conversions by veteran outside half Steve Williams.

Skipper Matthew Phillips added a fifth try before half time which Williams goaled to open up a 31-0 gap at half time as Ollie Hughes, Rhys Baker, Morgan Leyton and Adam Williams caught the eye for The Blues; whilst Ian Griffiths, Gavin Jones, Ieuan Power and Joseph Kiff did the same for The Wasps.

Haverfordwest added further tries after the oranges for Rhys Baker, Stobbs, Steve Thomas and another for McKenzie, one converted by Williams, before Hicks’ late score – and Haverfordwest remain in contention near the top of the section chart whilst The Wasps are still holding the rest up despite all their yeoman efforts!

Haverfordwest: Rhys Baker: Liam Manwaring; Matthew Phillips (Capt); Ross McKenzie; Josh Atherton: Steve Williams; Ollie Hughes:  Thomas Carrington; Jamie Zambas, Terry Lovell: Gareth Phillips; Liam Brown: Daniel John; Morgan Leyton; Adam Williams. Replacements: Mark Stobbs; Karl Bush; Gareth Owen; Steve Thomas; Danny Miners.

Llangwm: Steve Picton: Dan Ridge; Rhys Mason; Josh Hicks; Dan Morgan: Luke Hayman; Joe Kiff: Gavin Jones; Dan Hughes; Ieuan Power: Steve Rees; Dan James: Dave Reynolds; Adam Phillips; Ian Griffiths (Capt). Replacements: Spencer Rourke; Sam Harries; Dai Owen; Dan Chesmer.

PHOTO:
The Blues go on the charge against The Wasps

 

National Cup First Round:

 

Otters outpowered and outpaced

Narberth 0 - Bedwas 43

Narberth battled hard in this Welsh National Cup first round match but were outpowered and outpaced by a Bedwas side which was physically stronger and generally too quick  in a performance which demonstrated the difference in class between an Otters’ team sitting in second place in the championship and opponents residing in mid table in the Premiership.

Bedwas were 19-0 ahead at half time as the home side found it hard to sustain any long bouts of pressure as Bedwas were strong up front and grabbed tries from full back Aaron Bramwell, plus centres Mike Callow and Adam Williams, the last two converted by outside half Steff Jones.

To be fair to Narberth they never stopped tackling and young scrum half Lewys Gibby confirmed his promise with a couple of breaks which eventually came to nought as Bedwas covered well.

It was a similar story after the interval as Bedwas maintained control up front and Bramwell added his second score alongside others by replacement winger Tom Richards, second row Craig Hudd and prop Ian Jones; two of them also converted by No 10 Jones.

So Bedwas enter the draw for the second round whilst Narberth return to divisional action looking to continue to cement second spot in the championship with an away tussle against 11th-placed Rhydyfelin, whom Narberth have already beaten 22-11 at the Lewis Lloyd Ground.
 

PHOTO:
Lewys Gibby - played well at scrum half for Narberth

 

Division One (West):

Seasiders outlast gritty Cocklemen

Penclawdd 10 - Tenby United 21

Tenby United gained revenge for a 20-17 home defeat against Penclawdd by beating them in the return fixture as an all-round team performance earned them victory after they led 15-10 in a hard-fought first period and played disciplined rugby afterwards to score the only six points as their reward.

As pleasing as the result, which moved Chris James’ team up the section table, was the fact that the unavailability of several three-quarters caused them to enlist former player Dan Colley from Pembroke and young centres George Williams and Alex Codd from Neyland – and all three adapted well to moving up two divisions on permit.

The Cocklemen opened the scoring with an unconverted try by full back Ollie Smith, who looked the pick of their attackers, but Tenby took the lead as Lewis Davies, Joe Poole and Rob Luly provided the platform for skipper Johnny Morgan to make a lovely break before timing the scoring pass to Andrew Cooke, who formed an excellent back row with Barry Parsons and Roy Osborn.

Craig Barnett added the extra points but Penclawdd regained the lead when full back Smith sliced through for his second try, which he was again unable to convert.

Back came The Seasiders, however, as  Luke Dedman and Mike Davies were involved before Osborn crashed over the whitewash sand although Barnett missed the conversion he soon added a penalty to give his side a five-point interval lead.

The visitors suffered a blow when talented young prop Lewis Davies sustained a nasty knee injury but despite this set-back Tenby refused to get flustered and stuck to their game plan in snuffing out Penclawdd counter attacks early.

Craig Barnett slotted two good penalties from sustained periods of pressure and in the final analysis The Seasiders were good value for their sixth win in 12 starts and a comfortable sixth place in the table.
 

PHOTO:
Andrew Cooke - vital try for Tenby flanker

 

Preseli Men pouch a bonus point in defeat

Gorseinon 22 - Crymych 15

Crymych were unable to build on a one-point interval lead as they went down to defeat against fifth-placed Gorseinon but there was a modicum of consolation for The Preseli Men as they received a bonus point for being within seven points of the opposition at the final whistle.

The visitors led 8-7 as the break thanks to an unconverted try by No 8 Llyr Davies and a penalty by Ifan Phillips to a home try from Jamie Evans which Jack Gronow converted.

Crymych increased their lead after the oranges as No 10 Jake Jenkins cut through and although Phillips missed the conversion he added a penalty.

But Gorseinon claimed further tries from Alun Evans and Andrew Steel whilst Gronow also converted one to go with a penalty – and Crymych still sit at the bottom of the table needing to return to winning league ways  after this week’s home match in the National Plate against Penallta, who are currently sitting in third place in Division One (East).
 

PHOTO:
Jake Jenkins - a try in defeat for Crymych

 

Division Two (West):

 

Borderers win as promotion rivals go down to defeat

Whitland 23 - Carmarthen Athletic 17

It was a good day for Whitland on Saturday as they completed a deserved double in this local derby against Carmarthen Athletic whilst Hendy and Pontarddulais, their two main rivals in the race for promotion, both lost.

The Borderers won by 6-3 in the previous game between these two sides but since then The Athletic have climbed to fifth place in the table and the Whitland management knew this was a vital match.

Whitland led 8-5 at the end of a thunderous first half thanks to an excellent try by centre Johnny Thomas and a penalty to Nico Setaro, whilst The Athletic replied with a forward-orientated try where it was difficult to spot the player who made the final touchdown in a strong drive.

Josh Thomas has been playing well in the centre for The Borderers and he opened the second half scoring with a terrific try which Setaro duly converted – but the visitors cut the lead when winger Josh Watson rounded off some quick handling with an unconverted try.

Setaro slotted a penalty for Whitland but the nerves started to jangle amongst their hardy band of supporters when scrum half Nick Rees darted over for an Athletic try which Gethin Francis converted.

But The Borderers had the final say when Macaiah Jones ploughed over for a try which belied the fact that he is still able to play youth rugby and although Setaro missed the conversion it mattered little because Whitland earned their ninth win in ten matches to make it a good start in 2018 for The Borderers!

PHOTO:
Whitland centre Josh Thomas crashes over for a try
Picture by Susan McKehon

 

Shousha seals Seagulls’ success

Fishguard & Goodwick  24 - Llanybydder 13

Fishguard and Goodwick completed a deserved double over bottom club Llanybydder, who played far better than their lowly status would indicate on a pitch made heavy by persistent rain.

The Seagulls had already won 16-12 in Llanybydder and they looked comfortable at half time with a 17-8 lead that was started by a good support try from livewire flanker Chris Shousha, followed from a typically powerful close-range surge by No 8 Simon James.

Then Fishguard added the try of the match when flanker Jordan James completed a hat-trick of back row tries, but this time from fully 40 metres as he twisted out of the initial tackle, sold two dummies to fool the cover defence and cross in the corner before Alun George supplied the icing on the cake with a cracking conversion.

But the counter to these try-scoring efforts was the fact that Fishguard gave away a penalty which was slotted between the sticks by Steff Richards, who missed the conversion after Rhys Morris had grabbed a soft try for Llanybydder.

Despite playing into the wind after half time, Llanybydder managed another try when flanker Aled James crossed for a five-pointer to set the alarm bells ringing – but Shousha was again on hand to score a bonus-point try from a concerted forward drive and George added the extra points to kill off any lingering Llanybydder hopes of a much-needed win as Fishguard stay in eighth place but having close the gap on the teams just above them in the section table.

PHOTO:
Chris Shousha - two tries for Fishguard back rower

PHOTO:
Cardigan and St Davids compete for lineout possession

 

Division 3 (West) A:

 

Cardis win with 13 men on field

St Davids 8 - Cardigan 26

Cardigan overcame a real war of attrition with St Davids as they notched a bonus point win – but it came at a price as The Teifisiders were given two late red cards.

With a strong wind behind them, it was a much-improved Saints side who took an early lead when a long kick downfield from outside half Scott James led to a mistake from the visitors, who were then pressurised into conceding a penalty that home centre Matty Mcleod goaled.

Saints miss chances

Mcleod was then wide with a second attempt from 40 metres, but then through some strong carries from No 8 Llyr Griffiths and fellow back rower Osian Rees, The Teifisiders got a foothold and took the lead when a set move in midfield saw winger Casey Walters surge under the posts after a clever pass from No 10 Llyr Jones. Skipper Emyr Harries converted.

And it was centre Harries himself who added a second try with a strong burst from 20 metres out before again adding the simple extras.

St Davids were then left to rue not scoring from a prolonged period of pressure before the break that saw Cardigan flanker Gareth Clifford yellow carded, and after home No 8 Anthony Davies was held up over the line from a set scrum, No 10 James had a try disallowed for crossing in midfield.

Cardis reduced to 13 players

The second half was tight as both packs battled hard up front, but with 15 minutes left, the visitors were reduced to 14 men when hooker Luke Palmer-Davies was red-carded for foul play.

But it was still Colin Davies’ side who grabbed the two tries that sealed a bonus point, first with a penalty try when the Saints infringed from a close range scrum – before Clifford found himself in space out wide and barged over in the corner.

But St Davids, for whom hooker Noel Lyons stood out and veteran Jack Dudley was forced into an appearance off the bench in the final 10 minutes, finished on the front foot and after Cardigan second row Sion Phillips also saw red for an off the ball incident, some good handling allowed young winger Luke Brooks to dive over out wide.

St Davids: Rhys Evans, Fraser Watson, Matty McLeod, Gavin Smith, Luke Brooks, Scott James, Rhys Owen Price, Will Davies, Noel Lyons, Dan Murphy, Rhys ‘Loshin’ Price (capt), Gethin Bateman, Andrew Groves, Dafydd Williams, Anthony Davies. Replacements: Zak Morgan, Mathew Bennett, Ben Evans, Jack Dudley.

Cardigan: John Lumb, Ross Hassler, William Delve, Emyr Harries (capt), Casey Walters, Llyr Jones, Tomos Jones, Will Brice, Luke Palmer Davies, Ben Hughes, Sion Phillips, Dean Harries, Gareth Clifford, Osian Rees, Llyr Griffiths. Replacements: Richard Jones, Ifan James, Geraint Fermor, Steffan Crompton, Dafydd Owens.

PHOTO:
St Davids in control at the scrum

 

Laugharne gain revenge at home

Laugharne 17 - Aberaeron 10 

Laugharne had lost 41-10 in Aberaeron and a double defeat seemed on the cards as they trailed 10-0 at half time – but better defence that stopped the opposition adding any further points; and three tries of their own, saw ‘The Boathouse Boys’ gain revenge in a hard-fought contest where both sides looked ring-rusty after the festive season.

Aberaeron outside half Rhodri Jenkins was the undoubted catalyst for Aberaeron’s 10-point interval lead as he controlled matters with his kicking out of hand and he also sliced through for a try which he also converted after previously contributing three points from a successful penalty.

But The Laugharne pack gradually gained the ascendancy and after the home team had missed a few half chances in the first period finally tied things up with unconverted tries by outside half Owain Thomas and full back Tom Davies.

It was anyone’s game at this stage but Laugharne struck a decisive blow when powerful prop Rhys Thomas finally broke the deadlock with a close-range try after earlier good work by scrum half Gethin Jones and second row Andrew Phillips – with Steff Davies’s conversion setting the seal on a deserved Laugharne revenge win.
 

Section match of the day called off
Pembroke P-P Milford Haven

 
Quins miss long trip to Tregaron
Tregaron P-P Pembroke Dock Harlequins
*Match postponed