Rugby Reports 7th October 2017

Championship Division:

Otters held to disappointing draw

Bedlinog 17 - Narberth 17

There was an exciting finish to the match between Bedlinog and Narberth as the teams shared 34 points and The Otters were pressing hard in the opposing 22 but a mixture of resolute defence and the taking of wrong options saw the scoreline remain at 17-all and Sean gale’s team had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The Otters seemed en route for victory as they took an early 14-point lead through good tries from Rhys lane and Liam Hutchings, both converted by Jonathan Rogers, but Bedlinog fought back before half time with a try by second row Tyler Owen which outside half Josh Fly converted.

A Rogers’ penalty after 54 minutes opened the second half scoring but a minute later they conceded a try claimed by full back Nathan Huish which fly converted – and they drew level with a Huish penalty that tied things up.

The Otters also had a late penalty chance but it was pushed wide by replacement Ianto Griffiths and they had to settle for a draw against a team below them in the table.

Narberth: James Stephenson, Nick Gale, Kieran Jones, Paul Davies, Liam Hutchings, Jonathan Rogers, Rhys Lane, Rhys Davies, Dan Smith, Tom Slater, Jake Simm, Alex Jenkins (captain), Dewi Williams, Tom Powell, Rich Rees. Replacements: Bradley Davies, Rhodri Owens, Steffan Phillips, Ianto Griffiths, Joseph Hutchings.

PHOTO:
Liam Hutchings - scored a good try for Narberth

National Plate – Round One:

Seagulls push ‘Cocklemen’ all the way

Fishguard & Goodwick - Penclawdd 26

Fishguard and Goodwick produced their best performance of the season against a strong Penclawdd team but were shaded out by The Cocklemen in a tense finale where they sought the vital winning score but were denied by some doughty defence.

The Seagulls made a good start with a try by winger Mathew George and his twin brother mark, playing at No 8, also scored a try after The Cocklemen had responded with a try and conversion by Dan Guerreiro.
Fishguard also had a penalty try and another score by Gavin Walsh but the visitors had tries by Tom Hill, Jonathan Hicks and James Smith and were mightily relieved to return home with a narrow win.

Fishguard: Ed Bendall, Mathew George, Gareth Adamson, Chris Shousha, Thomas George, Alun George, Andrew Williams, Ryan McVeigh, Gavin Walsh (captain), Andrew Morrillo, Richard Hunter, Gwilym Evans, Luke Freebury, Mark George. Replacements: Jason Davies, Neil Perkins, Jac Evans, Liam Wilkes, Mathew Harries, Kevin Ormond.

PHOTO:
Mark George - try for Fishguard in their narrow defeat

Seasiders slip up in second half

Llanelli Wanderers 19 - Tenby United 15

Tenby United were good value for a 15-5 interval lead against Llanelli Wanderers in a match played on the pitch at Coleg Sir Gar, but lost their way after half time and bowed out of the National Plate competition as a result.

The Wanderers are still seeking a league win and had lost 41-22 to The Seasiders in the first match of the season and it looked as if another defeat was on the cards as No 8 Barry Parsons and second row Mike Davies scored Tenby’s first-half tries, one converted by outside half Daniel Wainwright alongside a penalty.

Llanelli Wanderers’ only response was an unconverted try by winger Jonathan Jenkins but they managed 14 unanswered points in the second period from No 8 Dan Griffiths and hooker Tom Samuels, both converted by outside half Jonathan George to snatch a win that seemed unlikely at half time.

PHOTO:
Barry Parsons - try in Tenby's defeat at Llanelli Wanderers

Crymych cruise to easy win

Llanybydder 16 - Crymych 58

Crymych cruised to an easy win over Llanybydder as they ran in nine tries to the homesters’ one and ruled the roost throughout as their forwards dominated to give their backs possession aplenty.

Leading the way in the try count was winger Lawrence Headlam (3) and Tomos Phillips (2) alongside others from Jake Jenkins, Nick Bevan, Rhys Davies and Ifan Phillips, who also landed a penalty and five conversions.

For the home side replacement prop Martin Culley scored their only try to go with the conversion and three penalties by Steffan Richards, whilst their man of the match was open-side flanker Dion Howells.

PHOTO:
Tomos Phillips - two tries in big Crymych win

Borderers through by default

Whitland C-C Pontyberem
**Whitland moved into the next stage as Pontyberem concede the fixture

PHOTO:
Mark James and Chris Busby defend well for Neyland

National Bowl - Round Two:

Blacks battle hard after early set-backs

Neyland 3 - Cefneithin 25

Neyland bowed out of the National Bowl competition after making a sluggish start against Cefneithin where they conceded ten points in the opening stages and were never able to claw their way back, despite some really committed work by the entire team.

In the final analysis all they had to show for a lot of All Black effort was a penalty from outside half Mark Riley (who looked to have added a further three points but the visiting touch judge controversially ruled it had gone wide!)

Nathan Harbright, Dion Thomas, James Goronwy and Jonathan Morgan claimed the Cefneithin tries, whilst Richard Watts contributed a conversion and penalty – but Neyland deserve every credit for never throwing in the towel in adversity.

PHOTO:
Ryan Wilkins and Shaun Dalling put in some graft for Pembroke

Sam stars in Scarlets’ success

Pembroke 40 - Aberaeron 22

Back row powerhouse Sam Smith maintained his excellent start to the season with another four tries that helped The Scarlets dispose of the strong challenge from Aberaeron in a bowl clash that proved to be an entertaining one at Crickmarren.

The home side was 26-15 ahead at the break and it proved to be a memorable day for prop Lloyd Davies as he received the man of the match award as he also celebrated his 21st birthday!

It was Smith who put Pembroke ahead with a try converted by Sean Dalling before Aber fought back with a try from Alex Danton but nippy scrum half Tom Lewis added a second Scarlets’ score – only for Aber to be gifted a seven-pointer from Rhodri Jenkins as a result of some weak tackling, alongside a penalty by Jenkins that put his side 15-14 in front.

Pembroke were soon back in control however as Smith scored his second try and Cyle Wetherall also crossed the whitewash before Dalling added the extras to give his side an 11-point lead at the oranges.

The second half was equally entertaining as Aberaeron added another try by Huw Wozencroft but Pembroke stayed in front thanks to two more tries by the ubiquitous Smith, both converted by Dalling, as The Scarlets were good value for a place in the nest round.

Quins battle in vain at Bierspool

Pembroke Dock Harlequins - Nantgaredig 28

Pembroke Dock Harlequins put in a gritty performance over visiting Nantgaredig but it was the visitors who established a 15-7 interval lead and were in control thereafter, despite the yeoman efforts of Thomas Doyle and his team.

The Quins made something of a shaky start as Nantgaredig opened their account with a second-minute penalty from outside half Daf Lewis, who then converted an early try by half back partner George Gleeson.

This stung the Quins into raising their tempo but faced resolute defence until Nantgaredig broke out and some poor tackling allowed winger Gethin Davies to sidestep is way to the posts for Lewis to add the extras.

But the Quins bounced back with a try and conversion by outside half Lewis Davies and had half chances after the interval which came to nothing as the final pass went astray or the wrong option was taken through over-eagerness.

And they were made to pay in full as the influential Lewis slotted a penalty and added two good scores on the the try sheet.

The Quins had the final word, however, when replacement prop Martin Culley ploughed over the line – and coach Ossie Boswell will have been pleased by his team sticking to the task after a slow start!

PHOTO:
Winger Gareth Davies on his way to a try for Nantgaredig at Bierspool

Preseli Men seconds ease home against Cardigan Firsts

Cardigan 5 - Crymych 2nds 10

Crymych Seconds played their first-ever match in the National Plate Championships against the first team from neighbours Cardigan at the George Vth Memorial Ground and came away with a hard-fought victory built on the excellent foundations established by their dynamic back row of Osian Rees, Trystan Griffiths and Dylan Phillips.

It was Griffiths who claimed Crymych’s try in a tight first half, converted by outside half Llyr Edwards – and The Teifisiders’ only response was an unconverted try by flanker Gethin Jones.

The second-half was high on commitment but low on points and the only score was a penalty from Edwards which helped take the Crymych reserve side into the third round at the expense of their old enemy!

Laugharne through by default