Rugby Reports 8th December 2018
PHOTOS:
Josh Hicks carries strongly for the Wasps
Good defence from the Wasps
Feature Match:
Division Three (West) A:
100% Mariners withdraw Wasps’ sting
Llangwm 6 - Milford Haven 32
Five second half tries sealed a bonus point win for Milford Haven - but only after The Mariners had trailed at the break following a huge defensive effort from Llangwm.
The Wasps actually took a 6-0 lead through two long range penalties from Luke Hayman, and with a strong wind behind him, the outside half shaved the post with a third shot at goal from fully 50 metres.
Milford promptly battered away at the Llangwm line but the home front row of Dan Hughes, Gethin Thomas and Gavin Jones tackled their hearts out, while there was also stand out performances from second row Craig Grice, James Lewis and No 8 Josh Hicks.
And when the visitors kicked to the corner following a close range penalty, Dave Reynolds won the lineout against the head for The Wasps.
Just before the break though Milford finally crossed as flanker Ryan Mansell ploughed over, and then in the second half Nathan Williams’ team really broke the shackles.
Back rower Dewi Williams got the second try and then replacement centre Dan Birch crossed for a score that No 9 Dan McClelland converted.
Winger James Trueman sealed the bonus point and then promptly added a fifth try out wide – and there was a welcome return for Hakin footballer Leigh Broome, who came off the bench and capped his comeback with the final unconverted try as The Mariners retained their 100% record from seven league games so far.
Llangwm: JoJo Francis: Joe Lewin; Louis Murphy; Rob Neill; Iwan Griffiths: Luke Hayman; Ian Griffiths: Dan Hughes; Gethin Thomas (Capt); Gavin Jones: Craig Grice; Dave Reynolds: James Lewis; Rhys Thomas; Josh Hicks.
Replacements: John O’Boyle; Steve Picton; Dan Morgan; Declan Cole; Spencer O’Rourke.
Milford Haven: Lee Riley: Craig Thomas; Garin Gardiner; Steve Martin; James Trueman: Efan Morgan; Dan McClelland: Darren Lewis; Mike Cockburn; Adam Rees: Chris Hall; David Round: Ben Groves; Ryan Mansell; Dewi Williams.
Replacements: Dan Birch; Brandon Cooper; Leigh Broome; Ben Jenkins; Andrew Williams.
PHOTO:
Milford Haven look to break
Championship:
Otters complete a deserved double
Newbridge 7 - Narberth 13
Narberth completed a deserved double over Newbridge in a match played in awful conditions where The Otters did well in defence and outlasted the homesters as Nick Gale’s kicking did the rest.
The real basis for Narberth’s success was the work rate of their pack and strong defensive qualities as Jonathan Rogers kicked well for position and the back row of Andrew Cook, Ritchie Rees and especially Tom Powell worked tirelessly. Skipper Alex Jenkins was joined on debut by Ryan Bean in the second row and the front row of Dan Jacobs, Rhodri Owens and Tom Kaijaks (who was replaced in the first half by Bradley Davies) ensured a rock-solid scrum.
The Otters had won the home tussle by a comfortable 38-10 but Sean Gale and Co knew they faced a sterner challenge at The Welfare Ground and that is just the way it turned out as the competition for possession was fierce but neither side was able to secure a single point before the break – although Gale was just wide with two penalty attempts.
The Otters took the lead with an early Gale penalty that was followed by a try from prop Dai Jacobs from a strong surge which Gale converted.
Newbridge bounced back with a try by centre Matthew McGovern in his first game back from Cross Keys which centre Eamonn Rees converted to put the pressure on but Gale landed his second successful kick to secure the verdict – and keep The Otters in fourth place, with games in hand over two of the teams above them.
Narberth: Ianto Griffiths: Nick Gale; Kieron Jones (Jake Jenkins); Jack Price; Johnny Morgan: Jonathan Rogers; Rhys Lane (Lewys Gibby): Dan Jacobs; Rhodri Owens (Kyle Hamer); Tom Kaijaks (Bradley Davies): Ryan Bean; Alex Jenkins (Capt): Andrew Cook (Steffan Phillips); Ritchie Rees; Tom Powell.
PHOTO:
Dan Jacobs - vital try for Narberth
Division One (West):
Borderers battle in vain
Dunvant 17 - Whitland 3
Whitland battled hard at Broadacre but were unable to break down a solid home defence so that their only points came from a Nico Setaro penalty – and they conceded three tries to lose their fifth match in ten starts as the opposition are one spot above them in fifth place with five wins out of eight matches.
An interception try on the brink of half time swung this game in Dunvant’s favour as Whitland came away with nothing despite a gritty performance.
There was little between the sides in the early stages as home winger Adam Williams-Parry and Whitland full back Nico Setaro exchanged penalties, and The Borderers defended well thereafter with No 8 Scott Buirds and young scrum half Josh Thomas two youngsters to underline their growing potential.
But two minutes before the break Dunvant winger Jack Tucker intercepted a pass out wide and raced clear to score, with Williams-Parry converting.
The second half was equally hard fought and it wasn’t until the closing moment the home side sealed the win when second row Jack Phillips ploughed over, and Williams-Parry again converted.
PHOTO:
Nico Setaro - kicked Whitland's only points
Seasiders suffer from a slow start
Gorseinon 34 - Tenby United 12
The howling wind ensured a game of two halves at Gorseinon but unfortunately Tenby left themselves way too much to do after playing against the elements in the first half.
The Swansea side lead 29-0 at half time, with tries from Cameron Collis, Sean Heycock, Geraint Morgan, and Jack Groningen.
Groningen also added three conversions and a penalty.
Jack Phelps also crossed for the home side after the break but with the wind behind them the Seasiders showed a huge collective improvement and winger Jordan Asparassa sped over for a try and replacement forward Huw Evans also touched down, with No 10 Aaron James adding a conversion.
But despite more encouraging signs, Tenby still await a first league win.
PHOTO:
Jordan Asparassa - good try for Tenby
Preseli Men so close to victory
Llangennech 27 - Crymych 24
Full back Brandon Cooper was the toast of his Llangennech team mates and supporters as his 17-point haul helped them start well and then resist a late surge from a Crymych side which showed their typical fighting spirit.
The home side were 17-5 to the good at the break and were holding on in the closing stages as The Preseli Men reduced the gap to three points – and looked to have claimed what would have been the winning score as lock Iwan Mullins ploughed over for a second try, but the referee decided he had been held up and Randall Williams’ boys had to settle for two bonus points, one for scoring four tries in defeat and the other for being within seven points of the opposition at the final whistle.
Cooper was clear man of the match as he sped through for two tries, landed two conversions and a penalty whilst No 8 Richard Thomas and winger Rhys Davies also added their names to the try sheet.
For Crymych there were good tries for full back Nick Bevan, second row Mullins, No 8 Guto Davies and replacement second row Llyr Rees alongside two conversions from outside half Ifan Phillips.
It nicely set up those dramatic final moments where The Preseli Men looked in better nick – only to be denied what would have been a cracking win against third-placed opposition!
PHOTO:
Nick Bevan - another try for Crymych
Division Two (West):
Seagulls refuse to submit and snatch victory
Fishguard and Goodwick 10 - Pontyberem 5
Fishguard and Goodwick called upon all their reserves of commitment and durability against third-placed Pontyberem, who had started the day in third spot and slipped down a place as a result of this surprise defeat against The Seagulls, who set out tenth and ended up a position higher.
Fishguard had first use of the wind and rain driving down The Moors and took an early led with a well-struck penalty from Geraint Jones, playing at No 10 on permit from Whitland and nicely rounding off some attacking play that featured the back row of Lewis Davies, Luke Freebury and skipper Chris Shousha.
But they conceded a try as Pontyberem clawed their way back in with an unconverted try from No 8 Dafydd Jones before The Seagulls recaptured the lead when Lewis Davies broke from half way and did well to beat the cover defence to claim a score which Geraint Jones converted.
So Fishguard led 10-5 at the interval but Pontyberem must have been the more confident though because they had second use of the strong elements.
But they reckoned without the true grit of the home side as Gavin Walsh, Ryan McVeigh, Ben John and Gwilym Evans got through an immense amount of work in support of their back row, where hooker Jordan James was also heavily involved when he switched and was replaced in the front row by Liam Wilkes.
Ed Bendall, Rees Evans, Tomos George, Robbie Jones and Andrew Williams all tackled superbly and Richards kept former Seagull player Mike Jenkins quiet in midfield so, try as they might, Pontyberem had to settle for a single bonus point as Fishguard and Goodwick deservedly claimed their fourth win of the campaign.
PHOTO:
The Seagulls power forward
Cracking away win for The Scarlets
Loughor 22 - Pembroke 24
Pembroke bounced back from the disappointment of defeat the previous week as they travelled to Loughor and claimed a narrow, but fully deserved victory as Toby Smith was their undoubted man of the match.
Smith started as centre but later switched to flay half at a key time and joined partner Tom Lewis in keeping the lid on Loughor attacks until The Scarlets conceded a late penalty try – but by then they had secured success.
The Scarlets suffered a few injuries but also had key performances from Sam Smith and Jack Smythe in the back row, whilst Jim Brace and Matthew Washbourne also played well.
But The Scarlets conceded an early 12 points as winger Paul hart crossed for two tries and Tom Davies notched a conversion before Toby Smith landed a penalty and Rhys Dalling sped over for a try to mark a welcome return from injury with a classy score.
Tom Davies landed a penalty for Loughor but Toby Smith intervened in setting up a try for another injury returnee in Luke Hartland, adding the conversion to haul his side level – and then kicked superbly out of hand as well as kicking two penalties and a superbly judged dropped goal to make the game safe.
Loughor did manage that late seven points for a high tackle but it mattered little because The Scarlets were back on the winning trail and still in second spot as their reward.
PHOTO:
Toby Smith - key player for Pembroke
Division Three (West) A:
Cardis destroy overwhelmed Saints
Cardigan 102 - St Davids 3
Spare a thought for St Davids this morning after they suffered a three-figure defeat at the hands of a Cardigan side which ran in no fewer than 16 tries in a one-sided tussle at the King George Vth Playing Fields.
The Saints deserve every credit for their determination to play every match and again they struggled to field a side but gave it their best shot – and were 38-3 in arrears at the interval before Cardigan skipper John Lumb inspired his squad to add a further 64 points after the break.
Mattie McLeod scored The Saints only points with a penalty but Lumb cut through for a double hat-trick of tries and others came from centre Sion Hughes (3), scrum half Tom Dunn (2), prop Andrew Fletcher, winger Kieran Hurley and centre Emyr Harries, who grabbed three tries and landed eight conversions for a personal haul of 31 points.
Outside half Iwan John was also on target with three more conversions to help take The Teifisiders past the century mark on a sad day for The Saints.
Tregaron break duck as Quins still go winless
Tregaron 59 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 5
Tregaron moved off the foot of the table with their first win of the season at the expense of rivals Pembroke Dock Harlequins, who are also awaiting a first success but at least deserve credit for making the long trek up Cardigan Bay, albeit with a makeshift squad.
Tregaron led 32-0 at the break and although The Quins opened the second-half scoring with a try from outside half Rhys Bradney they conceded another 27 points as the home side maintained their ascendancy.
Prop Dorian Pugh and No 8 Steve Roberts gave them an early led, one converted by scrum half Nathan Lloyd before other tries came from centre Rhydian Jones and second row Rhodri Evans before Geraint Jones added two tries in quick succession.
In the second half, Pugh ploughed over for his second score and others came from wingers Sion Jones and Llyr Garner – and a try from Dewi Jones, converted by Lloyd, gave Tregaron that long-awaited victory.
National Bowl – Round 4:
Unlucky Blues denied in final seconds
Tylorstown 12 - Haverfordwest 11
Haverfordwest came within a whisker of making progress to the next round of the National Bowl but conceded a last-gasp try and conversion which nudged Tylorstown into the draw after an epic battle at Penrhys Park.
The Blues had taken an early lead thanks to a penalty by Mikey Jones before the side who are chasing promotion from Division Three (East Central) A responded with an unconverted try by Luke Jones.
But a try from No 8 Ashley George put The Blues back in front and a second three-pointer from Mikey Jones seemed just about enough to give them a win – but Tylorstown set up camp near The Blues’ line and a push-over try from Steve Jenkins, which was converted by Richard Edwards, saw The Blues make the journey home with little to show for a lot of effort.
Haverfordwest: Rhys Baker: Ben Alba; Craig Barnett; Dan Richards; Tony Steiner: Mikey Jones; Lee Summons: Terry Lovell; Matthew Clayton; Jamie Zambas: Jack Clancy; Karl Busch: Mattie Phillips; Steve Thomas; Ashley George.
Replacements: Ben Llewellyn; Gareth John; Gareth Owens; Rhodri Harries; Jamie Barnett.
PHOTO:
Mikey Jones - six points in vain for Haverfordwest
All Blacks unable to field a team
Usk v Neyland (Match postponed)
**Neyland unable to field a team because of injuries