PHOTO:
Dom Colman opens the scoring for Pembroke

 

Featured Match:

 

Division Two (West):

 

Scarlets snatch the verdict as Seagulls downed by a single point – again!

Fishguard 16 - Pembroke 17

The match at The Moors was a real roller-coaster of a tussle as visitors Pembroke looked good value for a 14-3 interval lead but looked to have sustained a late defeat as Fishguard and Goodwick fought back to lead by two points before a late surge by outstanding Scarlets' skipper Scott Powell sent his side within the shadows of their opponents posts for Toby Smith to slot a simple three points.
 

Desperately tense finale

The contact area had been huge and there was a long period of time added on by the referee in both halves and even then there was still time for more drama because in a long period of extra minutes The Seagulls had two more chances to snatch victory from the cruel jaws of a successive defeat by a single point.

First, young fly half Mark Jones, who had played well, shanked a penalty from half way and then was just off target with an easier 35-metre effort from the final kick of the game - and The Scarlets knew they had got out of jail to preserve their good start to this campaign.
 

Solid start by Scarlets

Pembroke had first use of the strong breeze blowing straight down The Moors and made an encouraging start as they camped in the home 22 but they were over-eager and perhaps over-complicated until they finally got matters right after Toby Smith put them in an attacking position and brother Sam's charge and clever over-head off-load allowed prop Dom Colman to smash his way through before Toby Smith converted.

The Seagulls had good drives by Jac Evans, Ryan McVeigh, Luke Freebury and Adam Bowen, and especially skipper Chris Shousha before Mark Jones slotted a simple penalty but Pembroke went into a 14-3 interval lead as centre Dan Colley benefitted from Scott Powell's quick thinking as he charged-down a clearance attempt and Toby Smith converted.
 

Fishguard battle back

With the elements in their favour Fishguard enjoyed a greater share of possession but like the first half there was some great defending before the pressure told as the home side spread play right from a strong platform and the ubiquitous Shousha crashed through for an unconverted try.

Mark Jones landed a well-struck penalty to reduce the deficit to only three points and late in the game The Seagulls must have thought they had done enough from a Ben John lineout catch and a beautifully controlled drive that ended with Ryan McVeigh being shunted over for a good try.
 

Seagulls snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

But the missed conversion meant that Pembroke only trailed by two points and they showed real spirit to fight their way back up field - and a quick tap penalty by Powell was continued by Alderman-John. When play was spread back into the centre of the field Fishguard offended at the ruck and Toby Smith had the simplest of chances to nudge his side back into the lead.

It was frenetic stuff that must have left some sore bodies afterwards but in the final analysis The Scarlets just held on - and leave The Seagulls reflecting on what might have been from an error-ridden but epic confrontation!
Fishguard & Goodwick: Robbie Jones: Ed Bendall; Rhys Evans; Sion Rowlands; Luke Marshall: Mark Jones; Andrew Williams: Ryan McVeigh; Liam Wilkes; Adam Bowen: Jac Evans; Gwilym Evans: Luke Freebury; Lewis Davies;Chris Shousha (Capt). Replacements: Mark George; Gavin Walsh; Simon James; Ben John; Thomas George.
Pembroke: Tom Harding-Jones: Luke Hartland; Rhys Johns; Dan Colley; Barry Alderman-John: Toby Smith; Tom Lewis: Lloyd Davies; Seamus Wiseman; Dom Colman: Cyle Weatherall; Scott Powell (Capt): Rhodri Walters; Alex Thomas; Sam Smith. Replacements: Johnny Palmer; Jordan Gwilliam; Gareth Miller; Rhys Cadogan; Iori Roberts.

PHOTO:
Ryan McVeigh ploughs over for what Fishguard thought was the winning score

 

Championship Division:

 

Otters rule supreme after tight first half

Narberth 38 - Newbridge 10

Narberth made it two wins in as many championship starts as they showed their high fitness and skill levels to overcome Newbridge after conceding an early score and only drawing 7-all at half way.

But it was all one-way traffic thereafter as The Otters added a further 31 points whilst conceding only three to a penalty by talented outside half Sam Withers, who had also added the extra points to a second-minute try by centre Lewis Hudd.

The Otters levelled that early score with a try of their own which was scored by elusive winger Johnny Morgan, converted by outside half Ianto Griffiths - and there was little inkling of the Narberth tempo-change as he and Withers exchanged penalties after the break.

But then the hard graft done in training with Sean Gale and the rest of the coaching staff really paid dividends as Narberth were awarded a penalty try after five consecutive scrums had been illegally halted by the visitors - and then elusive centre Jack Price and winger Kieron Jones added further tries, both goaled by Griffiths

As The Otters took total control they finished in style when Johnny Morgan was put away for his second try and Griffiths' conversion sealed a terrific win that showed that The Otters are again a force to be reckoned with in this tough section.

 

PHOTO:
Johnny Morgan - two tries for Narberth

 

Division One (West):

 

Setaro boys set up Whitland’s narrow win

Tenby United 11 - Whitland 13

The Setaro cousins Nico and Gino proved the match winners as Whitland edged a tight derby battle in Tenby, meaning The Borderers start life back in Division One with back to back victories.

It was vice-captain Nico who landed an early penalty, but that was cancelled out by a snap drop goal from opposite number Lloyd Thomas and then The Seasiders grabbed a half time lead as outside centre Jack Parkinson cut over for an unconverted try.

But Setaro cut the deficit to 8-6 with another penalty after the break, and then added the extras when centre Gino, who again formed a good partnership with Josh Thomas in midfield, grabbed what proved the match winning try.

Lloyd Thomas did keep Tenby in it with another late penalty but his side had to settle for a losing bonus point again as Whitland’s defence held firm.
 

PHOTO:
Nico Setaro - vital points for Whitland

 

Aber come out on top in tough tussle

Aberystwyth 19-15 Crymych

Matches between old rivals Aberystwyth and Crymych are usually hard, uncompromising and close - and this latest tussle was no different as the Mid Wales' side held out against The Preseli Men's considerable challenge to secure a narrow win where the visitors received a bonus point for being within seven points of the opposition.

The teams shared 24 points in the first period as full back Matthew Hughes and winger Ian Ellis crossed the whitewash for the homesters, one converted by Steffan Rees, whilst Crymych had tries by winger Lawrence Headlam and Osian Davies, one goaled by Ifan Phillips.

The second half was no less hard-fought as Ifan Phillips notched his second penalty but Aber took the win thanks to a try from scrum half Dylan Morgan, which No 10 Rees converted.



 

PHOTO:
Dewi Williams on the drive for Mariners

 
 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Jamie jolts battling Blues

Milford Haven 17 - Haverfordwest 8

There was no shortage of action at The Obs as Milford Haven overcame old rivals Haverfordwest despite having a red card, and five yellows!

Two of them came early on as after Craig Barnett put The Blues in front with a penalty before Dan Birch and Ryan Mansell were both sent to the sin bin by referee Matthew Evans.

But still Milford fought back as club captain Jamie Lewis scored a super long range try, converted by Dan McClelland – only for the pendulum to swing again as full back Rhys Baker grabbed an unconverted try for The Blues.

Centres Lewis and Birch were a threat throughout for The Mariners though, and they had a try each before half time to give Nathan Williams’ team a 17-8 interval lead.

Barnett kicked another Haverfordwest penalty early in the second half after Luke Ryan had become the third Milford player sin binned, only for the home team to secure the try bonus point when flanker David Round peeled off from a lineout drive to score.

However, the drama wasn’t done there as Birch saw red for a high tackle and Ben Groves and Round were also yellow carded, leaving Milford with 12 men.

Winger Ben Skudder crossed in the corner for Haverfordwest and Barnett converted to set up a frantic finish, but The Mariners clung on to the delight of new coach Nathan ‘Gully’ Williams.

Milford Haven: Steve Martin, Craig Thomas, Jamie Lewis, Dan Birch, Dan Jenkins, Efan Morgan, Dan McClelland, Mike Cockburn, Luke Ryan, Adam Rees, Mike Cockburn, David Round, Dewi Williams, Ben Groves, Ryan Mansell, Mark Wonnacott. Replacements: Tristan McSparron, Chris Hall, Brandon Cooper, Lee Riley, James Trueman.

Haverfordwest: Rhys Baker, Josh Atherton, Liam Mainwaring, Gareth Owens, Ben Skudder, Craig Barnett, Lee Summons, Jonathan Clout, Matt Clayton, Tom Carrington, Adam Clark, Kyle Williams, Jack Clancy, Matty Phillips, Matthew Clark. Replacements: Cole Barry, Gethin Thomas, Karl Busch, Ben Llewellin, Gareth John.

PHOTOS:
Blues on a burst
Pictures by Joseph Kiff Photography

 

All Blacks superb in the second half

Neyland 60 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 6

A superb second-half performance by Neyland's talented young guns saw Pembroke Dock Harlequins shot down in flames at The Athletic Ground as they conceded 41 points after a much closer first-half contest where they were only 19-6 adrift at the interval.

And leading the way for The All Blacks was teenage full back Tom Hughes, who opened their scoring and then added another three more after the oranges as he showed his natural ability to counter attack or judge his running lines to perfection.

The Quins responded with a Rhys Bradney penalty and after Patrick Bellerby sliced through for the home side's second try, this time unconverted, Bradney added a second three-pointer - and then second row Ben James powered over for Neyland’s third try, this time converted by McGaffin.

Whatever home coaches Graham Richards and Steve Evans said at the half time stage it certainly galvanised their team into an even greater effort as Ben James added his second try, there were three more for Hughes, plus others by youth winger Henry Macbeth (2) and skipper George Williams.

McGiffen added his third conversion and another teenager in scrum half George Evans landed two more on target to take Neyland to a massive 60 points and leave Neil Machin's squad from Bierspool to reflect on this performance.

 

Delighted Wasps win – at last!

Llangwm  15 - St Davids 7

After going a whole season without a win in 2017/18, Llangwm are off the mark for this campaign with victory in their traditionally tight battle with St Davids.

There was no score in a hard fought first quarter before Josh Hicks, again pivotal to The Wasps at No 8, crashed over from 10 yards and Luke Hayman converted.

Hayman also added a penalty for a 10-0 half time lead but St Davids, for whom hooker Rhys Price impressed, got back in the game shortly after the break when veteran player coach Anthony ‘Ianto’ Davies scored from a five metre scrum. Rhys Morgan converted.

But the home sealed a long awaited a win after another Hicks break, and this time he turned provider by off-loading to Hayman to score.
 

PHOTO:
Luke Hayman - ten points in Llangwm victory

 

Preseli Men pipped by just two points

Cardigan 22 - Aberaeron 24

A late comeback by Cardigan saw them pouch a losing bonus point from their home match with Aberaeron, who made the journey back north with five points; four for their narrow victory and another for running in five tries.

Aber led by 12-3 at half time thanks to tries by scrum half Daf Llewellyn and left winger Rhodri Thomas, one of them converted by outside half Rhodri Jenkins, whilst The Teifisiders' only response was a penalty by outside half Iwan John.

Fortunes certainly ebbed and flowed in a lively second half as Aber grabbed further tries by Thomas and centre Tom Slinger, as Jenkins also notched another conversion.

Cardigan replied with tries by winger Geraint Williams and player/coach Colin Davies before skipper John Lumb sliced through for a late try to go with two conversions from Iwan John - but they still lost by two points despite some good work by Davies, Lumb and centre Marcus Castle.
 

PHOTO:
Colin Davies - try in defeat for Cardigan player/coach