Championship:

 

Otters’ battle their way back in final quarter

Narberth 34 - Cardiff Met 19

Narberth are becoming the ‘come back kings’ of this section as they trailed 19-10 in a free-flowing first half against the students of the Cardiff Metropolitan University, had a quiet third quarter but then ran in three quality late tries as they built up a head of steam and were good value for victory in the final analysis.

The Otters made a strong start as winger Liam Hutchings powered his way to the line for Ianto Griffiths to add the extra points but the students quickly bounced back as a period of pressure saw centre Chris Lewis cross the whitewash before George Simpson converted. Griffiths landed a penalty midway through the period but Cardiff Met took the interval lead with good tries from winger Corey Wayne, converted by Simpson, and second row Alex Fenton.

Both sides had chances after the oranges but after 60 minutes The Otters reduced the deficit with a typical try from powerful centre Jack Price which Griffiths goaled – and they recaptured the lead when winger Kieron Jones sliced through and Griffiths was again on target before adding a well-struck penalty.

The Students were still in with a chance at this stage but a late try from replacement hooker Rhodri Owens, converted by Griffiths, confirmed the verdict for Narberth, who also pouched a bonus point by dint of the fact that they had run in four tries to establish a clear second spot in the section table.

PHOTO:
Liam Hutchings - scored Narberth's first try

 

Division One (West):

 

Hamer’s late try secures success for Seasiders

Tycroes 8 - Tenby 12

Tenby United were called upon to use every ounce of their determination to gain this deserved win over a Tycroes outfit looking to impose their physicality on the Seasiders but coming up against visiting side intent on not yielding an inch.

In Rob Luly, Kyle Hamer and Lewis Davies they had a front row who battled hard from the outset, assisted in the ball-winning stakes by Jack Clancy and Mike Davies, and it was their combined effort which allowed The Seasiders to take the early lead from an unconverted try by dynamic back-rower Andrew Cooke after a well-controlled close-range drive.

But Tycroes bounced back to tie things up at the interval with an unconverted try by Darrell John; a scoreline that demonstrated how tight things were.

Tycroes took the lead after the break with a Lee Evans’ penalty and that is the way the game stayed until the last seconds when Tycroes pressed hard for another score in an uncontested scrum but their knock-on was punished by The Seasiders as they quickly mounted a counter-attack which saw ten players handling before outstanding young hooker Kyle Hamer finished the move and skipper Johnny Morgan, who had worked well with younger brother Matthew at half back, added the extra points.

Jack Guerreiro was deservedly awarded the Tenby United ‘man of the match’ tag for his centre play alongside Yannick Parker but this was an excellent all-round team performance that would have pleased coach Chris ‘Cone’ James!

PHOTO:
Andrew Cooke - cracking opening try in Tenby United's away success

PHOTO:
Mariners' scrum half Dan McClelland puts a crunching tackle on Blues' Liam Manwaring

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Blues come out on top in vital clash

Haverfordwest 11 Milford Haven 0

Haverfordwest came out as winners in this top of the table clash where both sides had chances but were clearly suffering from ring-rustiness as knock-ons, wrong options and other errors reflected the tension between two very useful sides that were respectively third and top of the table.

Haverfordwest scored the only try of the game in a tight first half and added two second-half penalties as coach Bruce Evans, a former Mariner, must have been delighted at the way they kept a blank scoresheet against some good Milford players like Dan McClelland, Mark Wonnacott, Craig Thomas and Lee Riley amongst others.

Milford coach Alan McClelland will surely look back on his team’s inability to turn pressure into points but know that there is still a long way to go before the section glassware is decided.

It was hard-working prop Terry Lovell who gave The Blues the lead, following good work by Gareth Phillips, Liam Brown, Dan John and Mike Griffiths, as he looked to be held up ten metres out but managed to get back on his feet and start a second surge that saw him impelled over the line by the rest of his pack.

The second half was equally hard-fought but whenever The Mariners mounted an attack there was some solid defensive cover organised by talented teenager Ollie Hughes and veteran half back partner Steve Williams, back in action and slotting two penalties as a bonus.

Rhys Baker, skipper Matty Phillips, Liam Manwaring and Josh Atherton covered well so that The Blues could close the gap – and The Mariners remain top but Pembroke now have two games in hand whilst only four points adrift!

PHOTO:
Terry Lovell - Haverfordwest's prop scored only try in their win over Milford

 
 

11-try Quins also secure KO semi spot

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 69 - Llangwm 7

Pembroke Dock Harlequins ran in 11 tries against a struggling Llangwm outfit which never gave up trying but were already 45-0 down at half time, and Ossie Boswell’s Boys also secured a KO Cup semi-final place because both teams had agreed that the game should be doubled up for league points and that coveted place.

Leading the way for the Quins was outstanding winger Aaron James, who showed his class with four terrific tries in the space of 12 minutes either side of half time, speeding through after good handling by his colleagues for a hat-trick of scores in the 33rd, 35th and 39th minutes of the first period and soon after the interval for his fourth.

The other Quins’ try scorers in that one-sided first half came from left winger Leon Hargreaves-Gibson, outside half Lewis Davies and skipper Thomas Doyle (2), all converted by Davies, before John’s trio and another Davies’ conversion.

It says much for The Wasps’ determination that they managed to score a good try by centre Gavin Jenkins, converted by Luke Hayman, before Hargreaves-Gibson crossed again and was followed on the try-sheet by James Skeels, replacement Rhys Bradney and prop Jack Davies, one converted by Lewis Davies.

So now The Quins have to wait to see who they’ll play in the semi-final whilst Llangwm must still seek their first win after this double-setback.

PHOTO:
Thomas Doyle - try brace for Quins' skipper

 

National Plate Competition:

 

Preseli Men power back to win

Crymych 27 - Tondu 25

A determined fight back saw Crymych move into the last 16 of the National Plate competition at the expense of a Tondu team which looked likely winners at Parc Lloyd Thomas as they lead 25-10 midway through the second half but were unable to resist a strong comeback by the Preseli Men which will hopefully provide a confidence boost for forthcoming league matches.

Tondu were 13-10 ahead at the interval and moved to what looked like an unassailable lead with tries from centre Matthew Davies, winger Sam Grabham and second row Steffan Jones, plus ten points from the boot of No 10 Josh Tatchell.

But the Preseli Men’s tight five of Ifan James, Lee Griffiths and Steff Harries, Dion Gibby and Luke Freebury set up good ball for back rowers Llyr Davies, Osian Davies and Harry Vaughan to utilise as they scored tries by winger Luke Rogers, No 8 Osian Davies and Centre Ifan Phillips, who also kicked all three conversions and a penalty to set up a grandstand finale where another Phillips’ penalty nudged Crymych ahead.

Even then there was time for one last moment of drama as Tatchell was given a last-gasp chance to land a penalty from 40 metres but his last kick of the match went wide and the hardy band of home supporters collectively released their breath and are now hopeful for another home tie in the next round.

PHOTO:
Luke Rogers - try for Crymych winger

 

Borderers just short of an epic win

Whitland 24 - Nant Conwy 27

Whitland went really close to sending Nant Conwy on their long way back home with defeat but their bonny effort finally fell short as the North Wales Division One league leaders held on for victory.

Indeed, The Borderers outscored their opponents by four tries to three but conceded penalties under pressure that saw them edged out despite a terrific team effort, but a real boost saw them start with three youth players in Aaron Ebsworth, Makaya Jones and Jack Richards, plus a fourth on the bench in Gino Setaro.

Skipper Marc Jones scored a try from his hooker’s berth alongside others by Nico Setaro (2) and Raff Williams, two of them converted by Nico Setaro as Jack Mason again caught the eye and perhaps the back row power of Ryan Michael was missed.

For Nant Conwy, there were tries by No 8 Carwyn Ellis (2) and centre Ifan Lloyd-Jones, whilst Arthur Lennon landed all three conversions a penalty and dropped goal to help snatch the verdict.

PHOTO:
Nico Setaro scoring second half try
Picture by Paul Rodgers

 

National Bowl Competition:

 

Scarlets too strong for The Boathouse Boys

Laugharne 22 - Pembroke 32

A strong all-round squad performance saw Pembroke overcome a strong challenge from Laugharne to move into the last 16 of the National Bowl competition, with Scarlets’ coach Geraint Lewis quick to praise the opposition for their graft but also pointing out the rustiness of his squad over recent weeks.

Pembroke’s power up front was evident from the outset and they opened up a 17-point lead as flanker Dom Colman powered his way over for the first try from a close-range lineout drive and although centre Sean Dalling missed the conversion he soon made amends as he converted a good try from young scrum half Tom Lewis after No 10 Toby Smith had made the initial incision.

Lewis, Smith and Dalling were also involved in the third Pembroke try from their own 22 as Dalling recycled the ball well and quick hands allowed full back Luke Hartland to squeeze in at the corner.

To be fair to Laugharne, they refused to surrender and before the interval opened their account with an unconverted try by full back Aled Rees – and also opened the second half scoring when hooker Tom Waters crossed the line.

These scores caused the Scarlets to up the ante outstanding centre Dan Colley rounded a move down the right flank before Dalling added the extra points before landing a penalty.

Back came The Boathouse Boys with a quality try from second row Carwyn Lewis but their hopes of a late revival were scuppered as a try by Toby Smith set the seal on a Pembroke success, despite a fourth try from Laugharne via winger Steve Bowen, which Tom Jameson converted.

PHOTO:
Tom Lewis - scored in excellent Bowl win for Pembroke at Laugharne

 

Friendly Match:

 

Saints too strong for Blues’ Seconds

St Davids 29 - Haverfordwest 2nds 19

 A hat trick of tries from winger Steve Regan helped St Davids to a win over Haverfordwest 2nds – as both sides took advantage of not having a league fixture to produce an entertaining clash that ebbed and flowed until the final minutes.

It was the visitors who made the stronger start as a prolonged period of pressure ended with No 8 Tom Meehan powering over from 10 yards out, with No 10 Shane Phillips converting.

The Saints responded when they worked an overlap out wide, and full back Rhys Morgan sent Regan over in the corner for an unconverted try.

But from the final play of the half The Blues secured a 12-5 half time lead when Will Ridge, who like Meehan stood out in the back row, picked up from a ruck and finished well from close range.

Back came the home side early in the second half with another five pointer, as a break from replacement No 10 Mathew Bennett led to a second score for Regan – but it was Haverfordwest who seemingly took control again when Meehan picked up from a five metre scrum and went under the posts, with Phillips adding the easy extras to open up a nine point lead.

The final 15 minutes however, belonged to the home side and scrum half Rhys Owen Price charged down a Phillips’ clearance kick before winning the race to the touch down, and centre Matty McLeod converted.

The Saints then took the lead for the first time as a break from centre Gavin Smith left The Blues’ defence short of numbers, and Regan again benefitted with another good finish for his hat trick.

McLeod again converted before full back Morgan made the win safe for skipper Rhys ‘Loshin’ Price and his side, cutting back inside from the left wing and fending off two defenders on his way to the line.

It rounded off a worthwhile game for both sides played in a good spirit – with The Saints now resuming their Division Three West A campaign this Saturday at home to Aberaeron.