PHOTOS:
Chris Shousha gets a tackle in
 

Featured Match:
 
Division Two (West):

 

Another slow start stifles Seagulls

Fishguard 13 - Mumbles 20

Fishguard & Goodwick have made a habit of starting slowly at The Moors this season and this frailty was again very much in evidence against third-placed Mumbles as the Seagulls gifted them a 14-point start within ten minutes of the kick-off.

The Seagulls then settled and were in with a shout for the rest of the match but a mixture of wrong options, spilt passes at key times, and a lot of penalties as they seemed to fall foul of referee Jason Griffiths, eventually caused their downfall.

Mumbles early tries were claimed by centre Ryan Ali and full back Matthew Hughes, who converted both superbly from near the right touchline.

As the Seagulls settled they seemed to have the edge up front and were finally rewarded when skipper Simon James burst over from his No 8 berth to score an unconverted try.

With the elements in their favour, the Seagulls further reduced the deficit when No 10 James Griffiths landed a penalty but when Chris Shousha was shown a yellow card Mumbles took advantage to add a Hughes’ penalty to their total.

Fishguard set up several promising attacks which came to nought but they finally added a second try when Griffiths put in an arcing run to cross in the right corner – but again hopes of a late winner were denied and it just about summed up their day when Mumbles were awarded a penalty outside Hughes’ range but dissent saw them marched back ten metres and Hughes slotted the penalty with aplomb!

Fishguard & Goodwick: Mike Jenkins: Matthew George; Dai Evans; Ben John; Steffan Lewis: James Griffiths; Alun George: Gerwyn Davies; Owain Morgans; Andrew Morillo: Richard Hunter; Rhys Lewis: Gavin Walsh; Chris Shousha; Simon James (Capt). Replacements: Gwilym Evans; Ryan McVeigh; Mark George; Gareth Adamson; Jerome Conlan.

Mumbles: Matthew Hughes: Matthew Flynn; Ryan Ali; Ali Tedson; Joe Rimmell: Lee Rimmell; Andy Evans: Neil Elsworthy; Leigh Aldious: Leigh Perrett; Geraint Fry: Scott Gavey; Tyrone Williamson; Tyler Oliver. Replacements: Adam Nicklin; Chris Thomas; Rhys Jenkins; Luke Thomas; Andrew McMillan.

PHOTO:

Morrillo and Davies battle

 

Championship:

 

Vital victory at Beddau for Otters

Beddau 16 - Narberth 20

Narberth produced a far better display to secure the spoils against a powerful Beddau side which was in fifth place when the game started but dropped down a place as the delighted Otters won their fourth game from 10 starts.

Narberth played positive rugby from the kick-off and were soon 13 points to the good as Nick Gale landed a long-range penalty and Ianto Griffiths added a second alongside the conversion of an excellent try by No 8 Lewis Wood after concerted pressure by the Otter pack in the Beddau 22.

But the home side showed why they have been in the top half of the table for much of the season as they fought back with an unconverted try by flanker Owain Jones and right on the break reduced the interval deficit to only five points with a penalty by outside half Hywel Chatham.

Beddau claimed a second penalty via James Odgers after the resumption but a typically exciting corner try by full back Johnny Morgan, converted by Griffiths gave the Otters a little space.

Even there was still time for the homesters to claim a bonus point as full back Cody Davies rounded off some quick hands with a run to the posts – but the hurried conversion rocked the crossbar and bounced clear!

Lewis Wood - good try for Narberth

 

Division One (West):

 

Borderers battle for deserved draw

Whitland 10 - Llanelli Wanderers 10

Whitland called on all their battling qualities, and no little skill, as they fought back from a ten-point interval deficit against fifth-placed Llanelli Wanderers and earned a point – and with a touch of luck might just have snatched the verdict on their second-half performance.  

The Borderers conceded a try to Sion Edwards which Jonathan George converted to go with a penalty as the home side had their chances when prop Jamie Styles, son of former player Jason, and Rhys Schneidin led by example.
Whitland finally opened their account when pace ace Sion Coles sliced through and Nico Setaro added the extra points.

Setaro then added a penalty to haul his side level and in the dying moments the Borderers exerted huge pressure from a lineout drive towards the Wanderers’ line but the chance came and went – leaving Whitland having to accept a creditable draw against a side much further up the table than them.

 

Sean Coles - vital try for Whitland

 

Game abandoned after Tenby injury

Gowerton 22 - Tenby United 11 (Match abandoned)

Tenby United’s talented young player Andrew Cook sustained a nasty ankle dislocation after 58 minutes and after a lengthy delay awaiting an ambulance it was agreed that the game should be abandoned and replayed later in the season. Aaron James had kicked two first-half penalties for the Seasiders and Luke Dedman crossed the whitewash in the second period. We wish Andrew a speedy recovery and hopefully a return to action with the Seasiders.
 
 

Crymych postpone fixtures out of respect for Dyfrig

Llangennech v Crymych
Crymych asked for postponement as a mark of respect for Dyfrig George, a great club man who had passed away, and this fixture will be played later in the season.

 

 

Division 3A (West):

 

Mikey’s the Blues’ hero in table-topping success

Milford Haven 17 - Haverfordwest 19

Mikey Jones was the hero of the delighted Haverfordwest team and supporters which returned from the Observatory Field as his 14 points helped them take Milford Haven‘s coveted 100% record.

It left The Mariners to reflect on the fact that they outscored their old rivals by three tries to one but still lost as they took wrong options, made basic errors under pressure and perhaps a last-gasp drop goal which might have given victory but hardly got off the ground – it was that sort of day.

The Blues led 9-7 at half time, despite looking a bit creaky at the scrums and conceding a penalty try in that area, which Joseph Kiff converted, but with Mikey Jones landing three penalties for the visitors to punish Milford indiscretions.

The Mariners took the imitative after the interval when the ever-green Dai Sweeney rounded off some good handling – but back bounced The Blues when Luke Harvatt crossed wide out and Jones added the extra points.

It looked as if The Mariners might have done just enough when Ian Rusinek dived in at the corner but Jones held his nerve to land his fourth penalty and give Haverfordwest a vital victory in the race for promotion!

Mikey Jones - kicked well for The Blues

 

 

Pembrokeshire Saints too strong for Carmarthenshire namesakes

St Davids 22 - St Clears 10

Late tries from Jack Jones and George Raymond gave St Davids a vital home win over St Clears after the teams had been locked at 10-10 going into the final quarter.In gusty winds, both sides threw everything into a clash that is traditionally dubbed the ‘battle of the Saints’.

Playing into the wind, it was the visitors who took the lead when back row player Dyfrig Picton was rewarded for good support play by crashing over from close range.

Scrum half Ryan Thomas couldn’t convert – and then the home Saints struck back when a good run from debutant winger Andrew Groves set up No 10 Scott James to score. Jones also couldn’t convert so the sides went in 5-5 at the break.

It was James, playing on permit from Narberth, who then gave his side the lead early in the second half with a solo effort from 30 metres out, but the visitors struck back immediately when centre Ceri Jones broke upfield and set up an attacking platform from which hooker Dafydd Page powered down the blind side to score.

Both tries again went unconverted - but then St Davids centre Jones, who switched to outside half during the second period, grabbed the decisive score when he powered over from 20 metres out, following a break from scrum half Fraser Watson.

That put the home Saints 15-10 up, and as the visitors tried to press from their own half, they spilled the ball in possession and James launched a high ball which he then gathered before popping a pass to replacement No 8 Raymond, who grabbed his first senior try.

Watson added the simple conversion and skipper Rhys ‘Loshin’ Price and co were able to celebrate a second league win of the season.

Jack Jones - scored a try and played well for St Davids

 

Scarlets run amok as Wasps suffer again

Pembroke 107 - Llangwm 0

Pembroke ran in 17 tries without conceding a single point against a Llangwm side which is battling as hard as ever but is reeling like a punch-drunk boxer as enforced changes give them little chance to find a settled side.

As team manager Richard Scriven told us afterwards, “We have used so many players to plug gaps and some of them are a bit inexperienced so we are very much aware of safety issues as we play some very experienced teams. Flankers Ian Griffiths and Dave Reynolds joined centre Andrew Brock in catching the eye and we can’t fault the attitude of our players but it is terribly hard at the moment.”

In sharp contrast, the Scarlets are running into form and coach Geraint Lewis is understandably delighted with the points’ plethora at Crickmarren, with tries coming at regular intervals to scrum half Lewys Gibby (3), flanker Dom Colman, second row Cyle Wetherall, centre Liam Price (2), prop Owain Johns, winger Barry John (4), full back Luca Tremarco (3), No 8 Sam Smith and replacement full back John Williams.

Lewys Gibby was chosen as man of the match by The Regulars and there was also an unusual contribution from prop Johnny Palmer as he landed 11 conversions, leaving pundits asking when a front-rower last kicked so many two-pointers, if ever, in Pembrokeshire.

There was another set-back for The Wasps as outside half Kieran Walkden had to be taken to hospital after the match – and wish Kieran a speedy return to action.

Barry John - four tries for Pembroke

 

Quins win well at the Athletic Ground

Neyland 19 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 28

There was action aplenty at the Athletic Ground before Pembroke Dock harlequins ran out worthy winners and had a bonus point for scoring at least four tries – whilst the All Blacks were left pointless after some really committed play on their part.

The Quins led 23-12 at half time after opening up an early 13-point lead, thanks to a try brace by back rower Kevin Bratcher, with a Lewis Davies penalty sandwiched neatly in between them.

Outside half Patrick Bellerby gave Neyland hope with an interception try which he also converted but Damien Miller put the Quins back on track from a 30-metre run before home full back Jonathan Lloyd sped through for an unconverted try – but as fortunes ebbed and flowed the Quins had the final say of an absorbing first half when skipper Neil Brace, playing at hooker, gave the visitors an 11-point interval lead.

There were only two scores in the second half, as conditions worsened, with Brace claiming his second try but with Neyland having a typical try from centre Adam Collins, concerted by Patrick Bellerby to round off the action as The Quins tightened up their defence and made sure they were the winners.

Kevin Bratcher - two tries for the Quins back rower

 

Cardis earn bonus-point win at Laugharne

Laugharne 10 - Cardigan 24

Cardigan were delighted by their success at Laugharne, never an easy place to take the spoils, and with the boost of a bonus point managed to jump into joint top place in the section table.

The Teifisiders looked sharp from the outset and were deservedly 17 points to the good at half time, thanks to tries from left wing Llyr Jones, inside centre Emyr Harries and scrum half Aaron Evans, plus a single conversion by Jones.

But any complacency from The Teifisiders was soon brought to the fore after the oranges when Laugharne raised the tempo and grabbed two unconverted tries by scrum half Aled Rees.

Cardigan responded with a try from Llyr Tobias, who had switched from fly half to centre and rounded some good handling for that vital fourth try, which replacement outside half Iestyn Crompton converted.

Laugharne’s hopes of a bonus point came to nought as a last-ditch handling move was messed up in midfield, but the home team could have few complaints about defeat against a compact and well-drilled Cardigan side which has found the right balance and are sure to feature near the top for the rest of the campaign.