KO Cup – Second Round:

 

Ifan stars as Preseli Men’s pace pays off

 

Haverfordwest 15 - Crymych 31

 
Referee: Ricky Davies (Swansea) who had a good game in allowing players to play
 
Crymych scrum half Ifan Phillips grabbed a try hat-trick as reward for his outstanding play in support of his pack and his ability to set his pacy backs in motion as they faced a stern challenge from Haverfordwest, who are playing league rugby two divisions lower but showing their credentials with an edge in the set-pieces and some terrific defensive work by the whole team.
 
The end product was an action-packed, floodlit tussle where there were plenty of errors in front of an appreciative huge crowd but a pace and commitment that showed all the best in local rugby matches.
 

Blues start with a bang but Crymych claw their way back

 
Haverfordwest certainly made the better start as they successfully used Will Blackburn, Lewis Tingay, Tom Carrington, Terry Lovell, Jamie Zambas and especially Karl Busch as human battering rams and after winger Archie Thomas had set the tone with an early charge they took the lead with a penalty by full back Ollie Roberts.
 
Crymych also scored from the restart from a quickly-taken tapped penalty but the final pass went astray – but they finally took the lead when they showed their ability to recycle quickly at rucks and very quick hands saw Owain Evans into space and when he was held up some more quick recycling saw Daf Phillips in for a try which his namesake Adam converted.
 

The Preseli men lead 21-3 at the interval

 
Within five minutes the Preseli Men went further ahead as outside half Ifan Phillips sped through and Adam Phillips again converted – and they almost added a third when a poor Blues’ clearance allowed Rhydian Howells to link with Ifan Phillips and his clever cross kick saw Owain Evans take the catch wide on the right but he was bundled in to touch and the ball cleared by the home defence.
 
But Evans grabbed their third try before the interval after good work by Tomos Phillips and Gethin Gibby, with Adam Phillips adding the extra points to make it 21-3 at half time to the visitors.
 

No relaxation in second half pace as both sides attack

 
It says a great deal for The Blues’ resolve that they refused to submit and their commitment was rewarded when a period of pressure saw @@@ cross at the posts for Roberts to add the extra points.
 
As Crymych battled hard to restore their lead they were hit by some terrific tackles but eventually added a fourth try when they ran the ball out of their own 22 and up popped Daf Phillips to cross in the corner.
 
But The Blues continued to work hard for each other and grabbed their second try when outside half Stuart Morris cross kicked and Lee Davies took a clean catch and reached the whitewash.
 
The Preseli Men had the final word, however, when they sped wide and in support, as he was all night, was No 9 Daf Phillips to secure a deserved hat-trick and help take his team into the next round, whilst Haverfordwest would have been disappointed in defeat but in the knowledge that they had played their part in an entertaining tussle enjoyed by such a big crowd.
 
Haverfordwest: Ollie Roberts: Archie Thomas; Matthew John; Jack Codd; S Evans:  Stuart Morris (Capt); Liam Eaton: Terry Lovell; Jamie Zambas; Tom Carrington: Karl Busch; Rhydian Watkins: Will Blackburn; Mike Griffiths; Lewis Tingay. Replacements: Ben Llewellyn; G Evans; B Thomas; Steve Thomas.

Crymych: Adam Phillips: Owain Evans; Tomos Phillips; Gethin Gibby; Laurence Headlam: Ifan Phillips; Dafydd Phillips: Jonathan Clout; Lee Griffiths; Ryan Rees: Matthew Freebury; Morgan Davies: Llyr Davies (Capt); Rhydian Howells; Dafydd Gibby. Replacements: Dylan Phillips; Jonathan Phillips; Cai Ifans; Huw Rees; Ned Bennett.
 


 

Aber spring a surprise success

 

Aberaeron 25 - Tenby United 19

 
Referee: Dan Tomkins
 
Aberaeron created the surprise result of the KO Cup so far as a possible banana skin became a reality for Tenby United, who made the long journey for a late Saturday afternoon start and trailed 22-7 at the break and were denied the verdict by some outstanding home defence as the Seasiders sought desperately for a converted try to snatch a victory.
 
Yet it was Tenby who made the better start as they looked the sharper side in the opening quarter and they took the lead after 15 minutes as second row Jake Roberts, who normally plays flanker, rounded off a period of pressure and No 10 Lloyd Thomas converted.
 
But there were warning signs for The Seasiders which led to Aber  building their substantial interval lead as full back Morgan Llewellyn scored a super solo try from near his own line as he made a half break and cleverly twice kicked ahead before winning the touchdown for outside half Rhodri Jenkins to add the extra points.
 
Centre Gareth Jenkins then used his pace to good effect with Aber’s second try and then Rhodri Jenkins added a third to go with another conversion and penalty to stun the visiting team and their hardy band of supporters.
 
Tenby fought back well after half time and all Aber could muster was a second penalty from Rhodri Jenkins to give him a personal haul of 15 points as the Tenby pack began to apply pressure but met with stout resistance until No 8 Dan Colley broke from the back of a scrum to claim an unconverted try.
 
With time running out Colley added a second try as reward for another excellent display by the former centre and Lloyd Thomas converted to leave a very tense final three minutes for Aberaeron – but they defended really well to keep their lead and the final whistle saw them good value for victory over a clearly disappointed Tenby United team.
 
Aberaeron: Morgan Llewellyn: Steffan Jones; Dyfrig Dafis; Gethin Jenkins; Dilwyn Harries: Rhodri Jenkins; Tudur Jenkins Jnr: Daf Lloyd; Sion Evans; Kuba Poplonski: Richard Francis; Steffan Dale: Hefin Williams; Llyr Davies; Ryan Williams/ Replacements: Rhys Jones; Bleddyn Thomas; Huw Wozencroft; Steff Jones; Ifan Davies; Matthew Harries; Ifan Lewis.
 
Tenby United: Jordan Asparassa: Gwion Jones; Cam Broadhurst; Jack Gooding; Iwan Davies: Lloyd Thomas; Matthew Morgan: Ethan Morgan; Nicky Guymer; Rob Luly: Frankie Boyd; Jake Roberts: Caleb O’Neill; Wil Swales; Dan Colley. Replacements: Rob Clark; Geoff Martin; Jimmy Davies; Harvey Johns; Max Brindley; Ryan Bolton.
 

KO Plate Competition:

 

Hicks grabs Scarlets’ last-gasp winner

 

Cardigan 20 - Pembroke 24

 
Josh Hicks was the hero of Pembroke’s nail-biting win in the plate competition as they edged through thanks to the powerful flanker’s second try of the night, leaving Cardigan to reflect on chances they had against a team two divisions above them.
 
A large crowd at the King George Vth Ground for this Friday evening floodlit game saw Cardigan take the lead as early as the fourth minute when right winger Geraint Williams crossed for an unconverted before The Scarlets went ahead for the first time after 15 minutes when good work by Scott Powell, Will Edwards, Jordan Cornick and skipper Seamus Wiseman saw Hicks score a try which outside half Luke Alderwick converted.
 
Back came The Teifisiders as skipper Tom Taylor forced huis way over and No 10 Ben Rogers converted – only for The Scarlets to regain the initiative through a try by No 8 Aaron Williams as reward for his work rate before Alderwick converted.
 
Cardigan took a 15-14 lead into the oranges, however, as Rogers kicked a penalty and there was already the promise of a game very much in the balance.
 
And that’s how it turned out as centre Jordan Evans put in a few strong runs for Pembroke which eventually came to nothing and there was some good work by new winger Travis Matthias and centre Shaun Dalling in defence before Alderwick landed a penalty and prop Tommy John distinguished himself with a try-saving tackle after running back 30 yards to make it count.
 
Cardigan added an unconverted try by centre Kieran Greenland which gave them the lead by 20-17 with time running out - but that’s when Pembroke managed to push their opponents into the corner and a concerted forward drive saw Hicks power over and Alderwick slotted his third conversion to round off the scoring in The Scarlets’ favour.
 
Cardigan: Alun Jenkins: Geraint Williams; Kieran Greenland; Emyr Harries; Tom Griffiths: Ben Rogers, Danny Bradshaw: Andrew Jones; Luke Palmer-Davies; Dean Harries: Sion Phillips Aaron Tomkinson; Kieran Harries; Tom Taylor (Capt). Replacements: Rhodri Palmer-Jones; William Brice; Rhodri Davies; Dafydd Griffiths; Jack Taylor.

Pembroke: Barry Alderman-John; Travis Matthias; Shaun Dalling; Jordan Evans; Steve Brown: Luke Alderwick; Matthew Lewis: Evan Phillips; Seamus Wiseman (Capt); Lloyd Davies: Will Edwards; Scott Powell: Josh Hicks; Jordan Cornick; Aaron Williams. Replacements: Johnny Palmer; Rhodri Walters; Dan Gosnald; Jack Hagan; Leon Stewart.