Division Three (West) A:

 

Wasps win forward battle but Price and Co are too quick behind

 

Llangwm 12 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 32

 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins ran in six tries to two from host club Llangwm at Pill Parks in an intriguing clash of styles where The Wasps were very strong up front and controlled the set-pieces, whereas Jack Price and Co clearly held the edge in pace at the other end.
 
As usual, Ieuan Power, made captain for the day, led The Wasps and had great support from Gavin Jones, Jason Mock, James Lewis and Ian Griffiths but The Quins raced into a 17-0 lead as winger Jamie Topp opened their account after ten minutes before hooker Dan McCloud added a second from close range 11 minutes later and soon afterwards their captain Harry Owen crossed the line after a terrific move, with Euan McDonald adding the extra points.
 
But The Wasps showed typical resilience with a try from No 8 Mock which Luke Hayman converted to make it 17-5 to The Quins at half time.
 
The Quins certainly started the second half with a bank because they fielded the kick-off near their own line and after a number of players had been involved in a sweeping handling move it was skipper Owen who rounded it off at the other end.
 
Back came The Wasps to score a corner try by talented young centre Jacob Lay to give his side hope but The Quins moved away again with quality tries by centres Aaron John and especially Jack Price to earn them a fourth victory in eight league matches, whilst The Wasps now have a record of two wins in nine starts.
 
Llangwm: Daniel Morgan: Matty Lewis; Yale Grice; Jacob Lay; Jack Roberts: Matthew Davies; Luke Hayman: Ieuan Power (Capt); Dan Woodward; Callum Jenkins: David Reynolds; Gavin Jones: James Lewis; Ian Griffiths; Jason Mock. Replacements: Cameron Sapsford; Dai Lewis; Daniel Morgan; Dan Murphy; Declan Cole.
 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Thomas Wheeler: Jamie Topp; Aaron James; Jack Price; Kobie Thomas: Euan McDonald; Josh Brown: Jack Davies; Danny McCloud; Kieran Cookson: Ben Gibby; Martin Culley: Jordan Palmer; Hywel Baker; Harry Owen (Capt). Replacements: Ollie Lewis; Sam ‘Rasher’ James; Connor Colomel; Aaron Cookson; Rhys Spencer; Danny Wilkes.




 

Action pictures by William John, Colin Picton and Gordon Thomas

 

All Blacks beat Llanybydder in tight tussle

 

Neyland 15 - Llanybydder 11

 
Neyland eased to a home win against Llanybydder after they had trailed by 8-5 at half time but used the elements in the second half to seal success in a match that was well refereed by former Narberth player Colin Phillips.
 
It was The All Blacks who took an early lead after Ben Williams, Iestyn and Owain Evans had helped establish the platform and after several drives close to the line it was prop Luke Griffiths-Dawes who finally spotted a gap and ploughed over the line for an unconverted try.

But Llanybydder are nothing if not battlers and they reduced the deficit with a penalty from outside half Llyr Jones, who also added an unconverted try before the break to give his side a three-point interval lead.
 
But Neyland used the elements better than their opponents had done in the first half as young half backs Matthew Coles and Ollie Rothero kicked well for position and full back Patrick Bellerby joined veteran winger Delme Bateman and Harrison Grice in running the ball at the opposition, as did centre Rhys Johns, who was playing on permit.
 
They regained the lead with a try by second row Ben James and although Rothero missed the conversion he added a penalty to take their lead beyond a single score – and although Llyr Jones managed a late penalty to earn the visitors a bonus point The All Blacks could be well pleased with their fourth win in eight starts.
 
Neyland: Patrick Bellerby: Delme Bateman; Harrison Grice; Rhys Johns; Ben Millward:  Ollie Rothero; Matthew Coles: Luke Griffiths-Dawes; Alex Swales; Jack Harries: Ben James; Mark James: Iestyn Evans; Owain Evans (Capt); Ben Williams. Replacements: Iestyn Nash; Mark James; Simon Phillips; Henry McBeth; Steve Roberts.
 


 

Blues win with a welcome bonus point

 

Tregaron 0 - Haverfordwest 24

 
Haverfordwest’s bonus-point victory at Tregaron gave them their seventh win in as many starts and saw them move into second place, just one point behind Laugharne but with two matches in hand.
 
The Blues have established a powerful ball-winning pack which will test any team in the section to the full and Tregaron did well to withstand their charges into the home 22 until persistent offences at set-pieces close to the line saw the referee award the visitors a penalty try, which proved to be the only score of the first period.
 
Although short of a couple of key forwards, The Blues used the elements to good effect in the second half as half backs Owen Hamer and fit-again Mikey Jones worked hard with skipper Matthew John to pin Tregaron back.
 
Archie Thomas, normally a full back or three-quarter but playing as a flanker here, linked well with Jack Clancy, Karl Busch, Gareth John and Steve Thomas to score The Blues second try and winger Rhys Baker was put over in the corner by Jake Morgan, Johnny White, Jack Codd and Jones.
 
The vital fourth try, which sealed the bonus point, cane from replacement prop Terry Lovell as he linked well with the rest of his pack to plough over the whitewash before full back Jake Morgan landed the conversion to set the seal on another strong, uncompromising performance by The Blues.

Haverfordwest: Jake Morgan: Johnny White; Matthew John (Capt); Jack Codd; Rhys Baker: Mikey Jones; Owen Hamer: Dan Berry; Barry Llewellyn; Tom Carrington: Karl Busch; Jack Clancy: Steve Thomas; Archie Thomas; Gareth John. Replacements: Terry Lovell; Jonathan Clout; A Williams; Lee Summons; L Eaton; L Eden.
 
 

All square at a windy Cardigan Bay

 

Aberaeron 6 - Cardigan 6

 
Aberaeron’s excellent rugby complex commands a wonderful view of the Cardigan Bay coastline but conditions for this tussle against old rivals Cardigan meant that players deserve every credit for trying in vain to master the strong winds in the area.
 
There was no scoring for 39 minutes but then Cardigan took a 3-0 lead into the interval as outside half Llyr Jones notched a penalty.
 
Aberaeron drew level when their own outside half Rhodri Jenkins kicked a three-pointer after 46 minutes and although both teams had half chances the final pass always seemed to go astray or was dropped by cold hands.
 
Jones, who played well at half back alongside No 9 Danny Bradshaw, restored The Teifisiders’ advantage after 54 minutes but five minutes later Jenkins levelled matters again.
The final quarter saw no further points on the scoreboard and so the teams shared the spoils – but deserved every credit for battling until the final whistle!
 
 
 
 

Championship Division:

 

Disappointing Otters squeezed out at home

 

Narberth 15 - Ystrad Rhondda 21

 
After Narberth played some scintillating rugby at Ystrad Rhondda last Saturday to win  46-24 The Otters failed to impress at The Lewis Lloyd Ground in this return match and after failing to score single point in the second half lost 21-15.
 
Yet Narberth made a decent start as Joe Hutchings made a good midfield break and talented young scrum half George McDonald supported well to score another try to go with the three the previous weekend, with full back Nick Gale adding the extra points.
 
But Ystrad showed their battling qualities as they were soon level when hooker Carl Williams ploughed over the line and No 10 Rhys Truelove converted.
 
Then The Otters regained the initiative with a try by Gale following another Hutchings’ run and although he missed the conversion Gale slotted a penalty to move The Otters into a 15-7 lead with the interval approaching.
 
There was still time, however, for Ystrad to add their second try as Liam Wiggins scored and Truelove again landed the conversion to narrow their deficit to a single point.
 
The Otters had chances after the interval but dropped passes and taking wrong options at key times cost them dearly after Ystrad had started the second half with their third try, this time from centre Cole Morgan on a run to the posts for Truelove to add the simple conversion.
 
It left Sean Gale’s men reflecting on what might have been and possibly their most disappointing display of the season so quickly after arguably their best a week earlier!
 
Narberth:  Nick Gale: Gino Setaro; Joe Hutchings; Rheon James; Ashley Sutton: Ianto Griffiths; George McDonald: Bradley Davies; Dan Smith; Tom Slater: Rhys Williams; Alex Jenkins: Tom Curry; Tom Powell (Capt); Steffan Phillips. Replacements: Rhodri Owens; Ifan James; Josh Hamer; Rhys Lane; Jake Jenkins.
 
 

Division One (West):

 

Borderers beaten in thriller – but pouch two bonus points

 

Gorseinon 34 - Whitland 28

 
There were tries aplenty at Gorseinon before the home side eased home by six points, but with The Borderers matching them with four tries and so earning two bonus points as consolation for a third defeat in six matches.
 
For Gorseinon the try scorers were Sean Haycock, Alan Evans (2) and Jamie Evans, all converted by Jack Gronow to go with two penalties, with praise heaped on 45 year old Georgian tight-head prop Gareth Simbili for coming out of retirement to help out and putting his vast experience to good effect in the close exchanges.
 
At the other end of the age spectrum, the Borderers had teenage full back Harry Fuller making his debut and claiming two tries alongside others from flanker Callum Evans and second row Dan Bennett, with all four scores converted by No 10 Nico Setaro.
 
Whitland: Harry Fuller: Olly Hughes; Dylan Richards; Geraint Jones; Trystan Rees: Nico Setaro; Josh Thomas: Marc Jones (Capt); Iwan Lewis; Ceirion Evans: Dai Ebsworth; Dan Bennett: James Thomas; Callum Evans; Raff Williams. Replacements: Trystan Bowen; Benji Kirk; Chris Marks; Ben Taylor; Tomos Walters; James Stephenson.
 
 
 

Gibby guides super Scarlets win at last

 

Llanelli Wanderers 14 - Pembroke 26

 
It was a case of ninth time lucky for Pembroke as they finally celebrated victory at Llanelli Wanderers – but there was nothing fortunate about this deserved success because they fought back from an early 14-point deficit to be only two points adrift at the break and then scoring two converted tries after that to also take a bonus point.
 
And the hero of the afternoon was undoubtedly outside half Lewys Gibby, who grabbed both their first-half scores and after full back Tom Harding-Jones had put them in front Gibby claimed his third try to really put the icing on the Pembroke cake!
 
The Wanderers took that 14-point lead with tries from winger Jacob Williams and centre Rhydian Morgan, both converted by full back Lewis Jones but with skipper Scott Powell leading his pack by example alongside a ball-winning back row of Josh Hicks, Rhodri Walters and Evan Sheldon,  Gibby began the fight back with his two-try burst, one converted by Lewis Davies and one a terrific effort where he sidestepped past three bamboozled defenders after linking with young scrum half Matthew Lewis, home from Hartpury and showing his eagerness to turn hard-won possession by Lloyd Davies, Seamus Wiseman, Will Edwards and prop Evan Phillips on debut.
 

Scarlets shine in second half

 
Tom Harding-Jones always posed a threat with his ability to run the ball from deep positions, working well with Fraser James, Luke Hartland and Morgan Owens – and he scored the Scarlets’ third try which Lewis Davies converted.
 
It was perhaps appropriate that Gibby should round things off in style after Matthew Lewis broke clear near his own line and raced 60 metres before finding the ubiquitous Gibby in support on a run to the posts for Davies to convert.
 
Pembroke Coach Geraint Lewis was understandably jubilant and told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk
 
“Of course every one of us is delighted and it is a real boost for all we are trying to do in this season of consolidation, with no promotion or relegation, so we had five teenagers involved here as part of that building for the future. We adopted a no-frills approach and Lewys was magnificent – but everyone involved deserves the highest credit for such an effort because everyone was totally focussed and committed to their role.”
 
Pembroke: Tom Harding-Jones: Luke Hartland; Fraser James; Lewis Davies; Morgan Owens: Lewys Gibby; Matthew Lewis: Evan Phillips; Seamus Wiseman; Lloyd Davies: Scott Powell (Capt); Will Edwards: Evan Sheldon; Rhodri Walters; Josh Hicks. Replacements: Billy Kinnear; Barry Alderman-john; Jack Hagan; Dan Gosnald.
 
 

Division Two (West):

 

Mariners miss out after a good first half

 

Milford Haven 5 - Pontarddulais 15

 
Milford Haven trailed Pontarddulais by 8-5 at half time but with second use of the strong wind at The Observatory Ground but The Mariners were unable to turn pressure into points and The Bont grabbed the only score of the second period to take the verdict.
 
Ben Jenkins scored the game’s opener for The Mariners but Steve Martin missed the simple conversion – and The Bont responded with a try by outside half Dave Benton and a penalty as reward for catching the eye amongst their back division.
 
Dan McClelland played well at scrum half for Milford after the interval as twins Jimmy and Scott Buirds also worked hard respectively at prop and No 8, the latter gaining good ball alongside Ben Groves and skipper Dewi Williams.
 
Perhaps they allowed a little anxiety into their play as time wore on but The Mariners had most of the possession but again allowed The Bont to score from limited possession as No 8 Jim Wray scored a try which Benton converted, leaving Milford Haven without even the consolation of a bonus point after so much effort!
 
Milford Haven: Jamie Lewis: Lee Riley; Dan Jenkins; Dan Birch; Ieuan Davies: Steve Martin; Dan McClelland: Ben Jenkins; Luke Ryan; Jimmy Buirds: Brandon Cooper; Zac Davies: Ben Groves; Dewi Williams (Capt); Scott Buirds. Replacements: Kyle Hamer; Chris Hall; James Trueman; Jay Goodall.
 
 

Depleted Seasiders pay the price

 

Kidwelly 62 - Tenby United 5

 
Tenby United travelled to Kidwelly with only 13 players, three of those on permit from St Clears, and with coach Andy Barlow sportingly agreeing to turn out on the wing so it could be argued that to lost 62-5 wasn’t a bad performance, especially since they were reduced to 12 players when influential No 8 Jack Broadhurst suffered a neck injury and his part was over.
 
Gwion Jones scored The Seasiders’ only try and in hindsight it might be argued that they might have been better postponing the home since so many players were unavailable
Be that as it may, those who did turn out deserve every credit, especially the likes of second row Geraint Harries and scrum half Jack Howells for helping out in a lost cause!