Championship Cup

 

Otters miss out in first half

 

Narberth 24 - Pontypool 45

 
Narberth entertained top championship team Pontypool knowing they would face as tough a tussle as could be expected but although The Otters battled hard throughout, the result was decided in the first half as Pooler utilised the elements to good effect and opened up a 38-3 gap between the teams.
 
But it still says a great deal for the home side’s resilience that they came out after the oranges and managed to score 21 points of their own whilst limiting the opposition to a single score.
Dynamic hooker Sam Scarfe opened the pooler account and Pat Lewis added a second before Nick Gale banged over a penalty for the Otters.
 
Pooler were soon back on the attack though as full back Geraint Walsh and hooker Scarf added tries, both converted by outside half Matthew Jarvis.
 
As the interval approached  and Pooler were down to 14 men after Scarfe had been yellow carded for a high tackle on Lewys Gibby there were still two more tries from scrum half Dan Babos and centre Jack Mahoney, both converted by Jarvis.
 
Narberth opened the second half scoring with a good try by pacy winger Josh Davies which Gale converted and then unusually claimed two interception tries as reward for applying pressure; the first by livewire flanker Josh Hamer and then by George McDonald, both converted by Jonathan Rogers.
 
But Scott Matthews had the final word with a try converted by Jarvis to send Pooler home with victory – but The Otters deserve credit for their part in an entreating game, despite the strong wind which caused problems for both teams.
 
 

Division One Cup:

 

Crymych battle but edged out in second half

 

Bonymaen 18 - Crymych 8

 
Crymych battled hard at a windswept Parc Lloyd Thomas and led 8-7 at the half-way stage but Bonymaen showed they are top of Division One (West Central) as they had the better of the second half exchanges to claim victory.
 
The Preseli Men’s try was scored by Jonathan Phillips and Adam Phillips managed one penalty but the writing was on the wall as they had to defend the elements after the oranges and the visitors were just that little stronger and more street-wise!
 
 

Borderers show respect for Rob

 

Tondu P-P Whitland (L)

 
*Called off because of sad loss of Whitland life member Rob Benjamin*
 
 

Scarlets suffering player shortage

 

Birchgrove C-C Pembroke (K)

 
*Match cancelled – Pembroke unable to field a team*
 
 

Division Two Cup:

 

Mariners excel in six-try romp

 

Pyle 5 - Milford Haven 40

Milford Haven made the journey to Pyle and returned from Brynglas Field with a convincing win and six tries as reward for finally finding the running rugby that coaches Nathan Williams and Steve Martin have been looking for.
 
The Mariners did well against a big pack as Dylan Morgan was outstanding alongside Ben Groves, who carried well, whilst Jimmy and Scott Buirds also featured well against a team known as ‘The Pigs’.
 
But such was the quality of Milford’s cover defence and ability to claim 50/50 ball that all Pyle could muster was a try from Ben Keen.
 
In reply Milford’s ability to spread play wide resulted in a try brace for skipper Lee Riley alongside others by powerful centre Dan Birch (2), co-centre Dan Jenkins and outside half James Williams, who not only controlled play well but added five conversions for a personal haul of 15 points.
 
 
 

Seasiders show real resolve at Resolven

 

Resolven 5 - Tenby United 14

 
Tenby United coach Jonathan Evans was delighted with his team’s resolve shown in this match as they gained what he described as one of the best since he took over because they played as a unit, showed good discipline and prevented Resolven from taking control at any stage.
 
Conditions weren’t easy at The Vaughan Field but The Seasiders battled hard into the wind in the first period and were only 5-0 down as winger Nathan Davies claimed his side’s only score.
 
A feature of that half was the superb covering of Jimmy Davies, Nicky Guymer and 18 year old Liam Pugh, making his debut and looking the part, alongside props Frankie Boyd and Ethan Morgan.
 
Another teenage replacement in Oakley Milton joined Tom Barrass and Dan Booth in playing their part and The Seasiders took the lead when skipper Dedman finished off a close-range move, with Lloyd Evans, making a welcome return as fly half in partnership with Cam Broadhurst, adding the conversion.
 
The Seasiders added their second try from a similar platform when No 8 Nicky Guymer picked up at a controlled scrum five drive to plough over and again Lloyd Thomas added the extra points before The Seasiders were able to celebrate a deserved victory against a team currently fifth in a strong Division Two (West Central).
 


 
 

Seagulls slump to heavy defeat

 

Morriston 34 - Fishguard & Goodwick 0

 
*No further details available
 

Division Three Cup:

 

Seasiders struggle as Tumble come good later on 

 

St Davids 13 Tumble 43

 
Tumble ran in seven tries as they ended any hopes St Davids had of progressing in the Division Three Cup, writes Fraser Watson.
 
The visitors led 14-13 after a tight first half, but with the wind behind them in the second, upped the ante to run out deserved winners and keep their own hopes of coming through Group G just about alive.
 
In a frenetic start, away full back Daf Thomas picked up a loose ball and sped down the right wing to score, with No 10 Steven Hewitt converting well from out wide.
 
The Saints hit back immediately when centre Ben Joyce ran in an interception try, which Aaron Foster converted, but the pendulum swung straight back to Tumble when No 12 Steffan Price broke free the score.
 
With the elements behind them though, the hosts pressed for the remainder of the half and after hitting the post from 30 metres out, Foster landed a penalty from a similar distance when Price was sin binned for an offence in front of his own posts.
 
The outside added three more points on the half hour mark to bring things back to 14-13, only for Price to return and round off an eventful 40 minutes by barging over in the corner on the stroke of half time.
 
And the Carmarthenshire side pressed home their advantage after the break, with flanker Daf Griffiths charging down Foster's clearance kick to score before second row Ryan Williams also crossed.
 
No 13 Kian O'Reilly then rounded off a ruthless counter attack before winger Mike Edwards beat the cover defence to score, with Hewitt - who expertly used the wind in the second half - adding two more conversions and a penalty.
 
The Saints pushed for a late consolation, with No 8 Daf Williams being stopped short after a strong break from a scrum, but Tumble held firm and proceeded to enjoy their day with a fancy dress outing on the way home.



 
 

Quins’ runners to sharp for Bynea

 

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 33 - Bynea 17

 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins produced an excellent all-round team performance to beat Bynea at Bierspool after running up a 26-5 interval lead and then managing to soak up pressure as their opponents came back tat them in a disjointed second half.
 
The Quins made a cracking start as forwards and backs combined to set up tries by back rower Harry Owen and centre Aaron James, who looked particularly sharp, before Bynea showed they weren’t to be taken lightly with a try by full back Jake Samuels.
 
Then Quins’ other centre, Gethin Bradney, followed up a clever chip ahead by winger Tom Wheeler to score their third try, and his ninth of the season, before replacement Jack Davies did well to add a fourth which Morgan Richards converted.
 
The strong cross wind seemed to affect them more than their opponents after the break and Bynea grabbed two tries by flanker Finlay Cook, who also converted his second score from in front of the posts – and at 26-17 there was a little concern on the Bierspool touchline.
 
But The Quins had the final word from only their second time in the Bynea 22 during the half, second row Danny Wilkes powering over as reward for his efforts before Rogers added the extra points to set the seal on a good win for the Black and Whites, unusually playing in blue and yellow!






 
 

Nico stars but All Blacks put up a great show

 

Neyland 13 - Laugharne 23

 
Veteran outside half Nico Setaro put his experience to good effect as the Laugharne player/coach orchestrated his team’s efforts against Neyland, who deserve every credit for their part in an entertaining tussle at The Athletic Ground.
 
The All Blacks` played especially well in the first half to lead 13-11 at half time despite the early loss of talented young outside half Oliver Rothero with a head injury – but with a new recruit who played really well in prop Rafu Macaca, a nephew of current player Sam Katakai.
Scrum half George Evans gave Neyland a good start when he banged over two penalties but Laugharne levelled matters with two kicks on target from Setaro.
 
Cohesive play by the All Black backs led to a try by centre Alec Codd which Evans converted but the visitors scored a vital try on half time by Owain Williams.
 
Neyland continued to pose a threat with ball in hand but Laugharne defended well and added further tries by Cian Williams and then Setaro, who converted his own score to seal success but Neyland coach Steve Evans must have been pleased with the way his young team played, even in defeat.



 
 

Blues’ so strong in second half

 

Cwmllynfell 14 - Haverfordwest 39

 
Haverfordwest laid the foundations for this comfortable win at Cwmllynfell, who play their league rugby in Division Three (West Central) and in the final analysis found The Blues’ pack to be too strong and their backs to pacy.
 
The home side played with the wind at their backs in the first half and took an early seven-point lead before The Blues responded with an excellent try after Owen Roberts and Lee Davies created the space for big Karl Rozblat to reach the line before Roberts converted.
Lee Davies then claimed a try of his own, again converted by outside half Roberts but right on half time Taibach hauled themselves level with another converted try.
 
But with the elements in their favour Haverfordwest raised the tempo up front and they added three unconverted tries; a second for the busy Lee Davies alongside others from replacement Lee Rogers from a scrum five drive and back rower Ryan Banner from the same platform.
 
Owen Roberts then landed a penalty from near half way and from the last move of the match experienced outside half Stuart Morris grabbed his first try for the club as he swerved his way through the overworked home defence and Roberts rounded off a successful day at the helm with the added the conversion.
 



 

Cardis outlast gritty Taibach

 

Taibach 24 - Cardigan 31

 
Cardigan gained a deserved win over Taibach, who are bottom of Division Three (West Central) but played with a great deal of spirit to be 17-14 ahead just after the break but then The Teifisiders raised their game a notch and in the final analysis were value for victory.
 
Leading the way for the home side was Marcus Francis, who scored both their first half tries which were converted by Peter Daniels with side of a try brace from Cardigan shared by winger Jack Taylor and second row Craig Morris, both converted by Jack Davies, who stepped in at fly half and played well.
 
Classy full back Ben Rogers scored two good tries after Daniels had landed a penalty for the home side, with Jack Davies slotting conversions to both Rogers’ tries and notching a penalty – and all Taibach could muster in response was a late ten points before Cardigan eased through to victory.