Championship Division:

 

Otters come back from the brink

 

Newcastle Emlyn 34 -  Narberth 34

 
Narberth battled back from the brink of defeat against already-relegated Newcastle Emlyn and their high-scoring draw means their coveted Premiership Division status is now safe, barring a freak result when fellow stragglers Bonymaen entertain champions Merthyr, who are already confirmed as clear winners,  but hopefully will still take a full squad to round off their season in style, rather than give a run out to fringe players.
 
Because to stay above The Otters, Bonymaen would have to beat the champs, gain a bonus point for scoring at least four tries and considerably boost the points’ difference between them and The Otters. There is also another intriguing factor of uncertainty because highly-respected ‘All Wales Sport’ today have Narberth six points ahead and knowing The WRU’s error-strewn results service who knows which is correct!
 
Bearing in mind the importance of the match, where a Narberth win would ensure safety, they made a dreadful start as they conceded 14 points in the opening ten minutes, 19-7 adrift at half time and a startling 34- 19 behind midway through the second period, and so needing to score three times.
 
But this they managed to do with two tries, a conversion and penalty, but with still only enough to claim a draw.
 
For the record, Emlyn had tries by Bleddyn Morgan (2), Mike and Llyr Jones, plus Steffan Evans, who also landed three conversions and a penalty – whilst The Otters’ tries were scored from a penalty try alongside others by Ilan Phillips (2), Lewys Gibby and Jon Rogers, who also kicked two conversions and a penalty in that frantic finale.
 
There was good news which soon filtered through that Bonymaen had lost at home by 26-14 to second-placed Neath and now comes that lengthy wait until Bonymaen entertain Merthyr on May 7^th, when all will finally be revealed, one way or the other!
 
Newcastle Emlyn: Steff W Evans: Llyr Jones; Teifion Davies; Andrew Owens; Bleddyn Morgan: Steffan Evans; Mike Jones:  Emyr Davies (Capt); Alex Williams; Ifan Bryant: Bleddyn Davies; Dyfed Morgan: Calum Evans; Sam F Evans; Callum Williams. Replacements Ioan Rees-Williams;  Teifi Thomas; Aled Davies; Daniel Havard;  Harry Holden; Osian Dafis; Dion Jones; Steff Jac Jones.
 
Narberth: Ashley Sutton: Ilan Phillips; Hedd Nicholas; Harrison- Griffiths; Dean James: Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby: George Rossiter; Kyle Hamer; Ryan Rees: Will Blackburn; Rhys Williams: Caleb Salmon; Tom Powell (Capt); Jac Bennett. Replacements: Hywel Baker;  Finn Thomas; Chris Davies; Josh Hamer; Sam Davies; Alex Williams; Osian Evans; Rhys Harries.
 
 
 
 

Division Two (West):

 

Mariners are sunk by youthful Athletic

 

Milford Haven 14 - Carmarthen Athletic 38

 
Milford Haven’s disappointing season ended on a low note as they lost their final match in Division Two (West) to a Carmarthen Athletic team which included a number of their academy team but still managed to run in six tries to The Mariners’ two as the visitors to The Obs ended up in third place and the homesters ended up bottom, ten points adrift, with only two wins from 16 starts.
 
It has been an awful season with injuries, like influential skipper Luke Ryan nursing a badly broken thumb, and players working away, and a sad way to finish for coaches Steve Martin and Lee Riley to end their time with the team.
 
Assistant coach Riley has been playing for The Mariners over a 25-year period and again had to turn out as a replacement because of the shortage of players, whilst Martin, who had played at a much higher level with Narberth as a classy centre, was forced to play again at full back after originally being chosen at outside half – but James Williams was available to play at short notice and so filled the pivot’s role.
 
Dai Sweeny returned from injury to the back row along with try scorer Ieuan Davies and captain Dewi Williams, who certainly led by example as the other Mariners’ score was a penalty try, following good work by Chris Hall, Ethan Aldred and Dam McClelland..
 
But it was the youthful vigour of The Athletic that told as they ran in tries by Morgan Morse, Richard Davies, Kai Summons, Ethan Price, Jo Rhys Ellis and Zac Williams, who also landed four conversions.
 
Milford Haven: Lee Riley: Owen Evans; Robbie Jones; Dan Jenkins; James Trueman: Steve Martin; Dan McClelland: Aaron Mayne; Ryan Williams; Ben Jenkins: Chris Hall; Ethan Aldred: Dai Sweeny; Ieuan Davies; Dewi Williams (Capt). Replacements: Jordan Davies; Morgan John; Chris Treiber-Jenkins; Brandon Coopper; Ethan John.
 
 
 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Cardis finish league programme in style

 

Amman United 17 - Cardigan 30

 
Cardigan rounded off their league season in style with a win over Amman United that was a little more comfortable than the final scoreline might suggest, since the home side grabbed a late score in their desperate efforts to take something out of defeat with a second try by No 8 Alun Lewis, converted by outside half Iestyn Griffiths.
 
But by then Cardigan were assured of victory as their pack played really well and Shaun Leonard was kicking well to claim half of their points with all three conversions and three penalties, one from long range.
 
It was Leonard who opened their account with a tenth-minute penalty and six minutes later he added the simple extras when co-centre Iwan John intercepted a floated pass as Amman tried run the ball out of defence and raced to the posts from 20 metres out.
 
It says much for Amman’s battling spirit that they fought back three minutes later when good forward pressure allowed No 8 Lewis to score his first try but three points more from Leonard saw The Teifisiders take a 13-5 interval lead.
 
Cardigan continued to exert pressure afterwards and added further tries from winger Jack Taylor and full back Alun Jenkins, both converted by Leonard alongside his third penalty – and all Amman could muster in return was a close-range try by scrum half Lee Evans.
 
Then came Lewis’s late score but despite their part in an entertaining tussle but Amman must now hope that Haverfordwest do them a favour by beating Llangadog next Saturday to stay in Division Three – whilst Cardigan must now prepare for their Welsh Rugby Union Division Three Cup Final against Tredegar Saracens.
 

Good luck to The Teifisiders after The WRU penalises their efforts

 
It is a magnificent achievement by The Teifisiders and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk wish them every success but still deplore The WRU’s ridiculous decision to play it at Rodney Parade, the home of Newport Dragons, just down the road from their opponents’ headquarters.
 
The powers that be can pontificate all they like about the venue being prearranged but that is pathetic because there are so many other grounds just as suitable – and mean that one set of players and supporters must trave about two miles and the others have to travel 104 miles – AND FOR A ONE O’CLOCK START ON A SUNDAY!
 
We have tried to contact officials for an explanation but none seem available. We at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk have tried to support The WRU on other occasions but this action is awful and fully supports some of the many bad comments about our governing body which demand an Extraordinary AGM about genuine concerns – and this useless boss should resign immediately for a lack of leadership.
 
It is best summed up by the ridiculous decision to sack all the young hub officers, who do amazing work in our schools, but are being booted out whilst the afore-mentioned boss, whom I understand gets paid a small fortune – and we shall have more to say on this matter in the near future!