Feature Match:

 

Division Three (West):

  
 

Blues bag a bonus-point win

 
 

Haverfordwest 46 - Trimsaran 22


 

Haverfordwest showed how well they had bounced back from their surprise KO Cup exit with this deserved win over a useful Trimsaran side which played far better than their league position suggested but were eventually outscored by seven tries to four on a playing surface that was a credit to the Blues’ ground staff, writes Bill Carne.
 
But it was Trimsaran who settled the better as they played against a strong wind and controlled play in the opening stages and after jerking the powerful home pack back at the first scrum scored a blind-side unconverted try by No 8 James Stout.
 
This certainly stung The Blues into renewed action and strong runs by full back Guy Barrons and outstanding flanker Mikey Griffiths set the stage for the ball to be spread to No 10 Adam Phillips, who added the extras, as he did again soon afterwards with an amazing wide-angled attempt after young winger Logun Young scored the second try.
 
Haverfordwest were awarded a penalty because of some back-chat that the referee took exception to and after issuing a yellow card to the Trimsaran offender, Phillips restarted play by pumping over a penalty from the half-way line.
 

Purple patch pays off

 
It was a purple patch for The Blues as their packs’ handling was outstanding, with Jamie Zambas, Iori Curtis and Dan Berry always involved, as were Jake Evans, Karl Bush, Dylan Williamson and especially John Hart and in the next 14 minutes they added a further three tries from Barrons, as reward for his pace and flair, plus two tries from skipper Jack Evans (who was heavily involved and in just the right place on those two occasions)..
 
Trim did manage a second score, this time from hooker Owen Feltwell, bit they trailed 36-10 at the break – and went further behind early in the second half as winger Scott Candler raced over after Liam Eaton had set him into space.
 
Trimsaran deserved credit for playing their part in the running rugby and they gained a bonus point through tries from skipper Steff Roberts and co-centre Lee Bates, with a conversion by No 10  Corey Phillips – but it was fitting that The Blues final try should go to hooker Iori Curtis as reward, who typified the team’s spirit by also acting as a water boy when he had been substituted!
 
 This cracking win sees The Blues remain firmly in the promotion battle, with six wins from seven starts, so small wonder that attack coach Mikey Jones told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk
“We had talked a lot in training about ball retention and taking chances when they arose – and that is just what the team did. The ‘bench’ also played a big part when the came on. It’s been a good day for Haverfordwest – and no more than the boys deserve.”







 
Haverfordwest: Guy Barrons: Logun Young; Jack Evans; Iestyn Arnold; Scott Candler: Adam Phillips; Liam Eaton: Jamie Zambas; Iori Curtis; Dan Berry: Jake Evans; Karl Bush: Dylan Williamson; Mikey Griffiths; James Hart. Replacements: Terry Lovell; Andrew Edwards; Ioan Hawkridge-Jones; Isaac Kelso-Jones; Harry Makepeace.





 

 

Division Two (West):

 

Borderers well beaten ahead of a big Betws trip

 

Tycroes 50 - Whitland 5

 
It's now six straight league defeats for Whitland after their latest difficult day saw them ship 50 points at Tycroes.
 
The Borderers were at least able to travel with a full squad, having initially named just 17 players before being boosted by players on permit after postponements elsewhere.
 
They trailed 26-0 at the interval as home scrum half Gareth Rees and winger Dan Thomas sealed a bonus point with two tries each, while No.10 Geraint Rees added three conversions.
 
The hosts didn't relent after the break as second row Tom Cooksey, No.8 Sion James, prop Rhodri Jones and replacement Iestyn Moon also crossed, with Rees twice adding the extras. But it wasn't all one-way traffic, with renowned former Whitland club captain Marc Jones, now at Laugharne, coming off the bench to power over from close range.
 
There were further plus points for the away side, with winger Tom Day shining in defence and attack, while centre Lucas Dance and flanker Connor Toland also impressed. The club are now four points from safety and face a crucial away fixture next week at Betws, the one side below them in the table.
 
Whitland: Gethin Scourfield: Gavin Smith; Lucas Dance; Stephen Brown; Tom Day: Shane Rossiter; Rhys Nicholas: Jonny Phillips; Matt Driver; Ceiron Evans (Capt): Jack Evans; Jack Jenkins: Tomos Hughes; Connor Toland; Dan Bennett (Capt). Replacements: Gareth Davies; Osian Thomas, Marc Jones, Ashton O'Riordan, Shane Clarke.





 
 
 

Division Four (West) A:

 

Wasps fall just short in epic local derby

 

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 26 - Llangwm 24

 
This local derby showed how spectators enjoy matches between local teams as Llangwm made the short journey to Bierspool to take on a Pembroke Dock Harlequins’ team that started as hot favourites as they stand second in the table – but were pushed all the way by The Wasps, who came within a single score of a second success before running out of time.
 
Leading the way for Llangwm was talented sporting all-rounder George James, who snipped over for a hat-trick of tries from his scrum half berth, whilst replacement scrum half Adam Cawley exerted a strong second half influence with two tries.
 
Ironically, in a game that eventually produced eight tries, there was no scoring for the first 30 minutes but then there was a burst of points near the break as Owain Turner scored a try for The Quins which was superbly converted by skipper Ben Hathaway.
 
But The Wasps hit back twice in the space of as many minutes from centre Morgan Walker and George James to nudge them ahead before a try by Rhys Doyle, plus the simple Hathaway conversion, pushed The Quins 14-10 in front.
 
The home side, with Craig Barnett orchestrating matters, added a third try early in the second half and looked in control until No 9 James sniped over at the posts for Breig Matthews to add the extra points.
 
Crawley claimed his second score and Hathaway converted to seemingly safe but James added his third score and Matthews converted.
 
Fortunately for the besieged Quins, The Wasps last-gasp attempt at attacking again came to nothing and so the quins picked up five valuable points – but Llangwm’s efforts were also rewarded as they grabbed two bonus points of their own!
 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Ben Hathaway (Capt): Rhys Thomas; Josh Brown; Jake Griffiths; Owain Turner: Craig Barnett; Sam James: Dan McLeod; Jack Hagan; Alfie Ball: Callum Jones; Liam Baker: Aaron James; Danny Wilkes; Liam Scourfield. Replacements: Rhys Doyle; Shaun John; Rhys Spencer; Adam Cawley.
 
Llangwm: Dylan Philpott: Charlie Kelly; Joe Johns; Morgan Walker; Alfie Elrick: Breig Matthews; George James: Joe Newton; Dan Woodward; Dan Murphy: Luke Sandell; Morgan Crowe: Liam Baker; Dylan Rowles, Morgan Rees. Replacements: Callum Jenkins; Callum Joskin; Gavin Jones; Andrew Evans; Ian Griffiths.
 
 
 

WRU Cup Matches:

 

Division One Cup – Third Round:

 

Seasiders keep cup hopes alive on Morgan's landmark day

 

 Tenby United 16 - Bedlinog 10

 
It wasn't plain sailing and it wasn't pretty, but Tenby United are now just two wins away from a cup final at the Principality Stadium after holding on to beat Bedlinog in a frantic finish at Heywood Lane, writes Fraser Watson.
 
Tries from Liam Price and Dom Colman had seemingly settled matters as the Seasiders led 16-5 with 77 minutes on the clock, only for the hosts to be left defending for their lives in injury time. The eventual final whistle sparked as much relief as it did joy among the Tenby players, coaches, and supporters.
 
Indeed, in an era where amateur cup competitions in Wales are plagued by a reluctance to travel and walkover wins, this tie was treated by both sides as anything but an unwanted fixture. The physical exchanges, and contrasting emotions after the finale, depicted two teams who'd been desperate to progress.
 

Tenby take control at the interval

 
The game started with home prop Ethan Morgan being given a guard of honour as he entered the field to make his 200th senior appearance for the club, but it was Bedlinog who started stronger. Twice they forced the Tenby pack backwards in scrums, the latter effort yielding a penalty chance that centre Ben Grzesica hooked wide.
 
But the hosts settled. Lloyd Thomas landed three points and charges into the 22 from winger Jackson Gravatt and the outstanding Hywel Baker set-up a period of pressure that culminated in the opening try. Dom Colman's powerful burst created the space for Dai Jones, and the No.9 went blind before setting up Liam Price to finish in the corner.
 
The 8-0 lead could have been more at the interval after Gravatt hacked a loose ball forward to set up another attacking platform. Twice, Thomas opted to kick close range penalties to the corner, but the subsequent lineout drives were repelled before Colman was pinged for holding on.
 

Foxes fightback before a frenzied finish

 
If Tenby ended the first half in control, then the momentum shifted within moments of the restart. The home side failed to properly gather the kick-off and from the pressure that followed, Bedlinog N0.10 Tommy Kehoe floated out a pass for winger Tom-Farrar-Evans, who only entered the fray at the interval, to score out wide with his first touch.
 
From there, the action was physical, enthralling, but often messy. The Seasiders were guilty of unforced errors as they failed to turn field position into points, and both packs were penalised frequently at the set piece. Despite the heavy surface Thomas frequently looked to go wide as full back Geraint Jones made inroads, before the outside half made it 11-5 with a 30-metre penalty.
 
He was off target with another effort but then with nine minutes left, the win looked safe when a probing kick from Jones forced a lineout, and from the drive that followed it was Colman who touched down. However, the Division 1 East side refused to die, and somehow repelled more pressure on their line before working their way upfield where Kehoe dived over to cut the deficit to six points.
 
History repeated itself moments later as the Foxes managed to go the length of the field through a series of penalties, and it took a vital last ditch tackle from Tom Edmonds to deny away full back Sam Farrah-Evans. Still the job wasn't done, but after Kehoe's pass went to ground it was Tenby replacement winner Keanu Williams who dived on the loose ball, allowing Thomas to then hammer the ball off the field and seal victory.
 
Man of the match: Hywel Baker
 
Given the inclement weather in the build-up, it was never going to be a day for side stepping and fast feet. In the first half in particular, it was the carrying and work rate of Baker that stood out as Tenby took control. On a day where fellow front rower Morgan celebrated his landmark game, it was a good day for home props.
 
Tenby head coach Jonathan Evans:
 
"We just wanted to get any sort of win. It was nail-biting at times but I think we were good value for it and the most important thing is we're in the quarter-final draw. To come away at just 8-0 at half-time was a little bit disappointing and to then concede in the first minute of the second half changed the game. It was tense at the end but young Keanu dived in and from there I just wanted the ball kicked off."
 
Prior to the game, both sides observed a minute's silence in memory of former Tenby United RFC player Mike Day.
 
Tenby United: Geraint Jones: Jackson Gravatt; Liam Price; Tom Edmonds; Gwion Jones: Lloyd Thomas; Dai Jones: Hywel Baker; Jack Brown; Ethan Morgan: Tom Barrass; Alex Jenkins (Capt): Dan Colley; Max Brindley; Dom Colman. Replacements: Joe Poole; Jack Davies; Luke Dedman; Cian Evans; Keanu Williams.
 
 
 

Seasiders Seconds succeed against former Merit Table side

 

Tenby United Athletic 29 - Maesteg 12

 
Tenby United Athletic completed a unique club cup double as they took on Maesteg at a wet and very windy Clicketts and managed the elements better against a club which once stood firm in the old Merit League for the top 12 teams in Wales.
 
Known as ‘The Old Parish’, they are undertaking the daunting task of climbing back up through the league pyramid and currently sit on top of Division Four (West Central) with seven wins and a draw from eight league games but they found the Seasiders Seconds in no mood to go out of the competition.
 
And with players of first-team experience like skipper Jack Gooding, Jordan Asparassa, Matthew Lewis, Luke Hartland, Fletcher and Jack Broadhurst alongside some promising youngsters they were more than able to hold their own.
 
In fact, they made a superb start as they played into the wind but still defended well when needed and shown their attacking capabilities to go 19-0 in front before Maesteg fought back with two tries, one converted.
 
But The Seasiders also scored their fourth try to keep ’The Old Parish’ at arm’s length to move into their last eight of a national cup thanks to tries from Jordan Asparassa, second row Lewis Catt, hooker Iorri Richards and winger Joe Andrews, three of them converted alongside a well-struck penalty by outside half Harry Rossiter, who controlled play well and kept the likes of Taz Richards, Jake Henson, Rob Clark, James Morgan and Rhys Grigg fully involved in an excellent all-round performance by The Athletic.
 
Tenby United Athletic: Mathew Lewis: Joe Andrews; Jordan Asparassa; Jack Gooding (Capt); Luke Hartland: Harry Rossiter; Fletcher Broadhurst: Rob Clark; Iorri Richards; James Morgan: Rhys Grigg; Lewis Catt: Taz Richards; Jake Henson; Will Swales. Replacements: Andrew John; Cemlyn Bolton; Cal Earland; Jack Broadhurst; Darcy Langston; Dylan Johns; Cian Knights.