PHOTOS:
Mark Wonnacott on one of many bursts
Billy Marchant & Dom Todaro make a joint tackle

Featured Match:
 
Division Four (West):

 

Uplands’ backs too sharp for Mariners

Milford Haven 10 - Swansea Uplands 41

Milford Haven went down to defeat against a Swansea Uplands’ side that had backs ready to take every chance offered but the Mariners continued to show improvement under gritty skipper Mike Cockburn.

Player/coach Mark Wonnacott certainly led by example with some bone-jarring charges but he must have been pleased with the performances of his young squad, several of them fresh out of youth like winger Johnny Fawcett and outside half Even Morgan alongside flanker Dom Todaro and lock Tom Manning.

They started off on several drives through Manning, Wonnacott, Cockburn and Todaro and hooker Craig Smith but Uplands struck with real effect from their first attack as centres Harri Lees and Paul Beck but winger Ben Ghose over for a try which scrum half Sam Jones converted.

It was a similar story throughout the first half as Milford battled away but were hit on the break with further tries from Sam Jones (2) and Ghose again to trail 22-0 at half time.

Milford managed to score two tries in the second period for centre Craig Thomas, after good work by Lee Riley and Morgan, and man of the match Wonnacott but Uplands managed further scores from full back Alex Greenslade, skipper James Brannigan and Alex Withers to complete the double over the Mariners – but they knew, forwards in particular, that they had to work hard for it!

Milford Haven: Lee Riley: Tom Bullivant; Craig Thomas; Adrian Thomas; Johnny Fawcett: Evan Morgan; Billy Marchant: Nathan Rees; Craig Smith; Adam Rees: Dai Sweeney; Tom Manning: Mike Cockburn (Capt); Dom Todaro; Mark Wonnacott. Replacements: Ben Johnson; Archie Smithies; Chris Hall; Sam Dolling.

Swansea Uplands: Alex Greenslade: Alex Withers; Harri Lees; Paul Beck; Ben Ghose: James Edmonds; Sam Jones: Brynley Smith; Kyle Perkins; Nathan Withers: James Brannigan (Capt); Richard Evans: Ian Lewis; Dan Stephens; Ben Davies. Replacements: Jordan Williams; Tom Pugh; Lee Hills
 

Championship:

 

Otters fight back for deserved win

Beddau 22 - Narberth 36

Narberth produced a superb second-half come-back at Beddau, who must have thought the result was done and dusted as they led by 22-0 at the half way stage.

But the Otters showed why they are in the top four as they kept their nerve until they had the slope in their favour and with Steve Martin back to something like his best form they responded with six tries and 36 unanswered points to complete the double over a Mid Glamorgan side they had already vanquished 33-3 at home.

Beddau belied their current 12^th place in the table as tries by outside half Rhys Martin, winger Carbie Flowers and forward Bradley Coombes shook the Otters’ hardy band of supporters, especially since full back Tom Benjamin also chipped in with two conversions and a penalty.

The game was delayed for some time because of a back injury to a Beddau player but by then Narberth were on a role as Martin was joined by winger Nick Gale in scoring two tries alongside another from centre Richard James.

Ianto Griffiths landed four conversions and a penalty to set the seal on Narberth’s win as reward for the Otters refusing to surrender at the interval.

Steve Martin - two tries in great Narberth come-back

 

Division One (West):

 

Preseli Men push Loughor all the way

Crymych 18 - Loughor 22

 
Crymych pushed visiting Loughor all the way at Parc Lloyd Thomas but ended up disappointed in defeat as they were unable to take late chances that would have brought them victory over the side just above them in the table.

Crymych took an early lead with a Rhys Davies penalty and they also added a try from winger Nick Bevan alongside a second Rhys Davies’ penalty but still trailed 11-14 at the interval as Loughor had tries from flanker Greg Jervis and second row Leighton Daniel, both converted by No 10 Andrew Williams.

Loughor had a try by centre Peter Smiriglia in the second period to go with a Williams’ penalty but the Preseli Men bounced back through the likes of second row Gruff Howells and No 8 Aled Harries, rewarded with a good try by winger Gavin Thomas, converted by Rhys Davies to set up a tense finale.

But Crymych were thwarted by the Loughor defence and the visitors completed the double, having won 19-3 at home.
 

Borderers close to snatching spoils

Llangennech 22 - Whitland 22

James Stephenson scored all 22 points for Whitland at Llangennech but had to settle for his team sharing the spoils in an entertaining game where the Borderers might just have snatched the verdict with a little more luck.

Stephenson kicked an early penalty for the Borderers and after Jamie Herbert had levelled matters added two more kicks on target, only for Llangennech to come back with a try by centre Dale Watts.

Stephenson and Whitland had the final word, however, as he grabbed a late try to earn his side a 14-8 half-time lead – and repeated the process after the oranges to build a useful lead for the Borderers.

But Llangennech fought back through tries from centres John Barnes and Gareth George, both converted by Herbert, to take the lead until Stephenson made it 22-all in the closing stages.

There was still time for either team to snatch the decision but defences held out, despite the Borderers’ brave efforts at finding another last-ditch score!
 
 

Division Three (West):

 

Toby takes Seasiders a step closer

Tenby 26 - Pontarddulais 16

A virtuoso performance by outside half Toby Smith helped Tenby United gain a deserved win over fifth-placed Pontarddulais that also included a very welcome bonus point for scoring four tries.

Smith sped through for two of those himself and also brought along his kicking boots as he claimed a personal haul of 16 points – but would have been the first to admit that the Seasiders’ all-round effort was what ultimately earned this much-needed victory.

No 8 Roy Osborn gave the Seasiders the lead with a deserved try converted by Smith, who also added the extra points after he’s been put through by Luke Hansford’s ball-winning and Jack Price’s pass.

All the Bont could manage in return was a Gwyn Davies penalty after 37 minutes but they showed their ability to play well after the interval with a try for No 8 Ethan Miles and a Jonathan Lloyd penalty.

But the Seasiders responded well with a cracking corner try by powerful winger Damien Miller which Smith somehow managed to convert – but a try from Lloyd with eight minutes left reduced the homesters’ lead to 21-16 and a few alarm bells ringing.

But then  man of the match Smith had the final say as he cut through for his second try to ensure that bonus point as the icing on Tenby’s celebratory cake!

Toby Smith - 'awesome' for Tenby

 

Blues bounced out in second half

Tycroes 41 - Haverfordwest 10

Haverfordwest were still in contention at half time at fourth-placed Tycroes but a mixture of injuries and taking wrong options from the Blues saw Tycroes score another 22 unanswered points afterwards.

The Blues made a cracking start as talented young centre Scott James raced through for a try which Craig Barnett converted but then they conceded a penalty try converted by Chris Richards, who also added the extra points when No 8 Alan Price put the home side in front.

Craig Barnett responded with a penalty for the Blues but a try near the half time whistle by Scott Bowen saw Tycroes lead 19-10.

Richards opened the second half scoring with a home penalty and the full back also converted a try by scrum half Matthew James.

Replacement winger Mike Hopkins also made his mark on the game for Tycroes with a late try brace, one converted by Richards to set the seal on an eventually-comfortable home win.
 

Cardis just miss out against the Cocklemen

Cardigan 11 - Penclawdd 17

Cardigan had late chances to cause a surprise win against promotion hopefuls Penclawdd and actually had the ‘Cocklemen’ glad to hear the final whistle saw them stay alongside Gorseinon and Tenby United in the race for the section silverware.

The Teifisiders served notice of intent from the start and were eight points ahead after a 12^th-minute try from full
back Kieran Hurley and a penalty five minutes later by No 10 Llyr Tobias as player/coach Colin Davies and second row Will Brice led by example up front.

But Penclawdd clawed their way back level by half time thanks to a penalty after 35 minutes from Jamie Moore and a try right on the interval by replacement centre Owen Jones.

The second half was equally uncompromising as Moore slotted penalties for Penclawdd after 45, 51 and 56 minutes and Tobias notched a three-pointer with then minutes left to cut the deficit to six points.

It set up a real nail-biter where Cardigan had possession but couldn’t turn it into points and so the Cocklemen remain in touch – but it was mightily close at the end!
 

Division Four (West):

 

Seagulls storm to Mid Wales win

Aberaeron 0 - Fishguard 33

 

Fishguard were without several experienced players for their long trip to Aberaeron but there were excellent performances from their young charges who were blooded and came through with full colours.

Coaches Huw Evans and Randall Williams included a relatively inexperienced front row of Melvyn McVeigh, Owen Morgans and Adrian Squelch whilst Rhys Lewis and Gavin Walsh joined Mark George in a bustling back row that never budged an inch.

The Seagulls were 12-0 ahead at the break as tries came from Walsh and Lewis; the latter try converted by outside half Alun George.

Lewis added his second after the oranges and twins Owain and Rhodri Morgans also got on the try sheet from their respective positions of hooker and scrum half, much to the delight of uncle James, who is the team manager!

Alun George converted all three and the Seagulls were good value for victory!

Rhodri Morgans - good try for Fishguard scrum half

 

Division Five (West):

 

Scarlets team effort really pays off

Cefneithin 6 - Pembroke 17

Pembroke produced one of their best performances of the season against Cefneithin as they a venged a 28-3 defeat at Crickmarren with this hard-fought victory that put them level with the opposition in second spot in the section table as their reward.

Coach Geraint Lewis and team manager Kenny Small were adamant that their entire squad deserved credit for an excellent all-round performance – although there was one black spot in the fact that influential centre Sean Dalling sustained a shoulder injury.

Dalling had been involved in the early handling move that saw winger James Skeels claim a try which Dalling converted

The Scarlets added a second try, this time unconverted, as quick hands set up the chance for No 8 Sam Smith to plough three for a trademark try before Cefneithin scored their first points on the interval when Andrew McCall slotted a penalty.

Second row Alex Wilkes scored the Scarlets’ third try from another move involving forwards and backs and all Cefneithin could muster in return was a second successful McCall penalty late in thegame.

James Skeels - vital opening try for Pembroke

 

Blacks ease through despite Pant fight-back

Neyland 23 - Pantyffynnon 20

Neyland did well to record a win over Pantyffynnon after resisting a late fight back by the visitors after the All Blacks led comfortably.

The referee hadn’t helped Neyland nerves either because had recorded a Neyland penalty as a conversion so he told Pantyffynnon they were 20-23 adrift when Pant hooker Nick James tried a last-ditch penalty which went just wide – otherwise there might have been confusion indeed!

James had given the visitors the lead with an early penalty before the All Blacks established an 11-3 interval lead with two penalties by Patrick Bellerby and an unconverted try from Richard Smith, who charged down a clearance attempt to score.

Steve Hamer increased the home lead with a try from a forward drive as Craig Grice played really well up front, before Pant fought back with a try by Sean Aled Higgins – but another Bellerby penalty and try from full back Shane Phillips had Neyland looking comfortable at 24-8.

Then Neyland lost their way to concede tries to winger  Lee Rees and Steffan Williams, one converted by James as Pantyffynnon had a chance at 24-20 but elected to try for three points on the mistaken assumption that they were only three points behind!
 

Stars stay top as Wasps battle in vain

New Dock Stars 48 - Llangwm 10

Llangwm travelled to take on table-topping New Dock Stars with only 15 players so there were uncontested scrums throughout, but the Wasps battled really hard, especially after they had trailed 33-0 at half time.

Their complement included Gareth ‘Twiggy’ Jones, helping out in the back row after a long spell out of the game, whilst Scott Gregory took off his chef’s apron to play second row and showed that cooking all those breakfasts at ‘Caddie’s Cafe’ has done him no harm!

The Wasps had deserved second half tries from strong-running wingers Daniel Morgan and Mark Brimacombe, another just returning to action, so small wonder that coaches Richard Scriven and Jeremy Brock had no complaints about this depleted squad who tried their best.

For New Dock Stars there were tries for winger Tom James, who grabbed the first three scores of the game, outside half Rhodri Owen, prop Ian Jones, replacement No 10 Ifan Tatchell, Matthew Powell and Ben Collard,  whilst scrum half Jason Baxter landed four conversions.
 

No game at Bierspool
Pembroke Dock Harlequins v Pontyates
** Match postponed by mutual consent

 

Division Six (West):

 

Saints disappointed in defeat

Llansawel 20 - St Davids 7

St Davids were unable to repeat their home form against Llansawel (where they won 18-0) and allowed their bottom-placed opponents to record only their second win and move just two points behind the Saints with a game in hand.

The Saints had a good try by Jack Jones which skipper Craig Challonder converted but experienced No 8 Chris Powell led Llansawel by example with two tries from close range, with other unconverted tries claimed by prop Geraint Griffiths and winger Steffan Jones.