Featured Match:
 
Division Three (West):

 

Blues battle to first win of the season

 

Haverfordwest 14 Tumble 9

 
Haverfordwest finally broke their duck for the season as they fended off a concerted fight-back by Tumble after the Blues were good value for a 14-3 interval lead.

But it was nerve-jangling stuff after the interval as the home side lost their rhythm and confidence to concede kickable penalties – but luckily Steve Hewitt was not on top form for Tumble and in the final analysis the Blues deserve credit for some gritty defence in sustained periods of pressure.

In a bright start the Blues scored good tries from second row Ryan banner and pacy winger Scott Candler, both converted by full back Ashley Sutton, with Hewitt slotting a Tumble penalty in between these two scores.

Haverfordwest had to defend really well at the end of the half and Tumble continued to dominate for much of the second half but Hewitt was only able to find the target twice from four attempts.

The Blues faced added pressure as Ashley Sutton and Adam Williams were given yellow cards but their tackling ensured their try-line remained intact. Sutton was off target with a late penalty as Haverfordwest clawed their way upfield late in the game – but it mattered little because the Blues had done just enough to record their first win.

PHOTOS:
Alun Harries hunts down a Tumble attacker
Haverfordwest go close to a late try

 

Championship Division:

 

Jenkins helps Otters win a thriller

 

Blackwood 28 Narberth 30

 
A last-gasp try by big second row Alex Jenkins helped Narberth to a cracking away win at Blackwood as reward for showing true grit after trailing 13-0 in ten minutes and then 28-13 going into the final quarter.

When Jenkins ploughed over in the corner it was the first time the Otters had been in front and as well as pocketing the win they also had a bonus point for scoring four tries in a nail-biting clash.

After falling behind so early on, the Otters responded with a penalty by Ianto Griffiths and they fought back to trail by just 13-16 at the interval, thanks to a good try by centre Morgan Griffiths which his namesake Ianto converted before Nick Gale landed a long range penalty.

But Blackwood took charge in the third quarter and at 28-13 there seemed little chance of a Narberth win until Steffan Phillips scored a try from his No 8 berth and Ianto Griffiths cut through for a try as well as landing both conversions.

Then up stepped second row Jenkins to snatch the game out of the fire for the Otters and send their hardy band of supporters wild, whilst the Blackwood try scorers on the day were Owen Williams, Tom Edwards and David Ford, whilst Jake Herbertson contributed 13 points with his boot.

Steffan Phillips - good try for Narberth back row man

 

Division One (West):

 

Crymych crash out in second half

Crymych 19 Cwmllynfell 21

 
At half time it seemed as if Crymych might beat a strong Cwmllynfell side as they led 11-0 but although they extended that advantage soon into the second half they were unable to maintain their momentum and the Preseli Men suffered the disappointment of a home defeat.

Two penalties from scrum half Rhys Davies put Crymych into an early lead and then play was cleverly spread wide for left-winger Guto Griffiths to speed through for an unconverted try.

A Dyfan Dafydd penalty soon after the oranges further raised home hopes but Cwmllynfell began to claw their way back and all the Preseli Men could contribute thereafter was a try by right wing Gavin Thomas.

It wasn’t enough, however, because the visitors had tries from No 8 Craig Kelly, flanker Daniel Jones and winger Luke Battenbow, whilst Tristan Lewis managed two vital penalties that left Crymych to ponder on what might have been!

Guto Griffiths - another try for Crymych

 

Borderers beaten by ‘One Eyelid’

 

Whitland 19 Waunarlwydd 37

 
Waunarlwydd are certainly setting the pace at the top of the section table and maintained that position with a win at Neyland which was perhaps not quite as comfortable as it looks.

Indeed, the Borderers battled hard to trail by just 15-11 at half time but then the team known to local rugby players as ‘One Eyelid’ got stronger as the game went on and secured a bonus-point victory.

Waunarlwydd served notice of intent early on as tries by hooker Andrew Lloyd and winger Alex Pope, plus a conversion and penalty from John Hammett, put the visitors 15-0 ahead before a good try by Aidan Laxton and two Nico Setaro penalties reduced thedeficit to only four points at half time.

But then Waun seemed to raise their game a gear with a second try from Pope followed by others centre John Lewis and Andrew Rees seven more points from Hammett’s boot – and all the Borderers could muster in response was a third Setaro penalty and second Laxton try. 

Aidan Laxton - two tries for Whitland

 

Division Three (West):

 

Seasiders win as Cardis apply real pressure

 

Cardigan 7 Tenby United 12

Matches between cardigan and Tenby United are traditionally hard-fought and this one was no exception as both teams gave total commitment before the Seasiders maintained their 1oo% when Dai Meyrick claimed the only score of the second half.

The protagonists had been locked at 7-all after a close first period where neither side would give an inch but Cardigan had centre Emyr Harries red-carded and so had to play the rest of the game with 14 men.

By then strong-running centre Jack Guerreiro had opened the scoring for Tenby with a well-worked try that was converted by scrum half Jonathan Rogers and the Teifisiders levelled matters when left winger Dorian Butler was given the space to race over and Iestyn Crompton added the extra points.

Cardigan felt they might have had a second-half try from a strong drive but the referee was unsighted and it was Meyrick who proved to be the match winner with his unconverted try for Tenby United.

Dai Meyrick - Tenby's hero at Cardigan