Rugby Reports 13th January 2018
PHOTO:
Josh Hicks ploughs forward for The Wasps
Featured Match:
Division Three (West) A:
Laugharne win well in Pill Parks’ mud
Llangwm 0 - Laugharne 32
Laugharne completed the double over Llangwm at Pill Parks, with The Wasps’ ground staff performing miracles to get the game played after so much rain, the visitors having already beaten The Wasps 38-3 at home.
The home side started off slowly and soon found themselves five points adrift as Laugharne scrum half Gethin Jones opened their account with a blind-side snipe from a scrum and a clever grubber-kick and chase before winning the race for the touchdown.
Then Laugharne flanker Mikey Williams scored from a successful push-over attempt and hooker Richard Walters rounded off a catch and drive move with a try to give his side a 15-0 lead at the interval.
But it hadn’t been all one-way traffic because Josh Hicks as usual featured for The Wasps with some powerful surges, coming close on a few occasions as he found willing support up from by Gavin Jones, Gethin Thomas, Ieuan Power and skipper James Lewis, with Ian Griffiths and Ashley James tackling like demons alongside Danny Chesmer and Jamie Brayford.
It was a similar story in the second half as The Wasps tried hard but Laugharne added further tries by full back Tom Davies and a second score for Mikey Williams, plus seven pointsd from a penalty try as the home pack tired.
Llangwm: Steve Picton: Spencer Rourke; Dan Chesmer; Ashley James; Dan Morgan: Gavin Jenkins; Ian Griffiths: Gavin Jones; Gethin Thomas; Ieuan Power: Jamie Mock; Dave Reynolds: James Lewis (Capt); Jamie Brayford; Josh Hicks.
Replacements: Jonathan Carter; Dafydd Bowen; Richard Scriven; Mark Hicks; Scott Gregory.
Laugharne: Tom Davies: Gareth Spiers; Tom Jameson; Tom Windsor; Geraint Waters: Owain Thomas; Gethin James: Rhys Thomas; Richard Waters; Dorian Harris: David Thomas; Ben Lloyd; Hugh Thomas; Mikey Williams; Carl Smith.
Replacements: Andrew Phillips; Gavin John; Tom Waters; Gwyn Nicholls.
PHOTO:
Wasps put under pressure by Laugharne
Championship Division:
Otters go down to disappointing defeat
Rhydyfelin 32 - Narberth 21
Narberth suffered the disappointment of defeat against Rhydyfelin as the homesters played with a spirit and skill that belied their bottom-two place in the table.
The Otters had won by 22-11 at home but knew they faced an even sterner task as they trailed by 20-16 at half time and were unable to follow the pattern of recent matches where they have come from behind at the break to win.
Flanker Corry Bushell gave Rhydyfelin an early lead with a try before Ianto Griffiths slotted a penalty for The Otters, only for home kicker Lewis Smith to score from a similar effort.
Then full back Tom Studley sliced through for a try which Smith converted and although The Otters responded with an unconverted try by centre Kieran Jones alongside a penalty and cracking try from Ianto Griffiths to lead 16-5 Rhydyfelin lead by four points at the break after hooker Scott Pritchard was driven over for an unconverted try after fully 46 minutes of a long session.
There was no scoring in a tight third quarter but then Rhydyfelin struck twice via Kyle Parry and David Grattan, one converted by Lewis before The Otters finally responded with a late try by Sean Jenkins.
But it was too little, too late for Narberth and although they stay second in the table their lead over third-placed Tata Steel was cut to two points after The Steelmen had beaten fourth-placed Trebanos at home.
PHOTO:
Ianto Griffiths - try in vain for Narberth
Division One (West):
Seasiders make it five on the trot
Tenby United 15 - Gowerton 9
An excellent all-round team performance helped Tenby United make it five wins on the trot as they were deserved winners against third-placed Gowerton at Heywood Lane.
Gowerton had prevailed by 40-24 when they had home advantage but found The Seasiders a different kettle of fish in this return tussle as they showed true grit after early injuries for influential skipper Johnny Morgan and prop Rob Luly, replaced respectively by Ollie Wingfield and Ethan Morgan.
A nasty injury to impressive hooker Luke Hansford came late, when The Seasiders were defending a six-point lead but they defended as a unit and their reward was this morale-boosting success.
Tenby trailed 9-5 at the interval but had defended well into the elements so that all Gowerton could muster were three penalties from full back Josh Hamer as The Seasiders scored a cracking try which featured excellent handling amongst forwards and backs before Yannick Parker took the final pass to score an unconverted try.
The second half was just as competitive but The Seasiders used the wind at their backs well as Craig Barnett slotted a penalty and then added the extra points to another team try where Pat Roberts was the scorer in another excellent performance by the entire Tenby squad.
PHOTO:
Yannick Parker - try scorer for Tenby
Division Two (West):
Whitland graft for a bonus point
Llanybydder 22 - Whitland 33
Whitland had beaten Llanybydder by 96 points at home but knew they faced a tougher tussle in this return fixture and that is just how things turned out as The Borderers established a 25-7 lead at the interval and added a fourth try afterwards as Llanybydder kept plugging away with the elements in their favour.
Giving Whitland a good start were wingers Scott Candler and Liam Price as they were put through by quick hands from Johnny Thomas, Ryan Davies and James Stephenson.
Then centre Ryan Davies grabbed a third as half backs Tom Parry and Nico Setaro kept their pack going forward, with Setaro notching two conversions and two penalties.
Richard Davies scored a try for Llanybydder which Steffan Richards goaled and Richards joined Dafydd Aled Evans on the try-sheet after the break, alongside another conversion and penalty.
But The Borderers always held the edge and sealed victory, and pouched that vital bonus point, when Setaro landed another penalty and No 8 Jack Mason rounded off a driving maul to claim a deserved try.
Whitland: Tomos Evans: Gethin Lewis; Michael Ryan: Dai Ebsworth, Ben Kirk: Marc Jones (capt); Ryan Morgan; Jack Mason: Tom Parry, Nico Setaro: Liam Price; Johnny Thomas; Ryan Davies; Scott Candler: James Stephenson.
Replacements: Aaron Mayne; Raff Williams; Sean Coles; Kevin Allen; Adam Davies.
PHOTO:
Jack Mason - close-range try for Whitland No 8
Seagulls shot down in second half
Loughor 25 - Fishguard & Goodwick 12
Fishguard and Goodwick were definitely in with a chance at Loughor as they were just 5-10 adrift at the interval but were unable to build on a useful performance and in the final analysis could have few complaints about the final verdict.
Opening the scoring for The Seagulls was youth team hooker, playing in the back row and catching the eye alongside Chris Shousha, Simon James and skipper Gavin Walsh as he claimed a loose ball in midfield and galloped 40 metres to the line as he successfully followed his own kick ahead.
But Loughor responded with a penalty from Tom Davies before he also converted a try from Jamie George – although Fishguard started the second period with a penalty try to go 12-10 ahead.
Their hopes of avenging a 17-24 home defeat against Loughor were smashed, however, as the home side a penalty from Tom Davies and one conversion of late tries by Dan George and Morgan Bryant to maintain their place in the section’s top five.
Division Three (West) A:
Aberaeron overcome strong All Black challenge
Aberaeron 30 - Neyland 15
Aberaeron completed the double over a relatively young Neyland outfit but not before The All Blacks had pushed them all the way in dry weather but on a heavy pitch until two late scores for Aber gave them a victory that was deserved but a little on the flattering side!
Neyland actually led 10-8 at half time thanks to tries by wingers Adam Cawley and Chris Morgan against an Aberaeron penalty from Rhodri Jenkins and try by winger Rhodri Thomas – and added further points thanks to tries by powerful centre Tom Slinger, flanker Aaron Lewis and No 8 Tudur Jenkins, plus two conversions and penalty from Jenkins before Neyland finished well with a cracking try from talented young full back Tom Hughes.
PHOTO:
Adam Cawley - good try for Neyland
Cardis come out on top against The Blues
Cardigan 20 - Haverfordwest 8
Cardigan gained a victory over a depleted Blues side which lost ground on the section leaders as a result and are now in fifth place, with The Teifisiders just above them.
Cardigan were 10-3 in front at half time after centre Emyr Harries gave them the lead before Blues’ skipper Mattie Phillips cancelled it out with another penalty on target – but a Sion Hughes, try, converted by Harries, tipped the balance in The Teifisiders’ favour.
Owen Rees added another try for Cardigan after the oranges, this time unconverted, before prop Terry Lovell raised The Blues’ hopes with a close-range try, again unconverted.
But Cardigan had the final word when hooker Luke Palmer-Davies ploughed over the line
PHOTO:
Quins on the attack
Quins hold out against plucky Saints
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 17 - St Davids 10
Three tries in the opening 20 minutes for Pembroke Dock Harlequins seemingly set them on the way to a comfortable win over St Davids – before Ossie Boswell’s side were left hanging on after the visitors fought back from 17-0 to trail by just seven points, but despite late pressure, were unable to get the converted score they needed to level matters.
In treacherous conditions, the home side got the perfect start when an early driving lineout saw second row Phillip Young get underneath a heap of bodies to score.
The Quins added a second try soon after when a loose kick in midfield fell perfectly into the hands of left winger Liam Hargrave-Gibson, and he outpaced the cover defence as he sped down the touchline to score – with full back Lewis Davies doing well to convert in the swirling wind.
A third Quins try came in slightly fortuitous fashion after prop Rob Hearne lost possession as he charged to the line, but second row Dai Rees picked up the loose ball to score with the referee deeming the ball hadn’t gone forward.
But midway through the half The Saints seemed to get the upper hand in the scrums, and shortly after home flanker Hywel Baker was sin binned for dissent, the away pack managed to shove the Quins forwards off their own ball, and No 8 Anthony Davies and scrum half Fraser Watson then set up No 10 Scott James to power over in the corner.
Just before the break The Saints opted to go for a scrum five metres out instead of an easy three points, but The Quins stood firm to hold a 17-5 lead at the break.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half were understandably scrappy as the Bierspool surface began to deteriorate, but it was The Quins who looked the more threatening through the direct running of skipper Stef Halwood at No 8 and centre Harry Owen.
But The Saints dug in and then began to turn the tide – and cut the deficit by five more points when a cross kick by centre Dafydd Williams set up a close range chance for prop Dan Murphy, who charged over from close range.
Matthew Williams’ men then pushed hard for a vital third try, and James went close again when he narrowly failed to gather an inside pass from winger Mark Wilson.
Full back Gavin Smith also cut into The Quins 22 in the final play, but the home side dealt with the subsequent pressure to celebrate a hard fought win – with The Saints crossing the Cleddau Bridge home with a deserved losing bonus point.
Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Lewis Davies, Liam Hargrave-Gibson, Harry Owen, Mathew Lewis, Rhys Bradney, Aaron Cookson, Ollie Lewis, Rob Hearn, Jamie Street, Chad Monk, Dai Rees, Phillip Young, Huw Wainwright, Hywel Baker, Stefan Halwood.
Replacements: Bradley James, Will Nicol, George Flesher.
St Davids: Gavin Smith, Mark Wilson, Mathew Bennett, Dafydd Williams, Mark Wilson, Scott James, Fraser Watson, Will Davies, Adam Williams, Dan Murphy, Rhys Price (capt), Gethin Bateman, Andrew Groves, Noel Lyons, Anthony Davies.
Replacements: Scott Riches, Matthew Evans, Robin Donnelly, Josh Wright.
National Plate:
Preseli Men power past plate holders
Crymych 12 - Penallta 7
Crymych produced a splendid all-round team performance to reach the final eight of the National Plate competition at the expense of current holders Penallta, who have been playing well to achieve third place in Division One (East) but were unable to wear down the Preseli Men’s stubborn resistance in a tense finale.
The Preseli Men had first advantage of the elements at Parc Lloyd Thomas and with their pack playing well against a powerful Penallta eight who were happy to try and wear down the resistance but failed on the count.
The home eight was rock solid thanks to a tight five of Jason Nicholls, Lee Griffiths, 18 year old Kemsley Mathias, Owain Evans, and skipper Rhys ‘Beaky’ Davies, with the back row of Aled Harries, Richard Sharp-Williams and Sion Colella as a key component in the ball-winning stakes.
Half backs Arwel Davies and Luke Rogers worked well together and centre Ifan Phillips maintained his recent kicking form as he landed four penalties to give Crymych a 12-0 interval lead.
But Penallta showed what a danger they can be as they started the second period with a bang as prop Kieran Mahoney was driven over for a try goaled by outside half Joseph Scriven.
It meant that Crymych had 30 minutes to stay in front and they managed this feat thanks to their pack and some committed covering led by 38 year old centre Gareth Davies, Nick Bevan, Dafydd and Tomos Phillips.
Guto Davies, Steffan Harries and Llyr Davies also came off the bench to make useful late contributions and Crymych were able to celebrate making the quarter-finals of this nation-wise competition as their reward!
PHOTO:
18 year old Kemsley Mathias -played well at prop for Crymych
National Bowl:
Brilliant win for classy Scarlets
COBRA 3 - Pembroke 34
Pembroke made the 260-mile round trip to Meifod in Powys to take on a COBRA side which is currently playing well in Division Two (North) but had little chance of victory as The Scarlets deservedly led 17-3 at half time and were always in control thereafter as Toby Smith and half back partner Tom Lewis controlled play on the back of a committed performance by their pack.
Pembroke captain Scott Powell opened his team’s scoring after a Toby Smith half-break had created the space before the team representing the Ceireinian Old Boys Rugby Association replied with a penalty by Rhys Evans.
But The Scarlets quickly resumed control as Toby Smith landed a 40-metre penalty and then converted a superb score from Rhys Dalling after co-centre Elliot Evans and full back Luke Hartland and winger Simon Stanford also featured.
Any hopes of a COBRA comeback were quickly denied as The Scarlet back row of Sam Smith, Dom Colman and Jordan Evans was in terrific form and Will Edwards was man of the match for his all-round play alongside skipper Powell – and it was Sam Smith who ended a controlled driving maul to claim the Scarlets’ forth try, which brother Toby was unable to convert.
Then Toby Smith scored the best try of the game from deep inside their own 22 when Tom Lewis made the initial break which was continued by Dan Colley, Sean Dalling and replacement winger Barry John before No 10 Smith was on hand to score wide out before adding the extra points.
Toby Smith also rounded off the scoring with an unconverted try to leave coach Geraint Lewis purring about this performance.
“We were totally committed and produced a great performance – and it was like playing at home as we had the team bus and supporters’ buses absolutely full with loads of cars also making the long trek north – so all in all it was a memorable day for Pembroke RFC!"
Pembroke: Luke Hartland: Simon Stanford; Dan Colley; Sean Dalling; Elliot Evans (Barry John): Toby Smith; Tom Lewis: Johnny Palmer; Sean Wiseman (Max Hayward); Lloyd Davies: Scott Powell (Cyle Weatherall); Will Edwards: Dom Colman (Rhodri Waters); Jordan Evans (Jordan Gwilliam); Sam Smith.
PHOTO:
Will Edwards - man of the match in Pembroke's epic win in North Wales