Steffan Phillips and Adrian Killa combine in a Narberth attack

 

Championship Division:

 

No complaints for disappointing Otters

 
Narberth 18 - Rugbi Gogledd Cymru 22

 
Narberth hopes of maintaining a good start to the season were brought down to earth as they were edged out by a well-drilled and enterprising Rugby Gogledd Cymru side which shook off the six-hour drive from North Wales to gain their first win at this level.

They looked full of running from the outset but it was the Otters who took the early lead after Ianto Griffiths missed an early penalty but soon made amends with a snap dropped goal and second penalty chance on target.

But RGC served notice of intent as some weak midfield tackling allowed winger Tom Blackwell to score in the right corner before outside half Rhodri Carlton-Jones added the difficult extra points.

Griffiths nudged Narberth back in front but RGC centre Harri Evans, who has played rugby league for Widnes, burst through for a cracking try which Carlton Jones converted – and another successful Griffiths’ kick saw the Otters trail 14-12 at the break.

Second row Adam Williams increased RGC’s lead after the oranges with an unconverted try and although the Otters hauled themselves back within a point from two more Griffiths’ penalties they rarely looked like to score a try – and RGC had the final word when replacement Morgan Williams notched a penalty to send the North Walians’ home with a deserved win.

Wayne Williams tidies up well

 

Division One (West):

 

Phillips peps Preseli Men’s plans

 

Crymych 35 - Kenfig Hill 29

 
Adam Phillips was the toast of his Crymych colleagues as the full back scored one of their three tries against Kenfig Hill, landed a conversion and kicked the six penalties which saw the Preseli Men to victory.

It was no more than Crymych deserved after playing some good rugby to open up a 21-8 lead during the first period but sat back and found themselves 26-21 down at half time.

Whatever coach Robin Davies said at half time it certainly worked because the Preseli Men exerted a tweezer-grip influence afterwards and Phillips did the rest.

Winger Gavin Thomas raced over for two early Crymych tries and Phillips converted one as well as landing three penalties but Kenfig Hill responded with tries from Tom and Kyle Davies, Chris Prosser and a penalty try right on half time to earn a bonus point, with three conversions and a second half penalty by Rhodri Luke.

But Crymych’s pack was outstanding in the second half and Phillips punished mistakes made under pressure by Kenfig Hill to add three more penalties and a try which set the seal on an excellent home performance.

Gavin Thomas - two tries for Crymych

Borderers blow a first-half lead

 

Whitland 24 - Carmarthen Athletic 26

 
 
Whitland went agonisingly close to victory against old rivals Carmarthen Athletic but lost out when a late, late dropped goal by Athletic No 10 Jack Wilson hit the upright and bounced over the bar to edge his side home by two points.

Carmarthen Athletic had also started well as Mike Sauro landed two penalties but as young forwards Callum Tree and Zac France-Miller played well up front the Borderers were 18-6 ahead at the break thanks to good tries by New Zealand winger Matthew Hayden and France-Miller alongside a conversion and two penalties by Scott Newton.

Newton also found the target with two more penalties in the second half but in one soft spell the Borderers allowed the Athletic back into contention with tries by winger Ifan Bevan, and full back Adam Davies. Sauro slotted a conversion and a penalty – and then came that last-ditch dropped goal to ruin Whitland hopes of a first league win of the season.

Scott Newton - kicked well for Whitland

 
Division Three (West):

 

Seasiders look sharp in successful start

 

Tenby United 43 - Llanybydder 14

Tenby United continued their excellent start to the new season as they followed up a comfortable win at Pontyberem with this even more convincing success at home to Llanybydder.

Toby Smith gave the Seasiders an early lead with a try followed within minutes by a try from his brother Sam, both converted by outside half Jonathan Rogers, who also landed a penalty after Llanybydder opened their account with a Llyr Davies penalty.

 

A second Davies penalty gave Llanybydder hope but they lost Dai Bryant to a 30^th minute red card before Tenby’s Harry Bolton followed soon afterwards with yellow card

Winger Simon Stanford showed his paces after the interval when he raced over for a try converted by Rogers but although Davies kicked his third penalty for Llanybydder, the Seasiders increased their advantage with an unconverted try by scrum half Jason Ronowitz.

Jack Guerreiro became the second Tenby player to be shown a yellow card before the visitors claimed their only try through winger Sion Walker

But the Seasiders bounced back with a Sam Davies’ try which Tom Lewis converted, as he did when Stanford steamed away for his second score.

Tenby lost influential second row Chris James with a late yellow card but it mattered little because the Seasiders were home and dry – and already looking forward to their match at Gorseinon this weekend!

 Sam Smith - scored another try for Tenby United

Blues beaten in closing stages

 

Gorseinon 32 - Haverfordwest 29

 
Haverfordwest endured a last-ditch defeat at Gorseinon after they had led for major parts of the match but conceded a late penalty try which was converted by Sam Evans which robbed them of a vital victory.

The Blues played well as a team and were good value for a 17-13 interval lead as flanker Carl Rees claimed two tries as reward for his marauding display alongside No 8 Alun Harries, who claimed the other Blues’ score as Craig Barnett slotted one conversion.

Gorseinon hooker Marcus Thomas scored his team’s first-half try as Evans added the conversion and two penalties.

Nicky Southgate added a second try for the homesters, again converted by Evans but Haverfordwest No 10 Mikey Jones and half back partner Matthew Morgan scored second-half tries, one converted by Jones, to give them a 29-20 lead coming into the home straight.

But Gorseinon kept plugging away and were rewarded when Evans scored a try, and converted that late penalty try which edged Haverfordwest out – but the Blues at last had the consolation of two bonus points for their part in an entertaining tussle.

Matthew Morgan - try for Haverfordwest No 9

 

Teifisiders take a last-minute dip

 

Cardigan 25 – Llandeilo 28

Cardigan will undoubtedly look back on this match against Llandeilo as one they should have won as reward for some good rugby that saw them ahead by 20-6 near half time but conceded vital soft points, as they did later in this absorbing clash when Llandeilo managed to ease home by three points.

More disappointed than most have been winger Dorian Butler, back in action and looking full of running as he scored a try-hat-trick to go with a try by lively second row Matthew James, these scores earning the Teifisiders a bonus point to go with another for being within seven points of the opposition at the finish.

Iestyn Crompton contributed a conversion and penalty for Cardigan but Llandeilo completed victory with tries by Dion Thomas, Liam Protheroe and Owen Roberts, whilst ace kicker Celfyn Davies chipped in with 13 points from two conversions and three penalties.
 

Matthew James - try for Cardigan 2nd row