Featured match:
 
Division Six (West):

 

Saints storm to vital victory

 

St Davids 18 Mynydd y Garreg 12

 
St Davids received a welcome boost to their season as they fought off the strong challenge of Mynydd y Garreg to collect an excellent home win where Craig Challonder was the man of the match with 13 points from a try, conversion and two penalties.

Challonder slotted a penalty as the only score of a scrappy first period, played in mist that shrouded the ground, after the visitors arrive late because of a puncture. The Saints were able to utilise the vast experience of Richard

Lewis, Mike Lamb, Geraint Bateman and Darren Davies in their squad as a boost to their fortunes.
Mynydd had their chances but full back Phil Jones missed two penalties and some good cover by the Saints’ back row held them out as Fraser Watson and Geraint Lewis marshalled the home back division.

Challonder added a second penalty after the oranges and then the Saints scored a cracking try initiated by Morris in his own 22 before Fraser Watson broke and linked again with Morris, who put Challonder in at the posts for a
welcome seven points.

Then Watson rounded off a good handling move before Mynydd fought back hard and replacement hooker Paul Bunnion powered over for two tries, one converted by Jones to set up a grandstand finish.

The Saints were under pressure but tackled like demons and only excellent and whole-hearted defence kept Mynydd out so that the Saints were able to celebrate their first win in this section.

Both teams observed a minute’s silence before the match as a mark of respect to former Saints’ player Jim Morris, and the match was well refereed by Dan Devine.

The St Davids team prior to the match

Saints skipper Dave Canning sets off on a charge, with man of the match Craig Challonder in support

 

 

Championship Division:

 

Otter have no answer to Ebbw power

 

Ebbw Vale 41 Narberth 3

 
Ebbw Vale showed why they are one of the favourites to win this division as they ran in six tries against a Narberth side which battled all the way but could only muster a penalty by Ianto Griffiths in response.

The Otters were already in trouble as they trailed 22-3 at half time and couldn’t stop Ebbw adding another 19 points in the second period to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Ebbw’s tries were scored by Ronnie Keynes, Gareth Davies, Gareth Williams, Sean Jones (2) and Chris Thomas, with four conversions and a penalty from outside half Carl Meyer neatly wrapping up the homesters’ success.
 

Division One (West):

 

Borderers battle back to victory

 

Kenfig Hill 18 Whitland 19

 

 
An excellent second-half effort by Whitland saw them fight back from an 18-6 deficit at half time to claim their first win of the season by the narrowest of margins.

Nicky Giles kicked the home side into an early lead with two penalties and then converted a try from flanker Dan Thomas before Whitland opened their account with a Scott Newton penalty. Centre Rhodri Clarke added a second Kenfig try before Scott Newton added his second penalty so that although the Borderers were12 points adrift at the interval they had second use of the slope and breeze.

A Will Davies break set up the chance for Newton to add a try and conversion and although he was off target with a couple of other kicking chances Whitland kept applying the pressure and two late penalties from full back Johnny Thomas were enough to nudge the Borderers to a welcome away win.

 

Johnny Thomas - two late penalties help Whitland win

 

Crymych lose in dour battle

 

Glynneath 6 Crymych 0

 
A measure of how closely Glynneath and Crymych were matched can be gauged from the fact that neither side was able to breach the other’s defence and in the final analysis it was two penalties from home kicker Jack O’Reilly which edged them over the finishing line.

O’Reilly gave Glynneath a 3-0 interval lead but the Preseli Men will look back on several try chances that went abegging and Adam Phillips, the hero the week before, was off-form with his place-kicking.

It was a similar story after the break because both teams had chances but another O’Reilly three points was enough to secure the spoils for Glynneath.
 

Division Three (West):

 

Seasiders still winning well

 

Gorseinon 23 Tenby United 29

 
Tenby United’s excellent start to the new campaign maintained its momentum as they beat an experienced Gorseinon team on its own patch and also pouched a bonus point into the bargain.

The Seasiders led 17-10 at the interval with tries from flanker Jason Ronowitz, winger Dan Colley and winger Damian Miller, his first for the club, as Jonathan Rogers managed one conversion from three attempts.

 Gorseinon responded with a try from full back Nick Jenkins which winger Callum Richards converted to go with a penalty, and they added a second Richards’ penalty and very late further tries in the second half through Matthew Stoneham and Sam Evans.

But by then Tenby had been assured of victory through further tries by centres Toby Smith and Jack Guerreiro, one converted by Rogers, to keep the Seasiders pinned firmly at the top of the table.
 

Battling Blues come back in vain

 

Llanelli Wanderers 29 Haverfordwest 24

 
Haverfordwest launched a concerted come-back attempt against Llanelli Wanderers after trailing by 23-3 at half time – but although they managed three converted tries in the second spell the Wanderers did enough to claim victory.

Mikey Jones kicked a penalty for the Blues as their only score in the first period whilst the Wanderers had tries by scrum half Kyle Richards, winger Dafydd Denton and flanker David Evans alongside a conversion by Ashley Powell, who joined Nick Gale in kicking penalties.

Powell also slotted two penalties in the second half for the Wanderers as winger Scott Candler, scrum half Matthew Morgan and replacement hooker Jamie Zambas scored tries for the Blues, all converted by No 10 Jones.
It was good work for Haverfordwest but they had to settle for a solitary bonus point despite all their considerable efforts as they remain tenth in the table with three defeats.
 

Cracking win for Cardis

 

Pontyberem 10 Cardigan 23

 
Cardigan were delighted to achieve their first victory of the season with this deserved result at Pontyberem and in the process also picked up a precious bonus point by dint of the fact that they ran in four tries.

Both teams started the day with two defeats in as many games but it was the Teifisiders who led 13-7 at the half way mark as they scored tries from flankers Dylan Davies and Dylan Richards to go with a Iestyn Crompton penalty, whilst the homesters replied with a try from centre James Stephenson which outside half Dan Griffiths goaled.

Griffiths also managed a penalty in the second half but the Cardigan defence was excellent as they denied Pontyberem any further tries and the Teifisiders also worked well in attack to add further morale-boosting tries by scrum half Tom Turner and loose-head prop Ifan James to set the seal on a welcome win.

Dylan Davies - try for Cardigan flanker

 

Division Four (West):

 

Seasiders struggle against newcomers

Penybanc 11 Fishguard & Goodwick 7

 
Fishguard were always in the hunt against Penybanc, the side from near Ammanford which has moved into the West set-up this season, but they were unable to turn pressure into points and paid the inevitable result.

Outside half Owen Higgins opened the Penybanc account with a penalty and although he failed to convert a try from winger Wayne Price he did manage a second penalty before the half time whistle.

Adrian Squelch grabbed a try for the Seagulls which player/coach Huw Evans converted but the Seagulls wasted other chances and had to settle for a bonus point for getting within seven points of the winners’ final tally.
 

Mariners’ misery continues

 

Trimsaran 48 Milford Haven 5

 
Milford Haven’s run of heavy defeats continued at Trimsaran as they conceded eight tries after opening the scoring themselves in only 28 seconds with an unconverted try, scorer not available.

But the Trimsaran pack got on top and outside half Phil Davies spread play wide so that wingers Phil Griffiths and

Tom Bonnell shared four tries and others came from flanker Jamie Evans, full back Rhys Evans (2) and replacement winger Daniel Griffiths,

Phil Davies also contributed four conversions for Trimsaran as they continued their run of played three, won three matches – leaving the Mariners without a single point after three losses.
 

Division Five (West):

 

All Blacks beaten by Llangadog

 

Llangadog 19 Neyland 8

 
Neyland ventured into unknown territory as they travelled to Llangadog, situated neatly between Llandeilo and Llandovery, but despite showing improved form they lost their third league match on the trot whilst the host club celebrated its first win.

Llangadog’s tries were scored by centre Nicky Crocker, second row Adrian Thompson and flanker Dafydd Jenkins, with two of them converted by outside half Dafydd Jenkins, whilst the All Blacks had a try by winger Darren John and a penalty from Shane Phillips.
 

Pembroke plunder points in tough tussle

 
Pantyffynon 19 Pembroke 22
 

Pembroke were pleased to come away from Pantyffynon with a narrow win that keeps them in second place whilst the host club had to endure its first defeat.

With both teams looking to make it three league wins on the bounce there was inevitable going to be some tensions but a total of five yellow cards for the Scarlets alongside two yellows and a red card for the home club, did little for the game.

The Scarlets were deserved leaders at half time as second row Will Edwards burst over from 20 metres, and burly No 8 Dom Colman crossed for two deserved tries. His first came from 35 metres out and then the second from the back of a scrum after good work by Sean Dalling, who kicked two conversions and a penalty.

Ceri Jones scored a try for Pantyffynnon which Nick James converted and two Pembroke yellow cards late on put the Scarlets under real pressure as Dan James and Robert Davies claimed late tries, one converted by Nick James for the host club, who were unable to find another vital score as Pembroke’s players and supporters heaved a collective sigh of relief when the final whistle went.

Will Edwards - try for Pembroke second row

 

Another defeat for the Quins

 

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0 New Dock Stars 29

 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins suffered another home defeat but played better than of late as they took on New Dock Stars at Bierspool and were only seven points adrift at half time.

But the Stars proved to be a little too street-wise for the Black and Whites in the second half as they added four more tries to secure a bonus point.

Tom Kaijaks, Mike Davies and Joe Powell all played well up front and Adrian Heath also used his experience to good effect as the Quins had their chances in a tight first half where Adi John missed a penalty for the Quins and the only score came from Stars left wing John Rees, a try which Jason Baxter converted.

The Stars got on top after the oranges and there further tries by No 8 Matthew Parrott, hooker John Harries and loose head prop Ian Jones before James raced away for his second try and Baxter added a second conversion.
 

No points again for Wasps

 
Penygroes 18 Llangwm 0

 
Llangwm battled hard at Penygroes before going down to their third successive defeat, with only a penalty to show for their endeavours in all three matches and with a blank scoresheet for the second week in succession.

But coach Jeremy Brock was quick to praise the way that his team stuck to their task as the front five of Mike Terry, Andrew Milward, Ben Llewellyn, Ryan John and Gavin Jones refused to budge an inch and half backs Jonathan Brock and Arthur Maulio-Martino tried hard to keep their team in contention.

But Gareth Davies grabbed three tries for Penygroes and Chris Furnell slotted a penalty to help take the home side to victory.