Division Five (West):

 

Scarlets win bragging rights against disjointed Quins

 

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 3 Pembroke 36

 
Pembroke made the short journey down the hill to Bierspool and came home with the bragging rights after easily winning this traditional local derby against the Quins, with a bonus point thrown in for good measure.

The Quins have lost some key players and were without others who were not available - and Luke Dow earned the man of the match tag for the Scarlets by dint of the fact that he covered well at full back, scored a try and added another nine points with his boot.

But it was a solid all-round team display by Pembroke that saw them ease their way to a 29-3 interval lead and score the only try of a more competitive second half.

Full back Dow opened the Pembroke account with a try which he also converted, as he did when experienced scrum half Andrew Davies also sniped through for a good try, and Dow’s penalty put the Scarlets well on top at 17-0.

Quins’ fly half Adam John reduced the deficit with a penalty from three attempts but the Scarlets soon reasserted their superiority as bustling flanker Steve Dyde powered over the line for an unconverted try and then skipper Geraint Jackson raced clear from his wing berth for Dow to again add the extra points.

The Quins settled into a more consistent pattern of play after the interval but they were still unable to breach a resilient Pembroke defence and the Scarlets were good value for this local derby victory as centre Sean Dalling rounded off the scoring with a try that Dow converted.

Pembroke skipper Geraint Jackson races over for a try
Luke Dow - kicked well for the Scarlets and scored a good opening try
Pictures by Matthew Kelly, RawPhotography

 

Championship Division:

 

Otters off to a flying start

 

Bonymaen 11 Narberth 37

 
Early season optimism at Narberth seems to be fully justified as the Otters made the always-difficult journey to Bonymaen and came away with a convincing win from which they also pouched a bonus point when they scored the fourth of their six tries.

Back row grafter Steffan Phillips gave Narberth the early lead with a good unconverted try before Bonymaen had two dropped goals by Richard Cunniffe to nudge them a single point ahead.

But it proved to be the only time that Bonymaen had their noses in front because further unconverted tries from second row Alex Jenkins and then hooker Dan Smith, right on half time, earned the Otters a 15-6 interval lead.

Steffan Phillips’ second try, this time converted by No 10 Ianto Griffiths after three unsuccessful attempts in the opening period, gave Narberth further impetus and although Bonymaen did manage an unconverted try from Nick Harwood, it was the Otters who played really well for centre Justin Howells to claim two late tries, both converted by Griffiths.

There was still time for the Otters to add another three points when Griffiths slotted a penalty and nicely rounded off an excellent opening day for Narberth which will have pleased Jonathan Dodd, their director of coaching, and head coach Sean Gale.
 

Division One (West):

 

Crymych play well in defeat

 

Carmarthen Athletic 20 Crymych 8

 
Crymych made a losing start to life in Division One (West) but played well enough against an experienced Carmarthen Athletic side to show they will be competive in this tough section.

Crymych will look back on chances missed in a tight first half where they trailed by 6-3 as Mike Sauro slotted two penalties for the Athletic and Gareth Davies responded for the Preseli Men with a neatly dropped goal.

Sauro also opened the Athletic’s account after the break with a try that he also converted, as he did when winger Luke Marshall raced over for a try.

Crymych had the final word when replacement scrum half Dyfan Dafydd grabbed an unconverted try but it was too little, too late, to bring Crymych back in with a chance of obtaining a positive result.
 

Borderers find it tough going in the third quarter

 

Loughor 34 Whitland 6

 
Whitland played well enough for three-quarters of their opening match at Loughor but were unable to staunch the points in the 20 minutes after half time and paid the inevitable price as they went down to a Loughor side which used the power of their big pack to its full extent.

Scott Newton opened the scoring with a penalty for the Borderers which was soon cancelled out by three points from Peter Smiriglia before Loughor captain Jonathan Phillips claimed a try from his centre berth.
Smiriglia missed the conversion but soon added two penalties before a second Newton penalty saw Whitland trail by 14-6 at half time.

But they were rocked back on their heels soon after the restart when Smiriglia landed another penalty, slotted the conversion to a try be second row Ashley Davies and added his fourth three-pointer to put Loughor well on top.

They widened the gap still further when scrum half Sam Wake also sniped through, with Smiriglia again converting, and although Andrew Jenkins went close for the Borderers they were unable to add any points in a disappointing defeat.
 

Division Three (West):

Blues beaten by the Cocklemen

Haverfordwest 12 Penclawdd 28

 
Haverfordwest battled hard against a speedy Penclawdd outfit which was eager to move the ball wide – but the Blues were unable to avail themselves of chances at key times and in the final analysis could have few grumbles about the final scoreline.

The Cocklemen served notice of their intent at Merlins Bridge as they pouched ten points in as many minutes at the start as fly half Daniel Guaneri kicked a penalty and then converted a try by winger Kris Corbisiero after a mazy run saw him shrug off a few would-be tackles from 40 metres out.

But the Blues deserve credit for refusing to submit and after outside half Mikey Jones had unluckily rapped the upright with a penalty they reduced the deficit with an opportunist try when skipper Craig Barnett did well to follow up his own kick ahead and slip the scoring pass to winger Scott Candler, who raced to the posts for Jones to add the extra points.

There was no shortage of effort from the Blues as Alun Harries, Dan John, Terry Lovell and Brett Davies led things up front and new centre Grant Rogers was joined by David O’Leary, Matthew Morgan and Darren Salmon in working hard in defence – but their only reward was an unconverted try by flanker Dion Lloyd-Hughes.

Penclawdd scored further tries from No 8 Richard Jones (2) in the second half, one of them goaled by Guaneri, who also kicked two penalties to sent the Cocklemen over the winning line – but the Blues can take heart from the way that they stuck to their task against what looked like very strong opposition.

Alun Harries goes airborne in this tackle

 

Successful start for Seasiders 

Pontyberem 19 Tenby United 35

 
Tenby United got their season off to a flying start as they made the trek to Pontyberem and outlasted a gritty home side to take the verdict and scoop a bonus point as their reward.

The Seasiders were boosted by the arrival of hooker Gareth Jones from Pembroke, plus scrum half Jonathan Rogers and Damian Miller from Pembroke Dock Quins, with the first two amongst the points and Miller showing he will be a force to reckon with if he gets plenty of possession.

The Seasiders were good value for an 18-9 interval lead as outside centre Jack Guerreiro opened their account and hooker Jones pounced for the second try to go with a conversion and two penalties from No 10 Rogers, whilst Pontyberem could only muster three penalties from fly half Daniel Griffiths.

Griffiths also kicked a fourth penalty and converted a penalty try for the homesters in the second period but it was Tenby’s all-round performance that earned them the plaudits as inside centre Toby Smith and winger Dai Merrick raced over for tries which were converted by Rogers to go with another successful penalty kick that gave the talented young new recruit a 15-point haul on debut.
 

Cardis suffer at the Bont

Pontarddulais 22 Cardigan 14

 
Cardigan were in with a chance for much of their match at Pontarddulais before conceding late points – and losing Huw Davies with an eye-socket injury and Dan Evans with a damaged foot.

Conceding three yellow cards didn’t help the Teifisiders either but they battled hard in adversity as they trailed 14-7 at half time, with a good try by centre Aled Jones converted by outside half Iestyn Crompton., against home tries by Gwyn Davies and Gary Williams, who notched both conversions.

Cardigan drew level when they were awarded a penalty try for a scrum offence, again converted by Crompton, but the Bont claimed the verdict with a second try from Williams and a penalty kicked by Jonathan Lloyd.
 

Division Four (West):

 

Mariners sunk without trace

 

Lampeter 78 Milford Haven 7

 

Milford Haven got their season off to a sad start as they found themselves well beaten by Lampeter after concedinga 38-0 interval lead and ending up with no fewer than 11 tries scored against them.

They were literally blitzed by the home side’s ability to create space, with Lampeter centre Carwyn Lewis grabbing six tries – and fly half Huw Thomas having a field day as he converted all 11 tries!

Outside half Ian Rusinek did manage a second half score for the Mariners as Mark Wonnacott and Rhys Thompson battled hard up front, with scrum half Steve Picton landing the conversion but with other home scores by No 8 Aled Thomas, David Doughty (3) and flanker Ceri Thomas, it was certainly a day to forget for the mauled Mariners!
 

Mark Wonnacott and Domenico Todaro on the burst for Milford Haven - pic by Sheila Sear-Witts

 

Trim edge it against Seagulls

 

Trimsaran 22 Fishguard & Goodwick 10

 
Fishguard coach Huw Evans announced after the match that although his side had lost at Trimsaran he could see things to work on that will see the Seagulls adapt to life in this new section.

“We came up against a big pack and missed a few vital tackles – and we need to look for more off-loads to maintain momentum. We will also welcome a few more players back, which is bound to help.”

The Seagulls trailed 14-3 at half time as Alun George kicked their penalty – and converted their second-half try by winger Ed Bendall, which was created  after some good play by outstanding back row man Simon James, prop Adrian Squelch and centre Chris Sousha.

But Trim had the final word with tries from No 8 Andrew Thomas, centre Josh Daniels and winger Daniel Griffiths, whilst Ryan Edwards converted two of them and Lee Milland kicked a penalty to round off the home scoring.
 
 

Division Five (West):

 

All Blacks battered at home

 

Neyland 5 New Dock Stars 67

 
Neyland made a disappointing start to their time in Division Five (West) after relegation last campaign, conceding no fewer than ten tries as the Stars showed their willingness to run the ball at every opportunity in the second period after taking a 22-5 interval lead.

Kevin Bratcher, the new recruit from Pembroke Dock Quins, claimed the All Blacks only score in that first period but tries from Collard (2), Jones (2), Howells (2), Williams (2) and James (2) earned the Stars a convincing win, with Jones landing five conversions and a penalty to round off their big tally.
 

Wasps well beaten at Bynea

 

Bynea 45 Llangwm 3

 
Llangwm battled hard at Bynea but were never able to master the big home pack and in the final analysis could have few grumbles about the final margin of defeat.

Andrew Brock claimed the Wasps’ only points with a penalty but Bynea had tries from Mark Riley (2), Chris Mills, Jonathan Cronin, Dan Williams, Steve Coles and Mark Davies, who also landed five conversions to give Bynea a clear-cut victory.
 

Division Six (West):

 

Sorry start for Saints

 

St Davids 0 Tregaron 56

 
St Davids got their season in this new division off to one of the worst possible starts as they faced a Tregaron side likely to feature in the eventual promotion place - and conceded no fewer than 56 points whilst being unable to get a single point on the score-sheet.

The Saints were already 32-0 behind at the half way mark and although they never gave up trying they were unable to halt the relentless pressure exerted by a powerful Tregaron pack and their pacy backs.

Tries came at regular intervals from flanker Rhydian James (2), No 8 Gareth Jones (2), prop Damian Pugh and brothers Nigel and Gareth Jones, playing together in the centre. Chris Jones converted five tries and landed two penalties to help pile up the points for Tregaron, who were as delighted in victory as the Saints were disappointed in defeat!