2018 Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup - First round ties
Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup:
(Sponsored by Huw Hughes & Associates)
All Blacks take the sting out of the Wasps
Llangwm 10 - Neyland 29
Neyland scored five tries against Llangwm at Pill Parks and conceded only one by The Wasps, who can at least take consolation from the fact that they more than held their own up front and were really in the hunt at the break as The All Blacks were only 7-3 ahead.
Luke Hayman kicked the Llangwm penalty before the oranges and big Josh Hicks claimed their second half try to continue his excellent form of last season, with Hayman landing a terrific conversion.
But Neyland built on their opening try by utilising the centre play of Alex Codd and skipper George Williams and classy full back Patrick Bellerby, who added their second score, which new recruit Dillen McGaffin (originally from the Southern Hemisphere) converted.
The All Blacks added further tries by outstanding forward Luke Griffiths-Dawes, replacement winger Henry Macbeth, scrum half George (from a quickly-taken tap penalty) Evans and No 8 Ben Williams.
The win earned Neyland a quarter-final tie at St Davids and on this form they will certainly start that match as favourites, whilst Llangwm showed that if they can retain this squad they should have a better season than the last one.
PHOTO:
Patrick Bellerby - scored a good try for Neyland
Seagulls shade a tough tussle
Haverfordwest 14 - Fishguard & Goodwick 18
Fishguard & Goodwick will now play at Whitland as reward for easing home in this tough test against a Haverfordwest team which pushed them all the way, despite being a section lower in the league set-up.
The Seagulls made the better start as they established a ten-point lead through a try by new captain Chris Shousha which was converted by No 10 Kyle Keane to go with a well-struck penalty.
But The Blues made a determined come back to lead 14-10 thanks to tries by Danny Richards and Ben Skudder, both converted by Craig Barnett, making a welcome return at Pembroke Road.
As both teams sought for supremacy a Keane penalty hauled his side back within a point and they regained the lead when Ed Bendall’s pace saw him score the third try for The Seagulls – and although his conversion attempt was off target it didn’t affect the outcome since neither team was able to add further points despite whole-hearted efforts in the final stages of an entertaining game.
PHOTO:
Ed Bendall - winning try for Fishguard & Goodwick
Holders go through in battle of the ‘Abers’
Aberaeron 25 - Aberystwyth 27
KO Cup holders Aberystwyth made progress into the last eight of this year’s competition at the expense of Aberaeron, but not before the host club had made them battle all the way.
Billy Simpson and Dafydd Lloyd scored Aberaeron’s tries and there was a conversion and penalty by Rhodri Jenkins – but Aberystwyth contributed four tries of their own, alongside two conversions and a penalty.
Two matches won on concessions:
Sadly, two of the first round ties saw teams go through because opponents couldn’t field a team – with Pembroke moving in to the semi-finals as they were eager to make the journey to play Cardigan but The Teifisiders conceded to match, although they had home advantage!
Milford Haven also made progress at the expense of Pembroke Dock Harlequins, who were collectively unable to raise a team to cross the Cleddau Bridge and travel ten miles or so to The Observatory Field.
One fascinating tie to come:
There is now one tie left and that takes place at Parc Lloyd Thomas as Crymych play hosts to Tenby United in a Division One (West) league match will double as a KO Cup game. – It should be an interesting clash as the double rewards are tangible for both clubs!
Revised Quarter Final Draw:
(All ties to be played before 30th November)
Milford Haven v Pembroke
Crymych/Tenby United v Aberystwyth
Whitland v Fishguard & Goodwick
St Davids v Neyland