Blues bag first KO Cup win in 30 years

 

 

 

Venue: Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn, Whitland

Referee: Chris Williams

Assistants: Jason Ludgate and Alwyn Harries

 

Three second half tries saw Haverfordwest claim the Pembrokeshire Knockout Cup for the first time in 30 years following an enthralling battle with holders Tenby United at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn.

The Blues had trailed 12-9 at half time after a volatile first half which saw referee Chris Williams dish out three yellow cards, and a red to Tenby No 8 Roy Osborne.

 

 

Any hopes supporters had of a fast open game were dashed during the afternoon when torrential downpours rendered the Whitland pitch soaking wet by kick off. But instead, the conditions made for a gripping war of attrition between two old rivals who both produced admirable displays of intensity and commitment that was appreciated by large numbers of supporters in both camps.

 

 

It was the Seasiders who had the first chance to take the lead, but centre Toby Smith was just wide with a 40 metre penalty. But the Blues then enjoyed a good spell of pressure that saw centre Ollie Reyland hauled down just short following a break in midfield, before Tenby skipper Richard Rossiter was sin binned for an offence under his own posts, with Haverfordwest outside half Ashley Sutton slotting the resultant penalty to make it 3-0.

 

But immediately Tenby responded with a superbly-worked try. Centre Jack Guerreiro burst through two tackles on half way and when he was tackled by Craig Barnett, Seasiders’ outside half Lloyd Thomas threw a lovely long pass that was finished in the corner by Greg Caine. Smith landed the wide conversion to put his side 7-3 up.

 

From the kick off, Smith surged upfield but was tackled into touch after ignoring inside support. Sutton then pulled a drop goal wide before Blues winger Darren Salmon was tackled into touch by the Tenby cover defence when he seemed set to score in the corner. Sutton did land a 40 metre penalty to reduce the deficit to a point and then with five first half minutes remaining, made no mistake from 30 metres to put his side ahead.

 

 

Tempers had often threatened to boil over during the open 35 minutes, and sure enough, three cards were handed out on the brink of half time. First Blues’ hooker Graham Jenkins was sin binned for an off the ball scuffle, but when Thomas kicked the resultant penalty to the corner, Haverfordwest flanker Adam Clark superbly stole the ball in the ensuing driving line out. Just seconds later another fight broke out which saw Clark receive yellow himself, but disaster struck for Tenby as Osborne was shown a straight red.

 

But remarkably, the Seasiders still led at the interval when flanker Jason Ronowitz sped down the left wing and brushed off several tackles to score but Smith was wide with the conversion.

 

 

In the opening moments of the second half, however, the Blues took command as Sutton darted over following a break by No 8 Lewis Wood, and converted his own try to put his side 16-12 up.

 

Indeed it was man of the match Wood, Matthew Clark and his cousin Adam, when he returned to the field, who were then instrumental in beginning to wear the 14 men of Tenby down as they carried powerfully up front.

 

More Blues’ pressure then told as right winger Salmon strolled over in the corner for a try, converted by Sutton, and the contest was then all but ended when centre Luke Harvatt went under the posts following a mix up in the Tenby defence. Sutton again converted to open up a 30-12 lead.

 

 

To the credit of both sides, they refused to fizzle out in the closing stages as both teams attacked from deep. Blues replacement Mikey Jones ran out of support after breaking from his own 22, before Smith pulled a try back for Tenby when he buried over from close range.

But moments later referee Williams blew the final whistle and the Blues were able to celebrate a long-awaited KO Cup victory.

 

“We didn’t panic at half time and I was confident we could grind them down in the second half,” said Blues’ coach Barry John.

“The back row was outstanding but it was a really tough game. It’s been a difficult season but we have stuck together right to the end, and this gives us something to build on next year.”

 

Tenby coach Gareth Thomas admitted the sending off of Osborne was critical, but was dignified in defeat: “It was a fantastic game and we battled well. I was worried Roy’s red card would signal the end of the contest but it didn’t turn out that way.

“But great credit to Haverfordwest; they took their chances well in the second half.”

 

Cup organisers said they were yet to calculate the exact number in attendance, but said they were expecting to record the biggest crowd in a cup final for a number of years.

 

Haverfordwest: Craig Barnett, Scott Candler, Luke Harvatt, Ollie Reyland, Darren Salmon, Ashley Sutton, Richard James, Gareth Green (Capt.), Graham Jenkins, Tim Phillips, Brett Davies, Gareth Phillips, Adam Clark, Matthew Clark, Lewis Wood. Replacements: Neil Phillips, Jamie Zambass, Ryan Banner, Lee Summons, Michael Jones, Kern Cunningham, Alun Harries.

Tenby United: Dan Colley, Aled Bowen, Toby Smith, Jack Guerreiro, Greg Caine, Lloyd Thomas, Will Crockford, Rob Clarke, Nicky Guymer, Johnny Palmer, Luke Dedman, Wyndham Williams, Jason Ronowitz, Richard Rossiter (Capt.), Roy Osborne. Replacements:Lee Tucker, Harry Bolton, Huw Evans, Kyle Keane, Simon Stanford, Greg Lees Griffiths, Sam Davies.