Pembrokeshire KO Cup – Plate Competition:

  
 

Cardigan 15 - Milford Haven 19

 
 
Venue: Heywood Lane, Tenby
Referee: Alan Jones
Assistants: Chris Oliver & Martyn Rudd
 
 
Milford Haven shrugged off the disappointment of demotion to play some good rugby as they fended off the strong challenge of a Cardigan side which battled hard but experienced their second cup final defeat in only five days after missing out by a whisker in the WRU National Division Three Cup Final  - so could take some consolation from another narrow loss against a team they will encounter in league matches next campaign.
 
It was also a bitter/sweet occasion for The Mariners’ coaching team of Steve Martin and Lee Riley, for whom it was their last match after giving so much to the club, with Riley after one excellent season after many years as a committed player and still turning out when needed despite his ‘retirement’!
 
Martin, meanwhile, has still played in a number of games this season because of player unavailability but continued to give total attention to his role as coach, after a number of years previously as an outstanding centre with Narberth, and deserved at least a spot on the bench but decided he wanted to give all his players a chance to play - which is typical of his outstanding attitude to the game!!
 
Cardigan shrugged off their stiffness to open the scoring after eight minutes when quick hands from Jac Davies,  Iwan John and Emyr Harries which Jack Davies did well to finish off before scrum half Llyr Jones kicked the conversion.
 
The Mariners opened their account midway through the period when the endeavours of Ben Jenkins, Ryan Williams, Aaron Mayne, Chris Hall and Zac Davies in the ball-winning stakes allowed James Trueman to notch a penalty.
 
The back rows also enjoyed a battle as the highlight was undoubtedly the veteran No 8s battle between Cardigan’s Colin Davies and the Mariners’ skipper Dewi Williams, with Daf Rotie and skipper Marcus Castle involved for The Teifisiders and Ieuan Davies and old war horse Dai Sweeny very busy alongside Williams.
 
Another interesting replacement for Milford Haven was another old stager in Gareth ‘Savage’ Phillips, now 46, who left local pundits pondering over whether he was the oldest player ever to appear in the KO Cup or Plate competitions!
 
Trueman and Jones exchanged penalties and then Milford took the lead for the first time when Dan McClelland put half back partner Aaron Cookson through on a run to the line which was initially called ‘no try’ by referee Jones because he thought it was held up short but on the intervention of experienced assistant Chris Oliver, he changed his mind before Trueman added the conversion to edge his team into that three-point interval lead.
 
The second half was equally competitive but there were no points until midway through when The Mariners’ pack earned three penalties, from which Trueman landed six points – and the winger almost contributed two tries but was recalled for a foot just in touch and a forward pass.
 
So, Milford Haven led 19-10 going into the closing stages before The Cardis somehow managed to raise the tempo again and their well drilled forwards, with replacement Aaron Tomkinson involved, kept good control from a concerted drive for hooker Sean Phillips to claim the touchdown.
 
But there was no time left for any change in the scoring and Milford Haven captain Dewi Williams accepted the plate from sponsor Huw Hughes to give Messrs Martin and Riley the best possible send-off!
 
Cardigan: Alun Jenkins: Jack Taylor; Iwan John; Emyr Harries; Aaron Evans: Jac Davies; Llyr Jones: Nathan Bowen; Sion Phillips; Andrew Jones: Kieran Hurley; Dan Jones: Marcus Castle (Capt); Daf Rotie; Colin Davies. Replacements: Ben Hughes; Will Brice; Dean Harries; Aaron Tomkinson; Kieran Greenland; Danny Bradshaw; Sam Lloyd.
 
Milford Haven: Robbie Jones: James Trueman; Dan Jenkins; Dan Birch; Dean McSparron: Aaron Cookson; Dan McClelland: Ben Jenkins; Ryan Williams; Aaron Mayne: Zac Davies; Chris Hall: Jack Morgan; Ieuan Davies; Dewi Williams (Capt). Replacements: Jamie Parr; Ethan Aldred; Dai Sweeney; Gareth Phillips; Ben Groves; Aaron Davies; Lee Riley.