Pembrokeshire Vikings 22 - Dragons All Stars 19

 
Venue: Haverfordwest RFC
Referee: Martyn Rudd
 
After weeks of anticipation and training the Pembrokeshire Vikings mixed ability rugby team took on their counterparts from the Dragon All Stars and in front of as big a crowd seen at Fishguard Road for a long time claimed an exciting victory.
 
The All Stars were delayed by heavy traffic on their journey down from Newport but the wait was worth it as a local side captained by Emma Summons drew with some of the All Stars in a game of touch rugby that was fast and furious – and showed off some of the developing skill levels for participants, some of them unable to take part in full contact matches.
 
In the main match the All Stars started well to score first but the Vikings fought back well as hooker Darren Lewis scored a try as he showed good awareness to pounce on a loose ball from a tapped line-out by the opposition – and with skipper Daniel Morgan urging his team on the Vikings led at the interval thanks to a try by St Davids veteran coach Gethin Bateman, a rare event from a fully ten-metre gallop.


 

All Stars come back but The Vikings seal victory with a late try

 
In the second half the Newport Gwent Dragons All-Stars hit back with two tries, both converted, as they did well to raise their tempo to put pressure on the Vikings’ defence but then the Vikings came back with a try from Geno Cleal, who plays cricket for Johnston but had a good game at outside half as he kept his backs moving from good ball won by his pack,
 
But with players of the calibre of John Ellias (vice-captain), Andrew Meddings and Ryan Foot (who has represented the Welsh Deaf XV) leading by example the Vikings took the lead again with a try from prop Andrew Morrillo and Gino Cleal slotted the only conversion for the home side to set the seal on a successful start for a team coached by Simon Gardener and his band of committed helpers.
 
 Both teams and supporters enjoyed a convivial evening and the Pembrokeshire Vikings now have a second game in the pipeline as they are to take on the Swansea Gladiators at Pill Parks, Llangwm, when Daniel Morgan and his team go back to his sporting home for the game on Sunday, 10^th October, starting at 2pm with a touch rugby game over 30 minutes and then the main match immediately afterwards.
 
Pembrokeshire Vikings: Gaz Mathias, Daniel Morgan (capt), Matthew Davies, Lyndon (late replacement - surname not given), John Lewis, Geno Cleal, Alex Frearson, Shane Marshall, Sion Llewellyn-Betts, Kyran Owens, Sean Mackenzie, Tom Brown, John Ellias (vice-captain), Jon Thomas, Gethin Bateman. Replacements: Steff Gibbs, Yusef El Tawab, Andrew Morrillo, Andrew Meddings, Alex Lloyd, Graham Jenkins, Dave Richards, Ryan Foot, Darren Lewis, Gareth Williams, C. Lewis.

Dragons Allstars: Gary Thomas, Gareth Sullivan, Rob Nicholls, Dai Oram, Simon Hopkins, Connor Rice, Chad Carr, Jason Powell-Hill, Marc Jones, John Davies, Charles Cioa, Rod Davies, Mark Jackson, Louis Jones, Tyler Andrews, Andrew Smith, Morgan Jones, Gwynfor Bowden, Gareth Sanderson.