Championship Cup - First Round:

 

Supersub Gibby again scores three tries as Otters ease home

 

Crymych 10 - Narberth 38

 
Narberth’s greater experience and strength in depth saw them into the second round at the expense of a Crymych side gaining its first experience at this level and playing far better than the final score line would suggest.
 
The Preseli Men were only 10-12 adrift at the break and had their chances afterwards but were hit by a strong Otter defence and a late surge of tries as Lewis Gibby came on as replacement and grabbed three tries to continue his remarkable try-scoring form.
 
Crymych took the early lead with a penalty by Adam Phillips, who also converted a try by Iestyn Wood from a line out drive but by then Narberth had tries from winger Dean James and Llew Jones, who showed what an asset he could be at full back as he also added his second score in the second period from a move spreading almost the length of the field, with Ashley Sutton notching a conversion.
 
The Preseli Men battled away but with Narberth skipper Tom Powell having a magnificent game against his former colleagues and Gibby’s late intervention The Otters were good value for victory as Sutton slotted a second two-pointer and replacement Ianto Griffiths also landed two more to take the visitors into the second round.
 
 

Division Two Cup - First Round:

 

Seagulls slip up in closing stages

 

Fishguard & Goodwick 27 - Lampeter Town 34

 
Fishguard had their chances to win this entertaining tussle against newly-promoted Lampeter Town and were actually 27-26 moving into the closing stages, despite the visitors being down to 14 men from a yellow card.
 
But The Seagulls managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with a late penalty by NO 10 Osian Jones and try from prop Ryan Kelachandra at at a line out drive.
 
Jones had served early notice of his kicking form with two penalties before winger Robbie Jones darted over for the homesters but Jones slotted two more penalties as The Seagulls had a try by No 9 Max Jones sandwiched in between.
 
Lampeter moved 19-10 ahead when winger Jack Williams scored a try, inevitably converted by Jones - but good handling by forwards and backs led to pacy winger Dylan Scott claiming a try by converted by skipper James Griffiths that left the visitors two points ahead at half time.
 
Fortunes continued to ebb and flow as Fishguard earned a penalty try to move ahead but flanker Ifan John Davies scored a converted try for Lampeter and Griffiths restored the Seagull’s two-point advantage.
 
But then Jones kicked a penalty and when The Seagulls were reduced to 14 men in the 78th minute prop Kelachandra ploughed over - and although Jones missed the conversion it mattered little because Fishguard were out of the competition at the very first hurdle.
 
 

Mariners find it had going but battle hard

 

Porthcawl 34 - Milford Haven 14

 
Milford Haven did well to complete this fixture as they were without a number of key players and coach Steve Martin was roped in to play and showed some nice touches as Ben Jenkins, Jimmy Buirds were joined by their back row in some scramble defence and there were some timely tackles from the backs who included Ieuan Davies, Ethan Morgan and Lee Riley.
 
The Mariners actually led 7-3 at the interval as Ryan Mansel scored and Ollie Rothero converted - and had a very food second half try when Dan Jenkins ran a superb angle on a run to the posts for No 10 Rothero to again add the extra points.
 
But Porthcawl’s pressure gradually paid off with tries by Jake Furness (2) and Lewis Protheroe, Jack Williams and a penalty try as Cam Massey also landed their first-half penalty and Luke Roberts landed two conversions.
 
Milford almost had the final word but scrum half Dan McClelland was hauled down just short in the last move of the match and Porthcawl continued their unbeaten start to the campaign after three league victories and maximum points in Division Two (West Central).
 
 

Division Three Cup - First Round:

 

Scarlets start with deserved victory

 

Pembroke 27 - Trimsaran 14

 
Pembroke were good value for victory in this entertaining tussle at Crickmarren as they played some excellent attacking rugby against a ‘Trim’ side that also enjoyed playing an attacking game and scored two converted tries.
 
The Scarlets’ pack played a significant role in their success as second rows Dai Beynon and Alan Davies secured plenty of possession and the back row of Taylor Gullam, Jack Fielding and Rhodri Walters, who was chosen as man of the match for his outstanding contribution at No 8. Owain Johns also played really well and made an impact when he joined the fray.
 
Walters was one of the three Scarlet scorers alongside prop Johnny Palmer, who sold a massive dummy and galloped over from town metres, and No 10 Luke Alderwick.
 
Alderwick, who has already scored a pile of points for Pembroke this season so far also added three conversions and two penalties for a personal haul of 17 points.
 
Trimsaran currently sit 7th in Division Three (West) B in the current league set-up but Pembroke team manager Simon Edwards told PembrokeshireSport.co.uk that Scarlets’  coach Gary Price was pleased with the overall team performance against experienced opposition.
 
 

Saints struggle in first half

 

Betws 35 - St Davids 10

 
St Davids suffered a combined bout of travel sickness as they made the journey to Betws and after a bruising first half found themselves 28 points adrift and were 35-0 down going into the final quarter.
 
But they showed typical Saints’ grit as they refused to lie down and scored deserved tries from Charlie Lavin (70 minutes) and Morgan Griffiths three minutes later, both unconverted.
 
Betws on the other hand, converted all five of their tries and showed why they are third in Division Three (West) B with some good play.
 
But The Saints’ coaching staff, already forced to field a makeshift team for the trip, were unimpressed by some aspects of the game but acknowledged it as part of the experience of meeting some new clubs.
 


 

Wasps miss out at Pill Parks

 

Llangwm 13 - Cwmgors 31

 
Llangwm were again minus a few key players but must have thought they were in with a chance against a Cwmgors’ side currently seventh in Division Three (West Central) - but The Wasps didn’t have one of their better days and eventually went down to defeat against a side which played some attacking rugby and were rewarded wing four tries to Llangwm’s two.
 
Talented young No 10 Harry Makepeace scored one of the home tries alongside a penalty whilst winger Jack Roberts rounded off a good handling move for the other - but Cwmgors had two tries apiece from Iwan Morgan and Clive Parker.
 
Cwmgors full back Iestyn Liles is only 18 but contributed 11 points from a conversion and three penalties and was nominated by his team mates as their man of the match for his general play alongside his place kicking.
 
Llangwm will look on this result as one that might have changed if they had a full complement of players and the coaches must be hoping they can get back to a settled team - but were full of praise for those who played their hearts out for The Wasps!




 
 

Blues battle but miss out late on

 

Nantymoel 27 - Haverfordwest 21

 
Haverfordwest had their chances to win this tight tussle at Nantymoel and after scoring a third try with ten minutes to go had chances to snatch the result but were denied by determined home defence for periods close to their line.
 
Like a lot of other clubs The Blues were short of key players and had to call in Richard Brazell, Mark Hamer and Justin Mountstevens onto the bench from their coaching staff. Only ‘Trigger’  Brazell came on to play for much of the game and it was like he had never been away as he played alongside skipper Matty Phillips in the back row.
 
It was Phillips who had given The Blues that late hope with a typical tearaway’s try, as were their others by prop Dan Berry in the first half and second row Karl Busch after the oranges, all three converted by Archie Thomas, another who serves his team so well.
 
The Ogmore Valley opposition, who are fifth in Division Three (West Central), had tries from Jayden Richards, Dafydd James and Rhys Bevan, with a conversion and three penalties from Ryan Davies.
 
 

Depleted All Blacks miss out in New Dock

 

New Dock Stars 29 - Neyland 21

 
Like a number of other local clubs, Neyland travelled to play an experienced New Dock Stars side with a bare 15 players and with just coach Steve Evans on the bench - but those who turned out played with typical spirit to stay in contention until late on, when The Stars significantly strong bench inevitably played a part.
 
Currently lying second in Division Three (West) B they had tries from Garan Davies, Adam Gealy, who also kicked the remainder of The Stars’ points. and George Upton.
 
The All Black try scorers were forwards Ben Williams and Ben James whilst ‘Mr Reliable’ George Evans landed a conversion and three penalties as everyone in the Neyland camp gave their usual 100% in the club cause.
 
 

Matches cancelled:

 
As usual in this competition there was a number of games called off across the range of divisions involved in their own ability tier of Welsh Rugby.
 
WHITLAND called off their home game with Ystradgynlais because they were without a hooker and were minus a number of injured players and PEMBROKE DOCK HARLEQUINS were looking forward to travelling to Cwmllynfell but again it was the home side which called the game off because they were unable to field a team.
 
CARDIGAN also missed out on having a home game against Bryncoch, 10th in Division Three (West Central) because the visitors were unable to travel, with TENBY UNITED having a bye into the second round of the Divisions Two competition.