Rugby Reports - 4th December 2021
Division One (West):
Borderers’ experience pays off
Pembroke 22 - Whitland 29
Matches between Pembroke and Whitland are traditionally hard-fought and this one at Crickmarren was no exception after The Scarlets had first advantage of the slope to lead 10-7 but The Borderers turned pressure into points to eventually run out winners.
Pembroke showed real resilience in the first half as skipper Scott Powell and his pack tackled like demons to limit Whitland’s sustained attempts to run the ball into the wind and they also put in some strong attacks of their own as Tom Harding-Jones, James Jones, Lewis Davies and Lewys Gibby ran the ball and found their excellent back row in support.
But Whitland had Josh Thomas constantly probing from his scrum half berth and half back partner Nico Setaro creating space with his well-timed passes so that Tristan Rees, centre Josh Thomas and Olly Hughes were put in to space.
On lots of occasions the final pass didn’t go to hand but Whitland took the lead with try in to top right-hand corner from Hughes which Setaro did well to convert – but The Scarlets levelled matters with a terrific try after Barry Alderman-John and Tom Harding-Jones created half a chance and No 8 Billy Kinnear broke through for No 10 Luke Alderwick to add the extra points.
Alderwick also landed a penalty near half time but Borderers’ supporters were confident of victory with second use of the conditions – and they certainly took the game by the scruff of the neck after the oranges when classy centre Dylan Richards crossed for two excellent tries and another came from good forward play, with Setaro landing a second conversion and penalty.
To be fair to The Scarlets, they never gave up trying and grabbed deserved scores for Harding-Jones and centre James Jones, one converted by Alderwick, to earn their first point of the season and earn praise from coach Geraint Lewis for their efforts with so many players out injured.
Pembroke: Tom Harding-Jones: Geraint Powell; Lewis Davies; James Jones; Barry Alderman-John: Luke Alderwick; Lewys Gibby: Lloyd Davies; Shane Gwyther; Johnny Palmer: Scott Powell (Capt); Will Edwards: Matthew Price; Rhodri Walters; Billy Kinnear.
Replacements: Tom Zoogah; Seamus Wiseman; Danny James; Mathew Lewis. Elliott Evans.
Whitland: Geriant Jones: Tristan Rees; Dylan Richards; Josh Thomas; Olly Hughes: Nico Setaro; Josh Thomas: Tom Finucane; Marc Jones (Capt); Ceirion Evans: Dan Bennett; James Thomas: Calum Evans; James Lewis; Jack Mason.
Replacements: Trystan Bowen; Jack Richards; Iwan Lewis, Tomos Evans; Liam Price.
Championship Division:
Otters win well against battling Ystalyfera
Narberth 20 - Ystalyfera 16
Narberth did well to beat Ystalyfera at The Lewis Lloyd Ground to complete a treble over opponents they had played twice in the Championship Cup, beating them 24-20 away and smashing them 70-19 at home.
But this was never going to be a similar romp for The Otters as they were made to battle hard for a 10-6 lead at half time and built this to a 20-9 advantage before Ystalyfera scored a late converted try and spurned a late chance of snatching the game out of the fire with a penalty but they kicked it dead, settling for a losing bonus point rather than avoid the risk of losing it if Narberth added another score.
Former Narberth outside half Gareth James opened the scoring with a penalty for the visitors but Narberth responded when a clever kick ahead by young No 9 George McDonald allowed full back Ashley Sutton to win the race for the vital touch down.
Nick Gale converted before James added his second three points with a dropped goal and Gale landed a penalty to leave the match nicely poised at the half-way mark.
Gale and James exchanged penalties in the third quarter but then Gale did well to cross for a corner try and then complete the even more difficult job of converting from the touchline.
And that is the way things stood until those closing exchanges when Ystalyfera pressure paid off with a try which the scrum half converted with a speedy dropped kick attempt but then settled for the status quo to give The Otters a win which they just about deserved on the balance of play.
Narberth; Ashley Sutton: Nick Gale; Joe Hutchings; Ashley Griffiths; Jordan Roberts: Jonathan Rogers; George McDonald: Ifan James; Tom Curry; Tom Slater: Rhys Williams; Alex Jenkins: Richard Rees (Capt); Tom Powell; Guto Davies.
Replacements: Rhodri Owens; Bradley Davies; Josh Hamer; Rhys Lane; Jake Jenkins.
Crymych concede tries at key times
Llangennech 30 - Crymych 10
Crymych were already in some trouble at the half way stage against Llangennech as they trailed by 18 points but they showed true grit to score two unconverted tries to force their way back into contention in the third quarter, only to gift the home side a try and not be able to claw their way back a second time.
Llangennech have traditionally been a bit of a bogus side for The Preseli Men and although they played well in parts Elgan Vittle’s team found themselves chasing early scores – and they had to wait until the second half until centre Ilan Phillips continued his good run of try-scoring form with a good unconverted score after good work by Adam Phillips, Tomos Phillips, Daf Phillips and Gavin Thomas.
The pack also played their part in another score, this time a try by winger Tomos Lewis, another with a few recent tries tucked under his belt, but with a feeling that there was some inconsistency in decisions they conceded two other tries.
For Llangennech there were tries from wingers Tom Neale and Tom Barnes, centre Dale Richards and a penalty try, with a conversion and two penalties by Eirian Evans putting them in clear top spot in the table with a 100% record after three matches.
Crymych: Adam Phillips: Tomos Lewis; Tomos Phillips; Ilan Phillips; Osian Hill: Gavin Thomas; Daf Phillips: Steff Harries; Carwyn Rees; Jonathan Phillis: Matthew Freebury; Llyr Davies: Carwyn Phillips; Rhys Davies; Osian Davies.
Replacements: Trystan Griffiths; Rhys Richards; Daf Gibby; Rhydian Howells; Andrew Phillips.
Division Two (West):
Seasiders play well in defeat at The Bont
Pontarddulais 19 - Tenby United 12
Tenby United went down to defeat at Pontarddulais but could look on some positives against an experienced Bont side, not least the fact that they had the chance to give more experience to their relatively young squad of players – but they still need to look at their points’ kicking department because they missed several chances at goal which in the final analysis cost them dearly.
The Seasiders were level at 7-apiece at half time and with old hands like skipper Luke Dedman and prop Rob Luly leading the way there was another good performance from p 18 year old prop Frankie Boyd, with hooker Ryan Jeremias making a welcome return to the game and winger Harvey Johns playing well on debut.
There was to be no scoring for the opening 30 minutes as Martin Phillips, Tom Barrass, Will Swales and Jack Brown all tackled well and Matthew Morgan and Toby Smith tried hard to run the ball when the chances arose.
But then second row Phil White powered over at the posts from recycled ball after a scrum, with centre Alex Richards adding the extra points – but The Seasiders levelled matters on the interval as winger Joe Owen scored an outstanding solo try as he fielded a clearance attempt and left defenders in his wake before Toby Smith added the conversion.
Tenby had the better of play after the break and replacement winger Adam Quill with an unconverted corner try put them ahead but they were unable to add further points and The Bont fought back with a 70
th minute try from replacement hooker Jonathan Hire which Richards converted.
Tenby tried to snatch the verdict but in the 78
th minute home full back Aled Stone scored a try to seal their success but the only consolation for The Seasiders was the fact that Richards missed the conversion, which at least gave Tenby a deserved bonus point for all their efforts!
Tenby United: Gwion Jones: Joe Owen; Yannic Parker; Dan Colley; Harvey Johns: Toby Smith; Matthew Morgan: Frankie Boyd; Ryan Jeremias; Rob Luly: Luke Dedman (Capt); Tom Barrass: Martin Phillips; Will Swales; Jack Brown.
Replacements: Geoff Martin; Jack Broadhurst; Ethan Morgan; Adam Quill; Gethin Bradney.
Match postponed through illness
Fishguard & Goodwick (P) v Milford Haven (P)
Division Three (West) A:
Owen hat-trick inspires The Quins
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 27 - St Davids 15
A terrific hat-trick by powerful centre Harry Owen helped Pembroke Dock Harlequins to victory over St Davids at Bierspool as both sides defied the elements to play an open game where The Saints held the edge with their bigger pack but The Quins utilised their great pace to claim their first win of the campaign.
The Quins made by far the better start and soon opened up a 12-point gap as Owen put them into an early lead to serve notice of his intent, with young No 10 Euan McDonald adding the extra points before co-centre Jamie Williams also crossed in the corner after good work by Liam Scourfield, Hywel Baker and Jordan Palmer.
The Saints responded as player/coach Gethin Bateman urged his pack on to great effort and they were rewarded with a penalty from outside half Kieran Foster.
The Quins added their third try from Scourfield but the visitors had the final word of the period as centre Kieran Price latched on to a loose pass and sped 40 metres to the posts for Foster to add the extra points.
Owen was involved in everything The Quins tried and added two more tries to make it 27-10 as scrum half Sam ‘Rasher’ James looked sharp in his first game of the season and the other Sam James played well in the second row alongside Ben Gibby, whilst Aaron Cookson posed a threat from full back with his willingness to run the ball.
But The Saints grabbed a deserved third try right at the end as several lunges at the line by their pack were held up until powerful prop Dan Murphy finally spotted a tiny chink in the home defence and powered over for an unconverted try.
All Blacks play well in six-try success
Tregaron 5 - Neyland 34
Neyland made the long journey into Mid Wales and came back with a bonus-point success after their willingness to play attacking football was rewarded by the scoring of six tries whilst limiting the hosts to just one score, a try from winger Chris Wilkins right on the interval.
But by then The All Blacks had opened up a deserved 17-point Lead as No 8 Ben Williams opened their account before flanker Owain Williams added a second and then winger Harrison Grice cross for his first try in senior rugby after good work by Henry McBeth and Charlie Deardon, and No 10 George Williams slotted the conversion.
Neyland had a clear edge with Kyle Hamer playing well at hooker on permit from Milford Haven until he sustained a cut lip in the second half and was replaced by his father Stephen, who used his experience to good effect alongside Mark James as the elder statesmen up front.
Neyland started the second half well as Iestyn Evans followed his brother onto the score sheet and winger Ben Millward crossed for a well-taken try converted by George Williams.
Then The All Blacks rounded things of with the best score of the afternoon as full back Patrick Bellerby fielded a clearance attempt near his own 22 and effortlessly beat a handful of would-be tacklers before being halted a few metres short – but able to pop the ball up for replacement Rhys Bradney to score a try to remember.
Neyland: Patrick Bellerby: Ben Millward; Henry McBeth; Charlie Deardon; Harrison Grice: George Williams; Mathew Coles: Ben James; Kyle Hamer; Luke Griffiths-Dawes: Mark James; Lewis Hallett: Iestyn Evans; Owain Evans; Ben Williams.
Replacements: Stephen Hamer; Rhys Bradney
Late try earns Cardis a bonus-point victory
Llanybydder 26 - Cardigan 29
A last-ditch try by Jack Taylor, converted by Llyr Jones, earned Cardigan a third win in as many matches, all with a bonus-point for scoring four tries, and it was another occasion when The Teifisiders refused to give in after losing the lead and trailing by four points as the referee consulted his watch.
In a very tight first half, where both sides had half chances which came to nothing but Cardigan were 12-9 in front as skipper Tom Taylor and scrum half Owen Rees scored tries and Llyr Jones converted one of them – and Llan responded with three penalties from former Cardigan player Llyr Tobias.
The home side claimed two good tries after the oranges by scrum half Llyr James and centre Rhys Morris both converted by Tobias to go with a penalty.
But Cardigan stayed focussed and Llyr Jones slotted a penalty and cut through for a try which he also converted – before that vital fourth try not only earned them three wins in as many matches but a place at the top of the table as their reward.
Local derby to take place on Boxing Day
Haverfordwest (P) v Llangwm (P)
*Match rearranged for Boxing Day as a double header for league points and The Bishop Cup