Championship:

 

Otters graft their way to victory

Bedlinog 9 - Narberth 12

Narberth completed a deserved double over a physically strong Bedlinog side in atrocious conditions as they scored the only two tries of the match but were pushed all the way by a fifth placed side eager to gain revenge for their 35-17 defeat at The Lewis Lloyd Ground.

The narrow win was all the more creditable because The Otters were without key players like powerful centre Ollie Reyland, top scorer Nick Gale and No 8 Steffan Phillips, and showed the strength in depth that continues to grow in Sean Gales’ young squad.

But it was Bedlinog who took the lead after nine minutes with a Luke Morgan penalty, only for Narberth to snatch the lead with a penalty try awarded for persistent infringing up front, with No 10 Ianto Griffiths adding the simple conversion.

The Otters went close on a couple of occasions but finally increased their lead in the 26th minute when powerful young winger Jack Parkinson did well to make it into the corne4r for an unconverted try to give his side a 12-3 interval lead.

As conditions worsened Bedlinog had the better of the second half, adding two more Morgan penalties but, try as they might, the homesters were unable to break down a resolute Narberth defence that was well led by skipper Alex Jenkins, Dan Smith and Tom Slater, with replacement half backs Jonathan Rogers and Lewis Gibby also playing their part in seeing the Otters home.

Narberth: James Stephenson: Liam Hutchings; Jack Price; Joel Hutchings; Jack Parkinson: Ianto Griffiths (Jonathan Rogers); Rhys Lane (Lewys Gibby): Bradley Davies (Dylan Cooper); Dan Smith; Tom Slater:  Jake Simm; Alex Jenkins (Capt): Richard Rees; Sean Jenkins; Callum Tree.

Alex Jenkins - led Narberth by example in narrow win at Bedlinog

 

Division 2 (West):

 

Surprise win fully deserved by high-flying Seagulls

Fishguard & Goodwick 12 - Hendy 11

Fishguard & Goodwick produced an excellent all-round team effort to beat high-fling Hendy at The Moors, belying their tenth place in the table with a narrow success that owed a great deal to the their commitment alongside no shortage of skill in the awful weather conditions.

The margin of victory might have been wider as the Seagulls looked very strong in the set pieces via Andrew Morrillo, skipper Gavin Walsh, Owain Rowlands, Gwilym and Jac Evans but their effectiveness was lessened after 50 minutes when third-placed Hendy asked the referee for uncontested scrums and were successful.

It was Hendy who took the early lead with a penalty from Josh Batcup but the Seagulls went ahead as they were so dominant in a series of scrums that the referee finally lost patience with Hendy and awarded Fishguard a penalty try which fly half Kial Keane converted from in front of the posts.

Then the industry of back rowers Chris Shousha, Luke Freebury and Simon James in cahoots with scrum half Andrew Williams add another five points when the Seagulls rocked Hendy back at a scrum and No 8 James claimed the push-over try.

As conditions worsened the visitors came back with a second Batcup penalty to reduce the home advantage at the interval to 12-6 and they scored the only points of the second period with an unconverted try by Steffan Howells.

But with Ed Bendall, Ben John, Mike Jenkins, James Reynolds and Jerome Conlan playing their part in defence, alongside a strong replacements’ bench, the Seagulls were good value for a third victory of the season which moved them out of the bottom two in the table.

Fishguard & Goodwick: Ed Bendall: James Reynolds; Mike Jenkins; Ben John; Jerome Conlan: Kial Keane; Andrew Williams: Andrew Morrillo; Gavin Walsh (Capt); Owain Rowlands: Gwilym Evans; Jac Evans: Luke Freebury; Chris Shousha; Simon James. Replacements: Liam Wilkes; Sion Colella; Ritchie Hunter; Alun George; Ryan McVeigh.
 

Simon James - another vital try for Fishguard No 8

PHOTO:
Llangwm scrum half Rhys Mason gets the ball out wide

 

3 (West) A:

Scarlets too strong for Wasps in Palmer Cup clash

Llangwm 0 - Pembroke 40

A second-half hat-trick of tries by powerful back rower Dom Colman helped Pembroke to victory at a muddy Pill Parks against a Llangwm side which was praised by Scarlets’ coach Geraint Lewis as they stuck to their task despite being unable to score any points.

Lewis was also pleased to welcome centre Simon Hooper after almost two years out following a nasty broken leg, and praised the efforts of veteran front-rower Max Hayward, who started out as prop before switching to hooker later on, plus Tom Lewis until the useful young scrum half had to retire late in the game with a nose injury.

It was Hooper who sliced through for the first of Pembroke’s six tries which was converted by full back Luke Hartland, another who had a good game in the dire conditions, with right winger Matthew Lewis adding two more tries before the break.

The first came after good work at the base of a scrum by No 8 Sam Smith and Tom Lewis, followed by another thanks to quick hands by his three-quarter colleagues, with the second converted by Hartland to give his side a 19-0 interval advantage.

Then Colman exerted his powerful influence as he completed a strong surge from a lineout and repeated the dose soon afterwards as Hartland added the extra points to both.

Llangwm refused to submit and kept plugging away but were finally hit by Colman’s third try, again goaled by Hartland, which emanated from an inside pass by Sam Smith – and The Scarlets took a giant step towards retaining the Palmer Cup, competed for annually by these old rivals.

PHOTO:
Jamie Barnett in control for The Mariners

 

National Bowl:

 

Mariners make progress in a tough battle

Milford Haven 14 - Nantgaredig 12

Milford Haven knew they would face tough opposition from a Nantgaredig side in the top three of Division Three (West) B and that is exactly what happened before The Mariners managed to claim a narrow win as reward for their efforts in awful weather where both teams deserved every credit for trying to play good rugby.

It was talented young scrum half Dan McClelland who was The Mariners’ hero as he scored their only try late in the second half from a quickly-taken tapped penalty but it was a whole-hearted team effort that saw Milford win against well-drilled opposition.

The home side took an early lead with a penalty from full back Craig Barnett which was cancelled out after ten minutes by a 40-yaed penalty from Nantgaredig fly half Meirion Davies.

There was no further scoring before the oranges as the heavens opened but Milford enjoyed a slight edge but the efforts of Sam Dolling, Mark Wonnacott, Ben Johnson, skipper Jamie Parr and the rest of the home pack came to naught as powerful runners like Josh Thomas, Dan Jenkins, Jimmy Thomas and Jamie Lewis had little chance to shine.

Barnett and Davies exchanged a couple of penalties apiece to tie matters up at 9-all before McClelland intervened with his quick thinking and speedy dash for the line – and although Davies managed a  fourth penalty on target the Mariners held on well to make progress in this national competition.

Milford Haven:  Craig Barnett: Jimmy Thomas; Josh Thomas; Dan Jenkins; Jamie Lewis: Jamie Barnett; Dan McClelland: Jamie Parr (Capt); Luke Ryan; Adam Rees: Matthew Doncaster; Archie Smithies: Sam Dolling; Ben Johnson; Mark Wonnacott. Replacements: Michael Cockburn; Efan Morgan; David Sweeny; Ben Groves; Lee Riley.

PHOTOS:
Nantgaredig win this lineout

 

Teifisiders show grit in reaching last 16

Betws 8 - Cardigan 13

Cardigan made the journey to Betws, who play in Division Three (West) B, and defied a strong come back and the deteriorating conditions to move into the last 16 of the National Bowl as their reward.

Powerful second row Rob Connolly scored The Teifisiders’ only try in the first half as he played well alongside Gethin Jones, Kieran Hurley, Dean Harries and skipper Llyr Griffiths, with influential outside half Luke Rogers adding the conversion to go with two well-struck penalties before the conditions got worse.

Tom Williams kicked a penalty for Betws in the first half as they trailed 3-13 and they also managed the only score in the second period when winger Ashley Evans crossed the whitewash but the Cardigan cover defence remained strong for the remainder of a tough tussle and were clearly delighted by the result.

Cardigan:  John Lumb: Alun Jenkins; Marcus Castle; Emyr Hughes; Dafydd Walters: Luke Rogers; Aaron Evans: Tomos Evans; Bedwyr Davies; Richard Jones: Dean harries; Rob Connolly: Gethin Jones; Llyr Griffiths (Capt); Kieran Hurley. Replacements: Aled Phillips; Colin Davies; Will Bryce; Sion Hughes; Iestyn Crompton.

Rob Connolly - good try for Cardigan second row