PHOTO:
Tenby take good lineout ball

 

Feature Match:

 

Division Two (West):

 

Seasiders defeat battling Blues

Haverfordwest 10 - Tenby United 22

Tenby United gained their expected win over Haverfordwest in this second-top versus second-bottom clash but not before the Seasiders had been fully tested by The Blues and it took a last-ditch try by Jordan Asparassa to finally kill off home hopes of a draw.

On a heavy Merlins Bridge pitch there was no quarter asked for or given as big tackles were the order of the day and both teams showed total commitment to their cause.

It was Haverfordwest who had an early chance when centre Gareth John hacked a loose ball but was just beaten to the final touch – and at the other end Johnny Morgan put Tenby ahead with a well-struck penalty from his trusty left boot.

Morgan strikes for Seasiders but Vulu takes Blues into the lead

Morgan added a second three points midway through the period and his side had periods of pressure in the home 22 as a mixture of solid Blues’ defence and wrong options taken saw Haverfordwest claw their way back downfield thanks to a typically will of the wisp run by full back Danny Morgan set up a close range chance for second row Ilesi Vulu to shrug off a tackler and plunge over the line for an excellent try converted by skipper Mikey Jones.

The Seasiders looked to have ditched another chance created by centres Mark Haywood and Morgan when the final pass went astray – but flanker Andrew Cook showed good awareness with a smooth pick up and dash to the line for an unconverted try.

Blues stay in contention but Lewis leads Tenby home

A Mikey Jones’ penalty hauled The Blues back into contention but Morgan responded in similar style with his third success for Tenby – and experienced replacement No 10 Tom Lewis put his side seven points ahead with a smooth dropped goal from in front of the posts.

At 10-17 down Haverfordwest were still in with a sniff of a draw but then late on a clever high ball from Lewis was beautifully caught by Morgan, who did well to slip his pass to Jordan Asparassa for the winger to cross in the corner despite still having a bit to do.

The conversion went unconverted but it mattered little because Tenby deservedly stay in the top three whilst Haverfordwest didn’t manage even a bonus point after showing a great deal of effort.

Haverfordwest: Danny Morgan: Matthew Davies; Matt Phillips; Gareth John; Scott Candler: Mikey Jones (Capt); Tom Parry: Huw Edwards; Jamie Zambas; Ieuan Williams: Ilesi Vulu; Jack Clancy: Iestyn Griffiths; Adam Williams; Ryan Banner. Replacements: Gareth Williams; Daniel John; Alun Harries; Lee Summons; Dan Richards.

Tenby United: Scott James: Dan Colley; Johnny Morgan; Mark Haywood; Jordan Asparassa: Kieran Machin; Will Crockford: Rob Clark; Joe Poole; Ethan Morgan: Luke Dedman; Mike Davies: Andrew Cook; Luke Hansford (Capt); Barry Parsons. Replacements: Dan Allen; Dan McDermott; Alex Thomas; Harry Bolton; Dan Thomas.
Referee: Barry John Williams (Abercrave)

PHOTO:
Seasiders on a charge 

 

Championship Division:

 

Otters so strong in second half

Dunvant 20 - Narberth 50

Narberth scored 31 unanswered points in the second half of their big win at Dunvant but as coach Sean Gale told us afterwards, the bulk of the hard work had been done in the first half when they played into quite a strong wind but only trailed 20-19.

“We played really well up front in the first half,” said Gale, “and it was pleasing to claim four second-half tries from set-piece situations as reward for our pack’s efforts.

Dunvant took an early lead from a try by flanker Charlie Samways and added another from Ceri Davies, both converted by Richard Lewis, who also landed two conversions – whilst the Otters responded with tries from Nick Gale, second row Jake Simm and prop Justin Hughes, two of them converted by gale, who also missed a late chance of snatching the lead by missing a penalty.

But The Otters took control up front, and of the match, as young centre Jack Parkinson sliced through for a try and Joel Hutchings claimed two tries, both converted by Gale, who also added the extras to his second try to give him another 20 points in a terrific season.

Steff Phillips rounded off the try-scoring with a push-over try late on and this deserved success earned Narberth second spot in the table behind Pontypool.

 

Division One (West):

 

Preseli Men good value for narrow victory

Llangennech 31 - Crymych 34

Crymych were worthy winners of their away game at Llangennech despite the fact that they had to withstand a determined second-half come-back by the home side, who had trailed by 17-5.

The Preseli Men had to survive just a few nervous seconds late on after Llangennech had scored their fifth try late on to secure a second bonus point as some consolation for missing out in an entertaining tussle.

Strong-running centre Tomos Phillips claimed both Crymych’s first-half tries, both converted by No 10 Rhys Davies to go with a penalty as home full back Ellis Phillips crossed for their unconverted try.

Phillips also added a second try after the oranges alongside others by hooker Alex Jones (2) and Liam Jenkins, with three conversions from fly half Jonathan Griffiths but Crymych had useful performances from No 8 Guto Davies, Jason Nicholls, Lewis Davies and Ifan James up front as they scored two more tries, both by winger Guto Harries.

Rhys Davies completed a useful performance with another penalty and both conversions to help his team into a creditable fourth place in the section table with this fifth win in eight starts.

 

Brilliant Borderers bag first success

Whitland 38 - Gorseinon 11

Whitland finally broke off the shackles of defeat to claim their first win of the season – and did it in style with a six-try blast against a Gorseinon side that he previously stood in fifth place.

All of the Borderers’ defeats have been by narrow margins but there was a determination about coach Richard ‘Stag’ Jones’ team that saw them 12-11 ahead at half time but with second-half use of the strong breeze.

Their pack played really well throughout as Aaron Mayne, Marc Jones, Michael Ryan, Raff Williams and James Thomas were key ball winners that allowed the back row to flourish, with Zac France-Miller showing thee way with a brace of tries as he played well alongside Danny Evans and skipper Jack Mason.

Gorseinon’s first-half points came from a try by Nicky Southgate alongside two penalties by David Rees but Whitland really gained the ascendancy after the oranges to score 26 points without response from the opposition.

Centres Connor Edwards and Deian Augustus were joined on the scoresheet by winger Owain John and second row James Thomas, whilst Nico Setaro slotted four conversions, and there were also useful performances from replacements Carl Smith and Tom Waters, both helping out on the bench from Laugharne, who were without a fixture.

PHOTO:
Pembroke RFC line up before taking on Cardigan RFC

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Scarlets fight back for table-topping draw

Pembroke 25 - Cardigan 25

The top of the table clash between Pembroke and Cardigan at Crickmarren was always expected to be close and after second-placed Cardigan were 15-13 ahead at the break and advanced the scoreline to 25-13 it was The Scarlets who took control in the closing quarter and maintained top spot as the teams shared 50 points!

Respective coaches Geraint Lewis and Colin Horscroft both felt that their teams had done just enough to take the verdict but it was The Teifisiders who looked as if they held the edge with an early dropped goal by centre Emyr Harries, who also scored their first try alongside another by second row Rob Connolly, with one conversion from Luke Rogers.

The Scarlets responded with a first try at senior level by teenage scrum half Tom Lewis to go with Luke Hartland’s conversion and two penalties that looked likely to give his side a 13-8 advantage until close to the interval, when the visitors grabbed Connolly a try from a touchline peel, despite home claims that he had put a foot in touch.

Cardis restart well but Scarlets fight back

Cardigan started the second half well with an excellent try by full back John Lumb, converted by Rogers to go with a long range penalty.

Now 12 points adrift, Pembroke raised the temp up front via Scott Powell, Cyle Wetherall, Johnny Palmer, Shamus Wiseman and Jamie Brayford so that teenage back rowers Jordan Evans and Harry Owen helped Dom Colman power over for two tries, the second converted by Hartland.

In the final analysis perhaps the draw was the fairest result since neither side deserved to lose in such an epic clash – and the return fixture at the King George Vth Ground will certainly be on to savour!

PHOTO:
?Pembroke teenage scrum half Tom Lewis get his pass away

PHOTO:
Josh Thomas takes a crash ball, the winger moved to centre and grabbed two tries for The Mariners

 

Thomas takes Mariners to easy Bierspool win

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 3 - Milford Haven 45

Two tries from powerful centre Josh Thomas helped Milford Haven to a comfortable win against Pembroke Dock Harlequins at Bierspool, who could only muster 14 players and were at one stage reduced to 12 men because of yellow cards.

Coach Ossie Boswell must have been really disappointed that his team had to opt for uncontested scrums but praised those who did play for their total commitment to the cause against a Milford Haven side that looks very strong and ready to run the ball at every opportunity.

The Mariners were 19-3 ahead at half time as Ben Hathaway kicked a penalty for the Quins and the visitors responded with well-worked tries by No 8 Sam Dolling, flanker Dai Sweeny and centre Dan Jenkins, two of them converted by Craig Barnett.

Second rower Ben Johnson opened the second-half scoring for Milford before Thomas switched from the wing to centre and bustled through for his tries as Dan Birch also got on the try sheet.

Barnett added his third conversion and others came from scrum half Ifan Morgan and Birch as the Mariners stay joint third in the section table but the Quins lurk in the bottom three after this sixth defeat in seven matches.

PHOTO:
Milford Haven centre Dan Birch stays strong in contact

 

Saints suffer All-Black mauling

St Davids 7 - Neyland 63

Neyland defied heavy pitch conditions to produce some entertaining rugby in St Davids – running in nine tries to record their fourth win of the campaign and move fifth in the table in the process.

The All Blacks dominated possession early on, and after a scoreless opening 15 minutes, took the lead when player coach Steve Martin put full back Ben Goodridge over in the corner.

Winger Luke Conbeer rounded off some good handling for his side’s second try, before flanker Andrew Slark also crossed after a quickly taken penalty by scrum half Adam Cawley.

Things got worse for The Saints when No 8 Gethin Bateman saw yellow for a deliberate knock on – and Neyland prop Luke Dawes sealed the bonus point for Martin’s men when he punished some weak tackling to score from close range.

Neyland were also reduced to 14 when a break from deep by home scrum half Fraser Watson led to a yellow card for hooker Richard Jones, after he was adjudged to have taken out the support player – but still it was the All Blacks who struck next when Cawley cut over.

And on the brink of half time, the No 9 combined with Slark to help put outside half Ashley Sutton under the posts, who duly added his sixth successful conversion for a 42-0 half time lead.

St Davids did try and respond after the break after Neyland skipper Mark James was sin binned, but a period of pressure came to nothing before Martin grabbed the away side’s seventh score with an interception try.

Watson did then get his side on the board however when he sniped over from close range, and replacement flanker Aaron Foster converted.

The Saints did fashion further chances late on but were unable to convert them – and flanker Iestyn Evans crossed in the corner for Neyland, before replacement centre Adam Collins burst under the posts from 20 metres out to complete the try scoring.

The on-song Sutton added all three second half conversions for a 100% record with the boot, helping seal a comfortable win for the All Blacks.
 
 

Makeshift Wasps miss out in St Clears

St Clears 48 - Llangwm 3

St Clears ran in eight tries against a makeshift Llangwm side which never gave up trying but after trailing by 28-3 at the break were never really in contention.

Steve Picton landed The Wasps’ solitary penalty and there were encouraging signs with the debut of Lewis Jones at scrum half alongside the terrific work-rate in the front row battle from Ieuan Power, Gethin Thomas and Gavin Jones.

But the Carmarthenshire Saints were always in control after the early exchanges and had tries by centre Lee Glanville, winger Will Davies, Shane Morgan (2), Nathan Clew, Gwyn Morris, Daf Walters and skipper Matthew Williams, controlling matters from his No 8 berth.

Geraint Jones also had a good game as he directed matters from behind the scrum and notched four conversions to complete another good day for the Saints,