PHOTOS:

Chris Shousha - eyes only for the ball
James Griffiths on a typical surge
Laugharne go on the attack

 

Feature match:

 

Swalec Bowl Round Three:

 

Shousha inspires Seagulls to Swalec success

Fishguard & Goodwick 39 - Laugharne 7

Two tries by outstanding flanker Chris Shousha helped Fishguard and Goodwick into the fourth round of the Swalec Bowl at the expense of a Laugharne side which deserved every credit for their part in an entertaining tussle as their backs looked full of running but their forwards were always under pressure against the Seagulls’ forward power.

It was Sousha who opened the scoring as James Griffiths made the initial break and also added the extra points after Shousha got up to support and crash over the line.

Laugharne lost prop Rhys Thomas to a silly yellow card but his side managed to draw level in his absence as Ross Michael took a quick tap penalty to burrow over the line before Tom Jameson added the extra points.

A James Griffiths’ penalty put the Seagulls ahead again and then he did well to convert a try scored out wide by winger Matthew George to give his side a 17-7 interval lead.

Seagulls still strong in second half

Aled Rees, Tom Thomas and Luke Starkey all looked full of running for Laugharne and also defended well but Fishguard kept the pressure on, especially in the scrums, and they added a superb try created by Ed Bendall and finished off by Mike Jenkins, who had to leave the field injured as Griffiths again converted.

Griffiths then added another penalty and converted a push-over try which was claimed by replacement back-rower Simon James after good work by Romeo Colella, Gavin Walsh and Mel McVeigh.

It was perhaps appropriate that Shousha rounded off the scoring as he made the initial thrust and then took a return pass from Rhys Lewis to dive over – and perhaps the biggest surprise of the afternoon was the fact that for once Griffiths was off-target with the conversion attempt!

Fishguard & Goodwick: Gareth Adamson: Matthew George; Mike Jenkins; Ben John; Ed Bendall: James Griffiths; Sam Kurtz: Melvyn McVeigh; Gavin Walsh; Jason Davies: Gwilym Evans; Richard Hunter: Owain Morgans; Chris Shousha; Mark George. Replacements: Romeo Colella; Simon James; Rhys Lewis; Alun George; Dai Evans.

Laugharne: Aled Rees: Luke Starkey; Tom Jameson; Ross Michael; Thomas Thomas: Owain Thomas; Gethin Jones: Rhys Thomas; Gethin Beynon; Ben Lloyd: Gary Jones; Tom Rees: Lewis Owen; Michael Williams; Carl Smith. Replacements: Carwyn Evans; Gethin Earls; Grant Waters; Leigh Derbyshire; Tom Waters;

Referee: Alan Emmanuel (Furnace) – who had a good game
 

Championship:

 

Off-key Otters miss out at the Met

Cardiff Met 32 - Narberth 21

Narberth found it hard-going at Cardiff Metropolitan as they rarely found their top gear against the enterprising students, who looked sharp and gained a bonus point as reward for the fact that they scored four tries.

The Otters trailed 17-9 at the end of the first half as their points came from three Nick Gale penalties as the students ran in tries from second row Julian Wilkins and replacement Chris Lewis, both converted by Jacob Chilcott, who also notched a penalty.

Cardiff Met increased their lead in the third quarter with unconverted tries by Charlie Hewitt and Jonathan Dawe, the latter converted by Chilcott before Narberth skipper Steve Martin maintained his good form as he sped through for an unconverted try.

Chilcott slotted another penalty before good work by Alex Jenkins and Adam Clark helped earn the Otters a penalty try which Gale converted – but it was too little, too late, as the students leap-frogged over them and into fourth slot in the section table!

Steve Martin - another try for in-form Narberth skipper

Division Two (West):

Blues just pipped by The Bont

Pontarddulais 13 - Haverfordwest 12

A late try from No 8 Nicky Hopkins helped Pontarddulais claim the narrowest of victories over a Haverfordwest team which deserved a rare away win but in the final analysis had to settle for a single bonus point.

The Blues took an early lead with a penalty from Danny Morgan, wearing the No 10 shirt instead of playing in his customary scrum half berth, before Bont full back Matthew Jones nudged his side ahead with two successful penalties.

Morgan levelled matters at six points apiece before the interval and as Zac France-Miller and Scott James played well they had two further three-pointers from Morgan either side of Hopkins solitary try, which Matthew Jones converted to snatch their third win from eight starts and put them ahead of the Blues in eighth place, by two points with a game in hand.

Danny Morgan - scored all Haverfordwest's points in a narrow defeat at Pontarddulais

Swalec Plate Round Three:

 

Emlyn ease through on ‘away team’ rule

Crymych 15 - Newcastle Emlyn 15 (After extra time – Newcastle Emlyn go through)

Crymych suffered the heartache of Swalec Plate exit in perhaps the worst possible way as they bowed out to Newcastle Emlyn after the teams were level at full time and the end of extra time, with Emlyn going through by dint of the fact that they were the away team!

Crymych played well in a tight first period as Rhys Davies, Joe Powell, Ifan James, Rhys Richards and Carwyn Rees all played well, with tries by second row Andrew Phillips (converted by Sam Phillips) and full back Carwyn Jones helping to a 12-7 lead as centre Dan Davies replied for Emlyn and No 10 Rhydian Harries converted.

Carwyn Jones added a drop goal in the second half for the Preseli Men but then Harries kicked a penalty and centre Davies sped over for his second try for Emlyn which Harries converted to take the game into extra time.

Both sides went close in an absorbing clash but the final whistle saw the teams still sharing 30 points but with Newcastle Emlyn awarded the win!

 

Carwyn Jones - try and dropped goal for Crymych full back

 

Swalec Bowl Round Three:

Scarlets too strong for entertaining students

Pembroke 48 - Trinity St Davids, Carmarthen 19

Pembroke moved into the fourth round of the Swalec Bowl as they proved too strong and streetwise for a Trinity St Davids’ team which ran the ball at every opportunity, scoring three tries as their reward.

But the Scarlets ran in no fewer than eight tries as they also played some good stuff, leading 29-12 at the break and always mainlining firm control thereafter.

James Skeels led the Scarlets with a brace of tries alongside others by Mark Williams, Steve Dyde, Billy Wood, James Davies, Barry John and Sam Smith as flanker Rhodri Jones caught the eye with his terrific work-rate and had second rower Scott Powell and centre Mark Williams as others heavily involved.

 
Friendly:

 

Saints celebrate welcome first win

St Davids 53 - Newport (Pembs) 8

Four tries by inside centre Fraser Watson helped St Davids claim their first success of the season in an entertaining friendly against junior union club Newport (Pembs).

The Saints played some good rugby to lead 26-3 at the interval and scored nine tries in all as reward for their willingness to move the ball out wide, whilst Newport deserve every credit for their eagerness to also run the ball at every opportunity.

Outside half Mike Evans landed Newport’s first-half penalty whilst full back Mike Richards claimed their try after the break.

But with Watson exerting an influence in the centre alongside young colleague Rhys Evans it was the Saints who had control for much of the match.

Home outside half Jack Jones opened the scoring with a try before others followed by Watson (2) and flanker Rhys Morgan, three of them converted by Jack Jones.

Replacement winger Matthew Bennett’s try received the loudest cheer of the afternoon and further tries came from Watson (2) and Jack Jones, the last–named duo also adding a conversion apiece as the Saints scored 50 points for the first time in ages!

Fraser Watson - four tries for St Davids centre