PHOTO:

Barry Parsons goes on the charge for the Quins
 

Division Three West A

Quins are rampant at Pill Parks

Llangwm 7 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 55

The Quins ran in nine tries against Llangwm at Pill Parks to make it 10 league points from 10 in 2016.

The Wasps again battled hard despite only having 14 players available to start, and were reduced even further during the 80 minutes as they lost one player to injury and suffered two yellow cards at different points of the contest.

The home side’s solitary score came via a penalty try when centre Andrew Brock was impeded as he chipped ahead, and the same player converted.

But the visitors, who led 22-7 at the break, were in clinical form as centres Thomas Doyle and Jake Griffiths grabbed a brace of tries each, as did full back Paul Jonkers.

No 8 Barry Parsons, prop James Gardener and flanker Steffan Halwood also crossed, while outside half Lewis Davies added five conversions to help take Ossie Boswell’s side over the 50-point mark.

PHOTO:

No stopping Neyland

St Davids 12 - Neyland 34

The All Blacks dug deep to overcome a first half red card, and four yellows during the 80 minutes, to notch a bonus point win at St Davids.

Neyland skipper Andrew Slark was heavily involved as his side got off to a superb start, going ahead within a minute after some good off load play ended with No 8 Ben Williams crashing over for an unconverted score.

But as the visitors camped on the Saints’ line in search of a second score, well-won turnover ball allowed home scrum half Fraser Watson to go the length of the field for a try that centre Craig Challonder converted.

Then Neyland were plagued by a moment of stupidity from Williams, who was sent off for stamping off the ball, but still re-took the lead when prop Jack Harries grabbed a first senior try, and outside half Mark Riley converted.

Watson struck again for The Saints following a good drive by prop Dan Murphy so the sides went in 12-12 at the break.

The All Blacks however, were the more clinical side thereafter and full back Delme Bateman rounded off some heavy pressure with a corner try, before Slark himself also crossed following a burst from centre Patrick Bellerby.

His centre partner Adam Collins then got in on the scoring act himself after pouncing on a loose ball as The Saints tried to attack from deep, and after the home side had wasted a series of close range scrums and penalties, Neyland replacement Tom Richards rounded off some good handling for the final try that Riley converted.

It completed the win for The All Blacks, to put them in good heart for their derby clash with Milford Haven this Saturday.

PHOTO:
Bryan Phillips makes a break for St Davids
Picture by Ceri Coleman-Phillips

Swalec Cup Round One:

Otters miss out against powerful Ironmen

Narberth 0 - Merthyr 28

Narberth bowed out of the Swalec Cup at the first hurdle as they conceded for tries against a well-drilled Merthyr side and were unable to get on the scoresheet themselves, despite going close on a couple of occasions.

This was particularly so in the first half, when ‘The Ironmen’ scored unconverted tries by centre Tom Hiscock and winger Aled Howman – but although Callum Tree caught the eye up front and centre Ollie Reyland featured as the Otters’ man of the match, they were unable to turn pressure into points.

Merthyr full back Matthew Jarvis got his team going after the oranges with two penalties, one of them from half way, before winger Dan Parry ran in the visitors’ third try – and their superiority was confirmed when flanker Osian Davies rounded off some quick hands and Jarvis added the extra points.

Swalec Plate Round Three:

Great Swalec win for the Borderers

Whitland 19 - Bonymaen 12

When Whitland and Bonymaen last met it was in the WRU Championship League during the 2012/2013 season, but yesterday the now Division One West and West Central sides respectively came together for this Swalec Plate clash.

And it was The Borderers who came out on top in a tight affair, which started with outside half Nico Setaro landing two penalties for the home side to give them a 6-0 lead.

No 8 Rhys Leonard then crossed for the visitors and Jamie Sturgeons converted, but a third Setaro penalty gave his team the lead at the break.

It was Bonymaen who made the better start to the second half as Kyle Salter went over for an unconverted score – but Whitland stormed back with two five pointers of their own from winger Deian Augustus and newcomer Jamie Harris, who made an impressive debut at flanker.

Home centres Connor Edwards and Rhys Schiavone also stood out as The Borderers held on to make the fourth round, and keep hopes of a Millennium Stadium appearance alive.

Swalec Bowl Round Three:

Teifisiders take a Bowl tumble

Burry Port 33 - Cardigan 8

Burry Port showed why they are one of the favourites to gain promotion from Division Three (West) B as they proved too strong and street-wise for a Cardigan side which battled hard but always struggled up front.

All the Teifisiders could muster was a first-half try by full back Alun Jenkins and a penalty by Llyr Jones as the opposition mustered five tries through centre Duane Evans, centre Ben Wilkins, No 8 Richard Parker, second row Bryn Jenkins and full back Adrian Randall.

Wilkins notched a conversion and two dropped goals from Daniel Etteridge rounded off the scoring for Burry Port as they moved into the fourth round – leaving Cardigan to focus on their own attempts at gaining promotion from Division Three (West) A.

 
Cardiff Medicals v Haverfordwest – Match postponed
**This match was postponed for the third time, leaving The Blues frustrated at their lack of activity with important league matches now having to be postponed!**
 

Division One West:

Welcome win for Preseli Men

Gorseinon 15 - Crymych 20

Crymych deservedly climbed away from the threat of relegation with this excellent win at Gorseinon, who are still ahead of the Preseli Men but with a narrower margin as a result of a solid all-round performance by the visitors.

Fortunes ebbed and flowed on an inevitably heavy pitch and Gorseinon can take some small consolation from the fact that they outscored Crymych by three tries to two to pick up a bonus point for being within seven points at the finish.

But, vitally, the Preseli Men didn’t concede kickable penalties and in scrum half Rhys Davies had a place kicker of their own who notched the conversions of both tries scored by winger Tomos Phillips and centre Carwyn Phillips, plus two well-struck penalties.

Gorseinon had tries by flanker Kieran Craig, scrum half Jack Gronow and winger Rhodri Phelps but all went unconverted as Crymych were delighted to collect their fourth win in ten outings as reward for their efforts.

Seasiders still seeking that elusive first success

Gowerton 25 - Tenby United 17

Tenby United were left still seeking that elusive first league win of the campaign as they played well but still went down to a tenth defeat in a row at Gowerton – and only just missed out on a bonus point as another disappointment.

Gowerton  started strongly and opened their account with a 17^th-minute  penalty try converted by outside half Josh Hamer – but the Seasiders bounced back as quick hands put centre Mark Heywood in for an unconverted try.

But the homesters led 17-5 at half time, thanks to further unconverted tries by No 10 Hamer and centre Gareth John in the 32^nd and 35^th minutes.

Outstanding No 8 Rob Weston raised Tenby expectations early in the second period as he bustled his way over for an unconverted try but opposite number Ryan Thomas responded with a similar effort before replacement outside half James Roberts landed a penalty.

With ten minutes left, Greg Lees’ Griffiths latched on to a clever cross kick by Aaron Jon to score a Tenby try which John converted but, try as they might, the Seasiders were unable to notch any further scores and remain rooted at the foot of the table whilst Gowerton enjoyed a bonus-point win that lifts them into sixth place.

Division Two West:

Seagulls miss out at The Moors

Fishguard and Goodwick 20 - Pontarddulais 22

A late penalty from Pontarddulais centre Joshua Goss was enough to give his side a narrow victory at Fishguard, and left The Seagulls reflecting upon missed chances and indiscipline as they slipped to a seventh league defeat of the season.

It was a frustrating loss for the home side, who led 5-0 early on when a concerted lineout drive set up a platform for No 8 Simon James to crash over.

The Seagulls continued to press but when an attacking move broke down in midfield, Goss hacked ahead and won the race to touch down for a try he then converted.

Then The Bont extended their lead with a try from prop Iestyn Davies, which Goss again goaled – but before the break Fishguard outside half James Griffiths powered over for an unconverted score to reduce the deficit to 14-10.

Griffiths then landed a penalty early in the second half, but Goss again proved the scourge of The Seagulls as he latched onto a chip from former Narberth scrum half Adrian Killa for his second try.

This time Goss was wide with the conversion – and it appeared pivotal as Griffiths then collected his own chip kick to cross over, before adding the extras to give the home side a one point lead.

But with less than 10 minutes on the clock, The Bont forced their hosts into an infringement within kicking distance, and Goss held his nerve to land the penalty and complete a personal haul of 17 points.

And the visitors managed to pin The Seagulls back with some clever kicking thereafter to close out a hard fought win which left the disappointed Seagulls reflecting on what might have been.