PHOTOS:
Andrew Groves on the burst for St Davids

 

?Division Three (West) A

Saints battle hard but lose out to Tregaron

St Davids 17 - Tregaron 31

 
St Davids turned in one of their best displays of the season and yet still finished off a difficult Division Three West A campaign without a win after coming up short against Tregaron in an entertaining clash at Fishguard Road.

The Mid Wales side were unable to raise a side for the original fixture a week ago, and frustrated the hosts again this time around by delaying the kick off 45 minutes due to their late arrival.

But when proceedings finally did get going, it was the home side who led early on when a break from full back Rhys Morgan set up a try for centre Sam Kurtz who, playing on permit from Fishguard, finished well in the corner.

Kurtz himself narrowly failed to convert and then Tregaron, themselves helped by a number of permit players from Aberystwyth, levelled matters with an unconverted try of their own from winger Mel Davies.
But the Saints responded when their other centre Scott James took a quick tap penalty and set up scrum half Fraser Watson, who jinked over from 10 metres out – and Kurtz added the wide angled conversion.

However, with the Saints leading 12-5, a crucial moment came before the break after Tregaron turned defence into attack, and despite a superb cover tackle from St Davids flanker Scott Riches, visiting centre Dorian Rees soon cut over to reduce the deficit to two points at half time.

The visitors then seemingly took control early in the second half, when No 8 Gareth Jones burst through three tackles to score, and then No 10 Gwion Phillips rounded off a flowing move to go under the posts. The latter converted both tries to make it 24-12 to the away side.

The end to end action continued when The Saints set up a close range lineout, and player-coach Antony Davies, again out of retirement at No 8, touched down from a forward drive.

St Davids then piled on the pressure but failed to make a series of close range set pieces count – and then with ten minutes left, paid the price for trying to run the ball from deep when Tregaron hooker Steffan Bonsall pounced on a series of defensive errors to touch down for a try that Phillips converted.

Still The saints pressed for a try that would have given them at least a losing bonus point, but the Tregaron defence stood firm amidst a series of forward drives, and held out to make the long journey home with a bonus point victory.

It meant a league season without a win for St Davids, but they deserve praise for continuing to battle on in difficult circumstances and continue to be a real credit to Pembrokeshire rugby!

St Davids: Rhys Morgan, Steve Regan, Sam Kurtz, Scott James, Steve Picton, Mathew Bennett, Fraser Watson, Jon Rellie, Noel Lyons, Ben Evans, Rhys Tudor Price (capt),  Andrew Groves, Carl Evans, Scott Riches, Anthony Davies.
Replacements: Dan Murphy, Steven Griffiths, Rhys Owen Price, Will Davies, Curt Buchanan.

PHOTO:
Fraser Watson and Anthony Davies combine for The Saints

 

Division One (West)

 

Wonderful win for Whitland

Felinfoel 6 - Whitland 14

Two second-half tries from pacy winger Sean Coles and powerful prop Aaron Mayne produced an outstanding away win for Whitland at Felinfoel which deservedly moved The Borderers out of the bottom two in the section as the opposition stay safely in mid=-table despite defeat.

But it was Whitland’s first half display which was the platform for success as they played into the teeth of the strong wind and restricted Felinfoel to only six points from a brace of penalties by Aled Roberts as full back Nico Setaro and outside half James Stephenson controlled matters after some terrific defence by The Borderers’ pack.

Skipper Marc Jones certainly led by example between props Mayne and Ryan Rees, with Raff Williams outstanding in the second row graft alongside Dai Ebsworth, now 46 years old but playing with the determination of someone half his age!

They allowed Ryan Michael, Andrew Howells and especially Zac France-Miller to stifle home possession – and also worthy of praise was the cover wide out supplied by Setaro, Coles and Deian Augustus as centres Rhys Sivorney and Alun Howells blocked the home runners down the middle of their home at the King George Vth Memorial Field.

With the wind at their backs The Borderers defied the ever-worsening conditions after the oranges, aided by a strong bench, and their reward was those two tries, totally different in their concept but each vital nonetheless.

Coles used his genuine pace to outflank the cover whilst Mayne rounded off some forward pressure – and both were converted by the in-form Setaro to not only give The Borderers a deserved success but also denied the opposition a consolation bonus point!

The teams met again in their final game of the season, this time at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn and if Whitland can maintain their current form their safety should be assured in readiness for their next campaign!

Whitland: Nico Setaro: Deian Augustus; Rhys Sivorney; Alun Howells; Sean Coles: James Stephenson; Andrew Jenkins: Aaron Mayne; Marc Jones (Capt); Ryan Rees: Raff Williams; Dai Ebsworth: Ryan Michael; Andrew Howells; Zac France-Miller. Replacements: Jacob Dewhurst; Gethin Lewis; Gareth Bennett; Adam Davies; Matthew Simon.
 

PHOTOS:
Aaron Mayne - close range try for powerful Borderers' prop
Sean Coles - another touch of magic from Whitland's pacy winger

 

Division Two (West)

 

Blues battle in vain

Llanybydder 17 - Haverfordwest 8

 
Haverfordwest produced one of their better performances of a tough season in quite awful conditions at Llanybydder but still went down to defeat and, as often happens when a team is at the foot of the table, just missed out on a bonus point which they at least deserved.

The Blues included talented youth players Elan Roberts at outside half, Kyle Williams in the second row and Ryan palmer as flanker and all three showed what they were made of with performances beyond their years, supported by experienced players like Steve Hamer in the centre, plus Terry Lovell and Liam Brown up front.

Full back Gareth John kicked Haverfordwest into an early three-point lead but his penalty was soon cancelled out by a similar effort from home centre Steffan Davies, who also added the extra points when prop Gareth Davies powered his way over the whitewash to score.

But the Blues had some real graft from Jamie Zambas, Jack Clancy, Morgan Leighton and Brown, with scrum half Lee Summons always snapping at their heels, but John missed a golden chance to add another penalty from a kick that was easily within his range.

The second period saw the weather get even worse but Llanybydder added a try by Richard Davies, which his namesake Steffan goaled – and haul the Blues could muster in response was an unconverted try by Adam Williams, despite all their genuine efforts.

This win completed the double for Llanybydder after a 21-18 success at Pembroke Road in sunny September and moves them up from tenth to eighth spot – whilst the Blues now find themselves 19 points adrift at the foot of the table, and with only five games left seem doomed to drop back into Division Three (West) A after just one campaign in this tough section!

Haverfordwest: Gareth John: Paul Clayton; Steve Hamer; Matthew Phillips; Steve Thomas: Elgan Roberts; Lee Summons: Jamie Zambas; Kyle Hamer; Terry Lovell: Kyle Williams; Jack Clancy: Ryan Palmer; Morgan Leighton; Liam Brown. Replacements: Ian Williams; Dan Vaughan; Adam Williams; Daryan Edwards; Chris Richards.

 

Terry Lovell - battled hard up front for Haverfordwest

Lee Summons - always involved for The Blues