PHOTO:

Milford centre Dan Birch surges forward

 

Featured Match:

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Mariners complete a high-scoring double at Pill Parks

Llangwm 0 - Milford Haven 43

Milford Haven’s powerful squad maintained their quest for top place with this relatively comfortable win over a Llangwm outfit which certainly gave 100% to coach Andy Barlow but in the final analysis couldn’t match the pace and power of this confident Mariners’ side which welcomed back former Wasp Joseph Kiff at No 10.

Kiff called the shots well as his team established a 22-0 lead at the break and added another 23 points after the break despite stout resistance from the likes of home scrum half Rhys Mason, second row Dave Reynolds, prop Ieuan Power and No 8 Ashley James, who particularly caught the eye after the break with his strong surges.

The Mariners opened their account with another try for free-scoring second row Dai Sweeny before the power of their back division was evidenced by tries from centres Dan Jenkins and Dan Birch, and winger Josh Thomas. Other tries came from replacements Matthew Sinnett and Alun Harries on his debut, five of them converted by Craig Barnett after he had slotted a penalty to open the scoring.

Head coach Steve Barnett had demanded a clinical approach from his side and that is what he got as Ben Groves, Ryan Mansell, Sam Dolling and Tom Manning were effective ball winners as Efan Morgan had another good game at the base of the Mariners’ scrum and Lee Riley always looked sharp wide out.

Llangwm: Kieran Walkden: Dan Morgan; Yale Grice; Paul Jonkers; Spencer Rourke: Steve Picton; Rhys Mason: Ieuan Power; Logan Hughes; Gavin Jones: Dave Reynolds; James Mock: James Lewis; Dan Chesmer; Ashley James. Replacements: Ian Griffiths; Dai Owen; Sam Harries.

Milford Haven: Craig Barnett: Josh Thomas; Dan Birch; Dan Jenkins; Lee Riley: Joseph Kiff; Efan Morgan: Mike Cockburn; Luke Ryan; Adam Rees: Tom Manning; Dai Sweeny: Ben Groves; Ryan Mansell; Sam Dolling. Replacements: Matthew Sinnett; Alun Harries; Jamie Barnett; Ben Jenkins.

PHOTO:
Ashley James - outstanding up front for The Wasps

 

Championship:

 

Otters’ match suffers late postponement

Narberth P-P Skewen
The eagerly-anticipated clash between second-place Narberth and a Skewen side sitting sixth was called off an hour before the scheduled start because although Narberth and the match referee thought the Lewis Lloyd ground would be playable the visitors had concerns about the state of the pitch in the shadow of the stand – in those circumstances the official had no option but to call the game off!
 

Division One (West):

 

Ace kicker Rhys takes the Preseli Men to victory over league leaders

Crymych 22 - Kidwelly 20

Crymych played with real passion to inflict only the second defeat of the campaign on high-flying Kidwelly and gained revenge for a 36-15 defeat in the reverse fixture – and as Kidwelly conceded penalties under pressure and it was influential kicker Rhys Davies who punished their indiscretions to the full with the conversion of the Preseli Men’s only try from industrious second row Dion Gibby alongside five penalties.

The home side led 10-3 early on as Gibby raced over and Davies added the conversion and the first of their penalties but the league leaders drew level after scrum half Lee Evans landed a penalty and then converted what many regarded as a harsh penalty try awarded against Crymych.

Rhys Davies added his second penalty on target but the visitors took a 17-13 lead into half time winger Sion Pearce sped through and Evans added the extra points.

The second half was no less combative but with solid performances up front from Ifan James, Llyr Griffiths, Lewis Davies, Rhys ‘Beaky’ Davies and Richard Sharp-Williams, plus skipper Tom Powell and his brother Joe, the section toppers were limited to a solitary penalty by Evans but with young Crymych pivot Jake Jenkins pinning them back it was they who prevailed as Davies added three more kicks on target to help push his side into a deserved fourth place as reward for this terrific all-round effort!
 

PHOTO:
Second row Dion Gibby - scored a vital try in Crymych's superb win

 

Borderers battle to second success of the season

Whitland 17 - Waunarlwydd 16

Whitland’s season received a significant boost as they edged out visiting Waunarlwydd at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn by a single point to move above Loughor in the table after drawing level on points but with games in hand.

To be fair to The Borderers, they have lost the majority of their games by narrow margins and had been shaded out by 30-25 at Waun earlier in the season so perhaps Lady Luck is beginning to show them a little favour.

They could also point out that they scored three tries through Nico Setaro (2) and James Stephenson, one converted by Setaro, whilst Waun could only muster a single try by replacement prop Phil Evans to go with the conversion and three penalties by scrum half Lee Evans.


 

PHOTO:
Nick Setaro - helped Whitland win with two tries

 

PHOTO:
Haverfordwest centre Luke Harvatt breaks through a tackle

 

Division Two (West):

 

Blues well beaten after good first half

Haverfordwest 0 - Pontarddulais 39

The gap between the bottom and top sides in this section was easy to see in the second half as basement club Haverfordwest held table-topping Pontarddulais to just five points at half time but conceded 34 more points after the interval as their relatively young side fell away.

But to be fair to Simon Lepetit’s team they battled hard but were denied a first half score when referee  Julian Thomas spotted a forward pass which prevented  Scott Candler scoring, and had several periods of pressure after the interval when the final pass went astray.

The Blues had lost 52-11 in Pontarddulais but there was no scoring for 35 minutes after Aled Stone had missed a penalty for The Bont and Candler was recalled after seemingly put in the clear by Tom Parry, Matthew Davies, Dan Richards and Luke Harvatt.

But then strong bursts by Nicky Hopkins, Rhys Samuel and skipper Aled Thomas set the platform for centre Josh Goss to dive over for an unconverted try.

The Blues suffered several injuries in the third quarter as The Bont’s greater experience told, with more tries coming from flanker Hopkins (2), centre Paul Geary (2), winger Gethin Williams and replacement Craig Davies, two of them converted by Stone.

Even the most diehard Pontarddulais supporter would have to have said that The Blues deserved a score but their late thrusts, often set up by the likes of Adam Clark Kyle Williams and Jamie Zambas, for the line were often hurried under pressure and they were unable to grab any points and still stay rooted to the foot of the table.
 

PHOTO:
Barry Parsons scores a try for The Seasiders
Picture by Susan McKehon

Seasiders complete the double over rejuvenated Mumbles

 

Tenby United 33 - Mumbles 28

Tenby United gained their expected double over Mumbles after a 38-10 win when they met earlier in the season, but The Seasiders were pushed all the way by a rejuvenated visiting team which looked far stronger and better organised than previously.

This Tenby side is now made of stern stuff and they refused to let their opponents run all over them, leading 20-15 in a tight first half which was matched by an equally hard second period.

Tries by No 8 Barry Parsons, outside half Ashley Sutton and centre Toby Smith alongside a conversion and penalty from Sutton came in that opening half whilst Mumbles responded with a penalty by Adam Nicklin to go with the conversion of one of winger Matthew Flynn’s two tries.

Mumbles scored other tries by centre Iwan Gully and scrum half James Griffiths to secure a bonus points as Nicklin put them in front with two penalties – but Tenby remained cool and a try from scrum half Kieran Machin was converted by Sutton, who then landed two late penalties to earn his side their ninth win from 12 starts and second place in the section table.
 

Seagulls match called off early

Tumble P Fishguard & Goodwick P
Fishguard & Goodwick’s match at Tumble was called off early because of frost but at least it meant that The Seagulls didn’t have to travel!
 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Teifisiders too strong for makeshift All Blacks

Cardigan 45 - Neyland 3 

Cardigan gained ample revenge for a narrow 15-12 defeat against Neyland at The Athletic Ground by comfortably beating an All Blacks’ side minus several key players at the King George Vth Field.

The Teifisiders were on top from the outset and built up a 33-3 interval lead before Neyland grafted hard to restrict them to just two tries in a tighter second period as coach Steve Martin, Mark Riley and Aaron James led some solid defence.

Right winger Rhydian Jenkins opened the scoring for The Cardis and others came from skipper Llyr Griffiths (2) centres Sion Hughes and John Lumb, four of them converted by influential outside half Iestyn Crompton – and the All Blacks’ only reply was a well-struck penalty from Riley.

Left winger Dafydd Watkins and Hughes, with his second score, added tries after the oranges whilst Crompton notched his fifth two-pointer as Cardigan remained firmly in the race for the silverware at the end of the season.
 

PHOTO:
Llyr Griffiths - two tries for Cardigan captain

 

Try hat-tricks for Kinnear and Edwards in Scarlets’ big win

Pembroke 75 - St Davids 0

Three tries apiece for pacy young centre Tom Kinnear and bustling second row Will Edwards helped Pembroke complete a high-scoring double over a gritty St Davids’ side which never once showed signs of throwing in the towel, the Scarlets having already won 98-0 in St Davids.

Saints’ coach Ianto Davies and skipper Rhys ‘Lossin’ Price led by example and their pack held their own for long periods thanks to the efforts of Noel Lyons, Dan Murphy, William Davies, Gethin Bateman and Scott Riches, whilst Morgan Williams made a promising debut at centre.

Pembroke coach Geraint Lewis gave chances to some of his squad who don’t regularly start and was quick to praise the opposition for their efforts as his team added further tries by new winger Simon Stanford (2), prop Lloyd Davies, hooker Jim Brace, centre Matthew Lewis and winger Barry John before replacement forward Cyle Wetherall rounded off the try count to go with five conversions from full back Luke Hartland.

 

PHOTO:
Will Edwards - a try hat-trick for Pembroke's bustling second row

 

Quins still struggling to complete a full squad

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0 - Laugharne 43 

Pembroke Dock were in with a shout at half time as they trailed Laugharne by only ten points but they ran out of steam in a less competitive second half as Laugharne added 33 points without reply.

Coach Ossie Boswell is working hard to keep The Quins afloat but again he faced a lack of replacements which is hard to overcome, but his players battled hard in the opening 40 minutes to restrict Laugharne to two unconverted tries claimed by scrum half Tom Waters and flanker Carwyn Jones.

They scored second half tries by flanker Mike Williams, centre Tom Davies, prop Rhys Thomas and No 10 Owain Thomas, who notched his own conversion, whilst Ross Michael kicked three more to seal a deserved success against their old rivals at Bierspool.
 
 

Carmarthenshire Saints overcome tough Cardiganshire challenge

St Clears 17 - Tregaron 5

St Clears remain top of the table after this hard-fought home match against a Tregaron side which in its first season in this section has already earned a reputation for being doughty opponents.

The Saints had won 51-10 in their away fixture but estimates that this would be a harder challenge were proved correct before they missed out on an expected bonus point for managing to score four tries but showed typically strong defence to restrict their opponents to a single unconverted try.