PHOTOS
Good defence by The Otters
Ianto Griffiths - 30 points for Narberth - what a start to his season
Dan Smith acknowledges the crowd

 

Championship League:

 

Griffiths grabs glory as Otters stay strong

Narberth 35 - Newbridge 19

Narberth gained a deserved win over a gritty Newbridge side that refused to submit despite finding themselves 19 points in arrears after only 12 minutes, with the Otters having to resist some strong-arm tactics by the Gwent side in the second period.

Special day for Dan Smith – and Ianto Griffiths

It was a very special day for Narberth hooker Dan Smith, playing his 250th match, and leading the team out to warm applause from the Otter faithful who recognised this wonderful achievement.

Outside half Ianto Griffiths also had a match to remember as he scored 19 points in the first 12 minutes that caused announcer Rob ‘Basher’ Lewis to say it was the earliest hat-trick he had ever seen in the club.

Griffiths gave The Otters an electric start as he twice cut through in midfield and sped to the posts to allow himself two simple conversions.

Newbridge battled back with some strong raids close to the home line in which scrum half Owen Clemmett and hooker Stuart Vokes were involved but Ianto Griffiths intercepted a floated pass and sped 80 metres for an unconverted try.

Newbridge refuse to cave in

To be fair to Newbridge, they refused to cave in after such a dire start and got on the scoresheet after a concerted forward drive featuring Anthony Symons, Jacob and Izaak Duffy, with scrum half Clemmett claiming the touchdown and No 10 Eamonn Rees adding the extras via the far upright.

Griffiths missed a long-range penalty for The Otters but slotted a simpler version after 36 minutes but there was still time for Newbridge to register a second score when some dire Narberth midfield tackling allowed dynamic flanker Christian Francis to score an unconverted try.

But then came arguably the try of the match when the ubiquitous Griffiths burst out of defence and found Tom Powell at his elbow for the speedy flanker to mark his debut with a 45 metre run to the posts for Griffiths to convert,

Punches thrown after earlier niggles

Several niggly little bouts of pushing and shoving eventually led to a confrontation just inside the Newbridge half when a late tackle on a Narberth player led to players running 30 metres and a punch thrown by a Newbridge forward would have done justice to Anthony Joshua but has no place on a rugby pitch.

It was sadly missed by referee Simon Mills but took place in full view of the crowd in the stand as it felled Narberth player Jake Simm, so the miscreant avoided any punishment.

Another Griffiths’ penalty killed off Newbridge hopes but the visitors had the final word when replacement Tom Bainton scored a good try and Rees converted, but it was too little, too late as Sean gale’s team started off their season with a very good result.

Narberth: James Stephenson: Liam Hutchings; Paul Davies; Kieran Jones; Jack Parkinson: Ianto Griffiths, Rhys Lane: Bradley Davies; Dan Smith; Tom Slater: Jake Simm; Alex Jenkins (Alex Jenkins): Dewi Williams; Tom Powell; Richard Rees. Replacements: Dan Jacob; Rhodri Owen; Pat Roberts; Jack Price; Jonathan Rogers.

PHOTO:
Ianto Griffiths races over for his third try

 

Division One (West):

 

Seasiders start with a bang

Tenby United 41 - Llanelli Wanderers 22

Tenby United started their new season in this higher section with an excellent home win over Llanelli Wanderers where the teams shared 30 points in a competitive first half but The Seasiders raised the tempo in the second period to ease home by an impressive 19 points.

Leading the way for Tenby was scrum half Matthew Morgan, who sniped over for a brace of tries, and he was joined in scoring by other backs in Jordan Asparassa and Moritz Neumann, plus powerhouse pack members Mike Davies and Luke Hansford.

Ashley Sutton also posed a threat with his ability to turn defence into attack and added 11 points from four conversions and a penalty as a bonus.

For The Wanderers there were tries by Richard de Fillipo, Josh Weeds and Sienco Morgan, with Jonathan George contributing two conversions and a penalty to what was a lost cause as The Seasiders really looked ready for action.

PHOTO:
Mauritz Neumann scores a try for Tenby United
Picture by Susan McKehon

 

Preseli Men come-back too late

Dunvant 36 - Crymych 22

Crymych suffered the disappointment of a first-match defeat at Dunvant but there was enough in the performance, especially in the second half, to have new coach Randall Williams feeling he has something to work with here.

But The Preseli Men definitely looked a little sluggish in the first period as all they could muster for their efforts was a penalty by Ifan Phillips as Dunvant scored tries by hooker Adam Gaynor (2) and No 8 Rhys Tucker, plus one conversion by Adam Williams-Perry.

For Crymych, scrum half Rhys Davies, Aled Harries, Guto Davies and Zac France-Miller led their second half resurgence to score tries by centres Gareth Beavis and Carwyn Phillips, one converted by Jake Jenkins, who also added the extra points to a try of his own.

It left Crymych just one score from a share of the spoils as Dunvant replied with a tries by Williams-Perry and replacement Gareth Davies but a late score from Sam Hopes, converted by Sam Williams, confirmed the homesters as victors of an entertaining clash.
 

PHOTO:
Carwyn Phillips - try for Crymych centre

 

Division Two (West):

 

Brilliant Borderers start superbly

Pontyberem 10 - Whitland 48

After the inevitable disappointment of relegation last season Whitland showed that they are back with a bang as they travelled to Pontyberem, never an easy place to make an impact, and scored eight tries in an impressive 48-10 success.

The Borderers served notice of intent as they dominated the first half to lead 21-0 and were always ahead thereafter as their pack maintained a firm grip on proceedings and there was pace aplenty behind as Sean Coles made a terrific start with a hat-trick of tries alongside others from No 10 Nico Setaro, new full back Scott Candler (2) and new skipper/hooker Marc Jones, who also crashed over for a brace.

Setaro slotted four conversions and all Pontyberem could muster in response was a pair of unconverted tries from experience back-rower Wayne Williams.
 

PHOTO:
Sean Coles - another try hat-trick for Whitland's flying winger

 

St Clears v Fishguard & Goodwick
*Match postponed –by mutual agreement of the clubs.

 

Division Three (West):

 

Toby stars in Scarlets’ success

Pembroke 60 - Neyland 17

Pembroke started their campaign with a clear-cut win over old rivals in which Toby Smith marked his transfer from Tenby United with four of their ten tries and coach Geraint Lewis was understandably pleased at the evident strength of his squad.

Smith raced over for The Scarlets’ third try after winger Barry John and flanker Harry Cook had claimed unconverted scores – and the home side were 29-0 ahead at the interval as John scored his second and scrum half Tom Lewis got his name on the try sheet, both converted by full back Luke Hartland.

It says much for the resolve shown by Neyland they scored three second half tries by winger Delme Bateman, outside half Steve Martin and full back Adam Cawley, one converted by Mark Riley as reward for their determination to battle away but they were always finding it hard to negate the power of the Pembroke pack.

No 8 Sam Smith opened The Scarlets’ second half scoring before brother Toby scored three more alongside one from replacement back rower Jordan Gwilliam, plus three more Hartland conversions as his side’s expansive game paid clear dividends in an impressive start at Crickmarren.

PHOTO:
Toby Smith - grabbed four tries for Pembroke

 

Saints struggle against powerful Aberaeron outfit

Aberaeron 76 - St Davids 5

St Davids made the long journey to Aberaeron and battled hard as player/coach Anthony Davies and skipper Rhys ‘Loshin’ Price led their forward effort by example and they managed a good try by scrum half Zac Morgan whilst restricting the home side to a 26-5 interval lead.

Aber’s scorers in that first period were second row Steffan Gale, winger Dyfrig Davies and centre Tom Slinger, three of them converted by Rhodri Jenkins.

But although the Saints never gave up trying they conceded 50 points in the second half from Dyfrig Davies again, prop Alex Danton, replacements Tudur Jenkins and Dafydd Llewellyn (2), whose brother Morgan also scored two tries from his full back berth. No 8 Aaron Lewis and Sion Stephens rounded off a points’ glut as Jenkins also claimed another three conversions.

 

Quins show resilience that bodes well for the season

Cardigan 22 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 12

After a dire 2016/17 season Pembroke Dock harlequins showed here that they have a stronger and more committed squad for this campaign under hard-working coach Ossie Boswell, who must have been delighted to see his team lead by 5-0 at the interval, thanks to a good try after 32 minutes by centre and skipper Thomas Doyle.

But from the start of the second half The Teifisiders took the lead when right winger Rhydian Jenkins raced away for centre Emyr Harries to add the extra points before also landing a penalty.

Then the Quins lost possession on their own throw-in for veteran No 8 Rob Connolly to twist his way over the line and Harries again added the extra points – but the visitors replied from a tapped penalty when powerful prop Josh Boswell ploughed over the whitewash and outside half Jake Griffiths converted.

Cardigan had the final word in the scoring stakes when replacement Owain Rees scored an unconverted try and when the Quins ran a short range penalty instead of looking for three points their efforts went unrewarded – but coach Boswell certainly has something to work on if he can maintain his current squad.
 
 

PHOTO:
Rob Connolly - Cardigan's veteran No 8 claimed a good try

 

Wasps wilt a little in final stages

Llangwm 23 - Tregaron 42

Llangwm put up a typically gritty display against Tregaron as they were only 23-26 adrift moving into the final stages, but it was the visitors who made the long journey back to Mid Wales with the points as they lasted the late pace just a little better than The Wasps.

Llangwm’s enterprise and drive was led up front by Josh Hicks and Danny Chesmer, with Steve Inward and Luke Hayman having good games in defence – and Hayman crossed for a try alongside centre Gavin Jones, with Inward landing both conversions and three penalties, one a huge effort from inside his own half.

For Tregaron, there was a hat-trick of tries by influential centre Melfyn Davies as co-centre Gethin Jones, plus wingers Hefin Ebenezer and Rhydian Jones also got on the scoresheet alongside outside half Gwion Phillips, who added all six conversions.
 

PHOTO:
Gavin Jones - try scorer for The Wasps

 

Laugharne’s late burst denies The Mariners

Milford Haven 31 - Laugharne 31

It was a thrilling start to the season at The Obs where a last ditch try from Laugharne second row Carwyn Jones ensured the visitors came away with a draw against Milford Haven.

An action-packed contest yielded nine tries and a red card – and it was The Cocklemen who took early control as hooker Richie Waters burrowed over from a quick tap penalty, before winger Gareth Spiers crossed following a midfield break from Mikey Williams, whose centre partner Tom Jameson converted both to make it 14-0.

But Milford stormed back to lead 19-14 at the break, as first the midfield partnership of Dan Jenkins and Craig ‘Yoda’ Thomas combined and the latter went under the posts, before Jenkins himself went over out wide, with both scores converted by scrum half Dan McClelland.

Then home second row Dai Sweeny crashed over near half time – but the home side were reduced to 14 men before the break when hooker Luke Ryan was sent off when he lashed out right in front of referee Colin Phillips.
Laugharne reduced the deficit after half time with a Jameson penalty, but Ben Groves went over for a deserved try, brilliantly converted from wide out by McClelland.

The momentum continued to go back and forth, and The Cocklemen got back to 26-24 after being awarded a seven point penalty try, but The Mariners seemingly made the game safe when winger Lee Riley sped over from 22 metres for an unconverted score.

But deep into time added on, a series of forward drives from the visitors ended with Jones crashing over from close range, and Jameson landed his fifth successful kick to level matters.

PHOTO:
Dan McClelland in action for Milford Haven