PHOTO:
Rhys Lane looks to break clear

 

Championship:

 

Otters edged out in table-top clash

Narberth 13 - Pontypool 18

Pontypool maintained their 100% league record as they completed the double over second-placed Narberth to stay hot favourites for promotion despite The Otters’ yeoman efforts to snatch the verdict from Pooler.

But in the final analysis it was the visitors’ greater experience which nudged them home – and Narberth’s cause wasn’t helped by the fact that winger Liam Hutchings was shown the red card for retaliation after the original offence wasn’t spotted by referee Wayne Davies, who had a good game in charge.

Disappointing start for The Otters

The game certainly didn’t start well for The Otters as Ianto Griffiths’ kick off didn’t go 10 metres and from the resulting scrum on half way they lost veteran prop Justin Hughes, who has been a cornerstone of the scrummaging.

He was replaced by Tom Slater, who played well alongside Dan Smith and Dylan Cooper, but Hughes’ know-how when things got tough was inevitably missed.

Pontypool went ahead in the fifth minute with a simple penalty from outside half Matthew Jones but it looked as if Narberth would take the lead with a Griffiths’ charge down but the No 10 was adjudged to have knocked on as he tried to grasp the ball and as home supporters cheered what they thought was an opportunist try there were groans as he was recalled by Mr Davies!

Pooler show good defence before Narberth fight back

Nick Gale, normally so accurate with his place-kicking missed two penalties within his range as Jake Simm, James Bain, Steffan Phillips and Sean Jenkins joined skipper Alex Jenkins in setting the platform – but he finally made it third time lucky with a simple penalty.

Matthew Jones put Pooler back ahead after good work by Gareth Rusby Davies, Ben Sparks and captain Ben Parry earned them a penalty – and solid defence by Nathan Brooks, Tom Hancock, Rhys Humphries and Dan Robinson meant that Narberth’s potent centre pairing of Ollie Reyland and Jack Price were kept relatively quiet.

But right on half time the home side grabbed a try by second row Jake Simm from another charge down and Gale converted to put his side 10-6 in front at the interval.

Usher scores vital Pooler try

Influential No 10 Matthew Jones, who worked well with Aaron Quick, regained the lead for Pontypool with an unconverted try as he popped up at a driving maul but Narberth had a Gale penalty to put them 13-11 to the good but as a series of niggles halted fluidity both sides were reduced to 13 men at one time, including Hutchings’ dismissal and three yellow cards.

As the game entered its final stages it was Pontypool who grabbed the vital final score with a good try from winger Rhodri Usher, which Jones converted to keep his side clear at the top, leaving Narberth with a consolation bonus point and cause to reflect on what might have been had they taken their chances.

Narberth: James Stephenson: Nick Gale; Jack Price; Ollie Reyland; Liam Hutchings: Ianto Griffiths; Rhys Lane: Dylan Cooper; Dan Smith; Justin Hughes: Jake Simm; Alec Jenkins (Capt): James Bain; Sean Jenkins; Steffan Phillips. Replacements: Tom Slater; Bradley Davies; Pat Roberts; Joe Hutchings; Lewys Gibby.
Pontypool: Tom Hancock: Rhodri Usher; Dan Robinson; Rhys Humphries; Rhodri Usher: Matthew Jones; Aaron Quick: Aaron Coundley; Ban Parry (Capt); Ryan Harford: Matthew Thomas; Gareth Rusby-Davies: Jordan Williams; Rob Nash; Ben Sparks. Replacements: Ollie Drake; Jamie Jeune; Ben Egan; Rhys Dyer; Kieran Meek.

PHOTO:
Matthew Jones sets Pontypool on the attack

 

Division One (West):

 

Great fightback earns Preseli Men the spoils

Gowerton 20 - Crymych 21

An excellent second-half come-back saw Crymych snatch victory at Gowerton after not playing over-well in the first 40 minutes and finding themselves 17-6 adrift.

But whatever new coach Neil Machin said at the oranges appeared to have worked because the Preseli Men conceded only three points thereafter and scored two good tries to win by the odd point in 41!

Outside half Rhys Davies managed two penalties on target in that first period but Gowerton claimed good tries from No 8 Ryan Davies, hooker Chris Jones and centre Gareth Bowen, one converted by winger Charlie Jones.

Winger Jones added his three-pointer in the second half but with Tomos Lewis catching the eye alongside Whitland try scorers in young centre Jake Jenkins and winger Nick Bevan, plus a conversion and third penalty by No 10 Davies, it was Crymych who came away with their sixth win from 10 starts – and a top-five spot as their reward.

PHOTO:
Jake Jenkins - vital try for Crymych

 

Borderers battle in vain

Whitland 23 - Llanelli Wanderers 36

Whitland battled hard against high-flying Llanelli Wanderers but in the final analysis couldn’t pick up a bonus point, despite scoring 23 points in an entertaining tussle, and so staying in the bottom two as a result.

Winger Aaron Ebsworth scored a try for the Borderers in his first fill league match for his club, with others coming from Connor Edwards and Nico Setaro, who also landed a conversion and two penalties.

But The Wanderers’ free-flowing style saw them grab six tries from Robert Hughes (2), Rhydian Morgan (2), Rhodri Lodwick and a penalty try, with three of them converted by Jonathan George to help the visitors home.

PHOTO:
Nico Setaro - try, conversion and penalty for Whitland

 

Division Two (West)

 

Seasiders go on another try spree

Tenby United 56 - Tumble 53

 
If it is tries you want to see then Tenby United are currently the team to watch as they grabbed nine for the second match in succession to go joint top of the table, with opponents Tumble, also in the top five in the section table, claiming five converted tries of their own.

The Seasiders were 25-14 ahead at the interval thanks to excellent scores from winger Gregg Lees-Griffiths, flanker Andrew Cook, scrum half Will Crockford and outside half Toby Smith, who as well as calling the shots notched one conversion and a penalty.

Tumble responded with tries by second row Nathan Willard and hooker Rhys Hooper, both converted by centre Leighton McKenna.

McKenna and then Steve Hewitt also added the extra points to further Tumble tries by prop James Stephens (2) and flanker Celt Flynn but it was always Tenby who had the extra yard of pace behind the scrum and more power up front.

They had second tries by Crockford and Lees-Griffiths, whilst neatly sandwiched in between those scores were others for influential full back Johnny Morgan, winger Jordan Asparassa and second row Luke Dedman, three of them converted by Morgan.

It proved to be a thoroughly entertaining performance which shows Tenby United’s strength – and if they can maintain this attacking momentum whilst polishing their defence they are certainly one of the hot favourites for promotion!

PHOTO:
Andrew Cooke stretches for a try for Tenby
Picture by Brian McKehon

 

Seagulls stutter at Tycroes

Tycroes 24 - Fishguard & Goodwick 10

 
Fishguard and Goodwick coaches Huw Evans and Gareth Thomas will have targeted their match at Tycroes as a possible chance of victory but The Seagulls were brought down to earth with a bump against a home side which have jetted up from seventh to fourth place as a result of their success.

Fishguard, meanwhile, find themselves pushed into the bottom two and must be wondering what happened to that early season form when they were at full strength, with their confidence inevitably low after so many injuries and periods of unavailability.

They were only 7-3 adrift at half time as Tycroes scored a try by centre Trystan Morgan which Dean Bromham converted, with Fishguard managing just a penalty from Alun George.

The homesters added further second-half tries from winger Elgan Griffiths, full back Scott Bowen and outside half Steffan Jones to secure a bonus point, with Bromham converting one of them.

Fishguard battled away but could only muster a try by No 8 Simon James from a driving maul which George converted – but it was never going to be enough to trouble Tycroes’s thrust for their fourth victory in eight matches.

PHOTO:
Carmarthen Athletic scrum half Scott Maynard kicked six penalties

 

Blues beaten by Maynard’s penalties

Haverfordwest 5 - Carmarthen Athletic 18

Haverfordwest remain firmly rooted at the foot of the table as they lost their basement battle against fellow-strugglers Carmarthen Athletic.

The Blues managed to score the only try of the match; a first half effort from youth team captain Kyle Williams in his first league start for the club and working well in the back row alongside Jack Clancy and Iestyn Griffiths.

They had other chances but over-anxiety and taking of wrong options cost them further points, as did their propensity for conceding penalties in kickable positions which were punished in dull by Athletic kicker Scott Maynard.

Maynard landed three penalties in the first period, added another soon after the restart and then followed up with two more in the final quarter to seal the Blues’ fate – and leave Haverfordwest with just one win from eight games and real danger of a quick return to Division Three!

PHOTO:
Kyle Williams scored The Blues' only try

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Carmarthenshire Saints win top clash at Crickmarren

Pembroke 17 - St Clears 18

St Clears recorded a one-point defeat on Pembroke at Crickmarren in this top of the table clash despite the fact that the Scarlets were well on top in the set-pieces and had more of the action in terms of possession.

But the Carmarthenshire Saints defended well and took their chances to inflict a first league defeat on the Scarlets for exactly a year, when they lost to Haverfordwest.

Pembroke took an early lead through a good try down the left flank from winger Barry John but they looked like a team that hadn’t played for three weeks as other chances went abegging and St Clears bounced back with a penalty by full back Geraint Jones, who also converted a try by hooker Daf Page.

Pembroke responded with a try initiated in their own 22 which ended with a typical break by powerhouse No 8 Dom Colman, who found young scrum half Tom Lewis at his shoulder to take the scoring pass and speed under the posts for Luke Hartland to add the extra points.

Fortunes continued to ebb and flow as St Clears regained the lead with a touchline try by replacement Matthew Dance – only for flanker Sam Smith to charge over for the Scarlets to lead by two points with time running out.

The Saints had the final word, however, when they were awarded a late penalty which full back Jones slotted and although the home side tried hard to add further points in the little time left they had to settle for a bonus point as The Saints went home victorious.

PHOTO:
Dom Colman scored for Pembroke but couldn't keep the Scarlets from defeat

 

Barnett boosts marauding Mariners

St Davids 10 - Milford Haven 58

The Mariners warmed up for their important Swalec Bowl game against Nantgaredig next week by scoring 10 tries at St Davids to go top of the table outright.

Milford were nearly ahead in the first minute but centre Dan Birch spilt a loose ball over the line – but the stand in captain then made amends as he went under the posts and full back Craig Barnett converted.
The visitors then proceeded to dominate the opening 30 minutes, with Barnett crossing twice himself and centre Jimmy Thomas, winger Jamie Lewis and No 8 Sam Dolling all grabbing tries and Barnett adding two more conversions to make it 0-36.

But then The Saints got on the scoreboard when scrum half Fraser Watson sniped over from a quickly taken tap penalty, as he has so often done against The Mariners – although it was Milford who had the final word of the half as winger Lewis crossed in the corner.

Early in the second half, the home side enjoyed their best spell of the game and after a series of forward drives, prop Dan Murphy drove his way over for a corner try.

But Milford regained control for the final 20 minutes, and Barnett cut through again for his hat trick before flanker Ben Groves powered through several tackles on his way under the posts, and Barnett converted.
Jamie Barnett, playing at outside half, then saw yellow for dissent but it was The Mariners who rounded off matters with their tenth try late on, when his brother Craig sped over for his fourth score and a personal haul of 28 points.

 

Quins return to winning ways

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 25 - Llangwm 10

Pembroke Dock Harlequins returned to winning ways with a win at Bierspool over Llangwm where they held the advantage for much of the first period to lead 15-3 and were never caught by a gritty Wasps’ XV.

Experienced hooker Carl Williams gave the Quins the early lead with an unconverted try before winger Steve Picton reduced the deficit with a well-struck penalty for Llangwm.

Outside half Ben Hathaway did likewise for the Quins to add three points to their tally and before the oranges he converted a good try by talented young flanker Hywel Baker, who marked his first-team debut with a deserved score.

The Quins also started the second half well as Jonathan Rogers called the shots before tight-head prop Josh Boswell ploughed through for an unconverted try – but Llangwm’s endeavour was rewarded when their man of the match, No 8 Gareth Lawlor, scored a try which Picton converted.

But the Quins had the final say when another another of their excellent young players, Liam Scourfield, put skipper Thomas Doyle over with a clever back-door pass to set the seal on victory and give hard-working coach Ossie Boswell something to smile about.

PHOTO:
Josh Boswell - good try for Quins' prop

 

All Blacks beaten by a whisker

Tregaron 30 - Neyland 27

Neyland were edged out in a high-scoring thriller at Tregaron where they deserved at least a point from their first visit to the Mid Wales’ side but were unable to convert a difficult long-range penalty in the final moments.

The All Blacks trailed 16-8 at half time as centre Ashley Sutton landed a penalty and Delme Bateman sped in from his wing berth – with excellent young No 8 Ben Williams and pacy Winger joining Sutton in scoring second half tries, two of which Sutton converted.

But they conceded a number of penalties which cost them dearly as Tregaron outside half Gwion Phillips kicked five of them – and with unconverted tries by prop Dorian Pugh and No 8 Geraint Rowlands it was the home side who prevailed as Neyland still pocketed two bonus points for their considerable efforts.

PHOTO:
Ben Williams - scored for Neyland at Tregaron

 

Teifisiders grab vital victory against the ‘Boathouse Boys’

Laugharne 16 - Cardigan 24

Cardigan produced an excellent all-round team performance to win at Laugharne against a home side which deserved at least a bonus point for their efforts but remained tantalisingly short of that mark at the final whistle.

The Teifisiders were 11-10 ahead after a very competitive and absorbing first period and managed to stay ahead thanks to tries from winger Alun Jenkins and outside half Luke Rogers, who also notched two early penalties and a conversion to go with another penalty in the second half alongside a vital dropped goal by centre Emyr Harries.

Laugharne prop Damian Harries grabbed their only try whilst Tom Jameson converted and landed three penalties – but it was Cardigan who prevailed to keep their title hopes intact!

PHOTO:
Alun Jenkins - helped Cardigan win at Laugharne with a try