'KO Cup First Round:

 

Haverfordwest 44 - Aberaeron 6

 
Referee: Matthew Evans
 
Haverfordwest moved smoothly into the second round of the Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup with this easy win over a makeshift Aberaeron side that never gave up trying but were already 30-6 behind at half way.
 
It is to the club’s credit that they at least fulfilled the fixture but found The Blues in good form despite having a few absentees of their own and gaps to fill that included Gareth John, who can play in the backs or as a centre, showing his club commitment by joining Jack Clancy in the second row and becoming possibly the shortest player ever to fill the role!
 

Bright first half for The Blues

 
Haverfordwest set the scoreboard under way with a Jake Morgan penalty but this was soon cancelled out by opposing No 10 Steffan Jones before The Blues grabbed their first try from the resultant kick off when Lee Summons, Morgan, Josh Thomas and Matthew John spread play wide and put right winger Rhys Baker over in the corner.
 
Then second row Jack Clancy, who dominated the linesout all match, put in a storming run to the line for another unconverted score before blind-side flanker Will Blackburn, who foraged well alongside Matty Phillips and Lewis Tingay, scored a try that Morgan converted.
 
Aber battled hard up front and managed a second penalty by Thomas but The Blues’ front row of Dan Berry, Jamie Zambas and Ieuan Bevan were always in control and the homesters added further five-pointers from the powerful Tingay and a second from Baker before the oranges.
 

Tingay completes a deserved hat-trick as Aber battle hard in adversity

 
The second half looked to be following a similar high-scoring pattern as Johnny White and Scott Candler tried to get involved at the back and Tingay scored wide out and then crossed at the posts to complete his hat-trick, both converted by Morgan – but with player/coach ‘Snowy’ John ringing the changes there was no scoring in the final quarter as the weather took its toll on handling well.
 
Credit must also go to Aber for their determined defence as Owain Davies celebrated his birthday with some huge chop tackles and there were other notable performances from Llyr Davies, who covered superbly and Bedwyr Davies, who never took a backward step.
 
So Haverfordwest could be pleased with their performance in such abject weather and their reward is a visit to Bierspool to take on Pembroke Dock Harlequins, who had a bye in the first round.
 
Haverfordwest: Johnny White: Rhys Baker; Josh Thomas; Matthew John: Scott Candler: Jake Morgan; Lee Summons: Dan Berry; Jamie Zambas; Ieuan Bevan: Jack Clancy; Gareth John: Will Blackburn; Matty Phillips; Lewis Tingay. Replacements: Jonathan Clout; Jack Codd; Owen Hamer; Jack Blockwell; Lee Davies.