Youth Rugby:

Seasiders too strong for Young Seagulls

Fishguard & Goodwick 8 - Tenby United 39

 

Fishguard & Goodwick Youth took on their counterparts from Tenby United at The Moors and both teams played some good running to defy the strong wind blowing directly down the pitch.

In the final analysis the Seasiders’ greater experience and strength told as they ran in six tries, three in each half, against one from The Seagulls, with a 17-8 advantage at half time a real boost because they had defended well against the elements but limited their opposition to a try by busy scrum half Max Jones alongside a Creegan Foot penalty.

Fishguard also lost Sol Almond with an ankle injury which was an unfortunate way for the young flanker to celebrate his 18th birthday!

Seasiders strike in both halves

For The Seasiders, there were tries by winger Dylan John, back rower Jake Roberts and second row Lewis Catt as Jack Gooding, Oakley Milton, and Joe Owen featured in defence and attack.

Influential No 10 Morgan Grieve slotted one conversion, as he did in the second half when other tries came from scrum half Cam Broadhurst (2) and winger Joe Andrews, who might have had a second score from a long-range strike but was denied by a last-ditch cover tackle from home centre Owen Swain, who was nominated as man of the match by coaches Dilwyn Williams, Alan Phillips and Steve Jones.
 

Swain stars in both camps’ view

The Seasiders had other chances but good work from Jack Phillips, Iwan McVeigh, Tom Lewis and Vaughan Batty were instrumental in keeping them out, despite the attacking play of a strong Tenby outfit which looked sharp and was praised by their coaches Richard Rossiter and Guto Griffiths – but who also nominated opposing centre Owen Swain as the best player on view!

Fishguard & Goodwick: Jo Dunn: Tom Lewis; Owen Swain; Creegan Foot; Osian Field: Aled Lewis; Max Jones: Iwan McVeigh; Ioan Davies; Osian Perkins: Sam Rummery; Jack Phillips: Ieuan Morris; Sol Almond; Vaughan Batty. Replacements: Cameron Sapsford; Dylan Hughes; Kyran Owen; Dafis Osians.

Tenby United: Joe Owen: Dylan John; Oakley Milton; Jack Gooding; Joe Andrews: Morgan Grieve; Cam Broadhurst: Euan Day; Tommie Whalley; Max Badham: Rhys Grigg; Lewis Catt: Charlie Sangster; Jake Roberts; Callum Earland. Replacements: Taran Richards; Ryan Bolton; Ollie Brown.

Referee: Paddy Byrne.

Talented youth teams serve up nine tries

Haverfordwest Youth 24 - Whitland Youth 33

Haverfordwest Youth and Whitland Youth served up a highly entertaining nine-try 13-a-side fest at Merlins Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

The Young Blues could only field 13 players and the visitors sportingly accommodated them by fielding the same number of players.

The game got off to a high-tempo start but it was understandably littered with early handling errors and mistakes as the high winds caused both teams problems.

Borderers on top in first half

Borderers’ coach Domenico Setaro was happy his side led 26-12 at half time, but to their full credit the young Blues fought back and only lost by nine points at the final whistle.

Referee Charlie Watts had a good game, keeping a tight rein on proceedings while trying to keep the game flowing as much as possible.

Whitland Youth scored five tries as impressive outside half Iola Rees collected 18 points, the outside half racing over for two tries and kicking four conversions. Flanker Brandon Williams, prop Sam Davies and replacement Ryan Gooding also crossed the whitewash.
 

Blues battle back

The Blues also grabbed four tries with classy centre Jack Evans and crash ball No 8 specialist Isaac Hathaway both going over for a try brace apiece. Full back Jonny White kicked two conversions.

Blues coaches’ Andrew Thicker, Peter Hughes and Craig Jones must be happy with the way their young team performed and Borderers’ coach Setaro was equally pleased with his side’s wholehearted effort, both in attack and defence.

Haverfordwest Youth: Jonny White, Jack Blockwell, Jack Evans, Iestyn Miles-Nash, Jason Stobbs, Lewis Curtis, Owen Hamer, Iestyn Howells, Josh Evans, Ben Mathias-Milsom, Lewis Tingay, Jack Codd, Isaac Hathaway.

Whitland Youth: Rhys Hamfrey, Owen Palmer, Cian Williams, Rufus Cox, Lewis Gibbon, Iola Ress, Trystan Rees, Tom Lloyd, Aled Thomas, Sam Davies, Ben Taylor, Ronan Peterson, Brandon Williams, Rhodri Dyer, Dan Bennett. Replacements: Dylan George, Frankie Hanlon-Boyd, Max Jones, Dan Fitzgibbon, Ryan Gooding, Tiger Lloyd.

Referee: Charlie Watts.

Young Otters too strong at The Obs

Milford Haven Youth 7 - Narberth Youth 58

Narberth Youth carried their league and Welsh Cup form into this quarter final clash at The Obs as they came through a tight first half against Milford before cutting loose.

The Young Otters won all 10 of their games in the Scarlets West division, and only last week secured a spot
in the last eight of the Welsh Cup with a great win in St Peters, Cardiff.

Increasing their fire-power in this match was Rhodri Gerrard, the son of former firebrand hooker Steve Gerrard, who originated from Rhydyfelin, near Pontypridd, and played for Narberth and Whitland before moving to New Zealand. Rhodri is a hooker, like dad, and said afterwards he had enjoyed his first game in Pembrokeshire.

Positives taken by both sides

And now they are into the final four of the Pembrokeshire Youth Cup after scoring 10 tries against the Young Mariners - although the home side too could take positives. They gave a committed display and the majority of the squad will still be eligible for this level next season.

The visitors led 17-7 at half time with three tries coming from their centre pairing as Harvey Jones crossed twice and Ryan Scourfield also went over. No 10 Harri Harries added a conversion.

Milford kept in it though as flanker Dylan Jones grabbed a try and outside half Oliver Rothero added the extras.
 

Narberth pile on the pressure

The start of the second period was also tight but Narberth upped the ante as the game opened up, and winger Ioan Evans and replacement flanker Josh Hamer went over with Harries twice obliging with the extras.

Scourfield then went over for a second try and Nathan Foster touched down after switching from back row to wing, before Evans again raced to the posts and converted his own score.

Centre Ieuan Badham and scrum half Jordan Jones rounded off things with two late five- pointers as last season's runners up booked a spot in the semi-finals.