Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup Quarter-Final:

 
 

Tenby United 18 - Aberystwyth 20

 
Aberystwyth made the long journey from Mid Wales to Heywood Lane and returned with a coveted place in the Knock Out Cup semi-final but not before they had been pushed to the limit by a young Tenby United team that might have been included in the draw themselves as they led 18-17 but with only two minutes left conceded a penalty 40 metres out and No 10 Steff Rees was Aber’s saviour as his penalty attempt sailed between the uprights and denied The Seasiders victory.
 
It says a great deal about Aber’s winning mentality that they fought back from a 7-18 deficit just before half time and left Tenby reeling from the thought that they  had played so well and might just have toppled opposition from a section higher in the Welsh pyramid with just a little more experience and self-belief.
 

Seasiders start very well

 
The Tenby pack, with Tom Barrass in good form alongside skipper Luke Dedman in the second row, earned penalties about 45 metres out in the fifth and 11^th minutes and Lloyd Thomas slotted both – and The Seasiders made it 11-0 after 24 minutes from a lineout drive and the ball was spread wide via Cam Broadhurst for blind-side winger Matthew Morgan to score an unconverted try.
 
But then Aber opened their account when Gwion Jones had a kick charged down by Aber No 10 Steff Rees, who went on to score and add the extra points.
 
It says much about Gwion Jones determination, however, that he responded almost immediately with an interception near the half-way line to score a try which he also converted when Thomas was receiving treatment.
 

Aber bounce back to take the honours

 
But Aber again bounced back at a vital time when from almost the last play of the first half some good work by outstanding flanker Iestyn Thomas alongside Efan Rowbotham and Llew Jones saw a gap in the home defence appeared which allowed talented centre Carwyn Evans to slice through for an unconverted try.
 
The second half was very much nip and tuck and Tenby doing well with five players under 21 involved, including 18 year old prop Frankie Boyd and back rower Jake Roberts, but they lost replacement winger Adam Quill to a yellow card and it was when they were down to 14 men that Iestyn Thomas grabbed their late try to make it 17-18 – and Steff Rees stayed cool to land his late penalty from 40 metres to nudge The Seasiders out of the KO Cup, and see his side in the draw for the final four.
 
Tenby United:  Jordan Asparassa: Matthew Morgan; Yannic Parker; Dan Colley; Gwion Jones: Lloyd Thomas; Cam Broadhurst: Frankie Beard; Dan Allen; Rob Luly: Luke Dedman (Capt); Tom Barrass: Jake Roberts; Jack Brown; Jack Broadhurst. Replacements: Ethan Morgan; George Rossiter; Ryan Jeremias; Mike Davies; Will Swales; Harvey Johns; Adam Quill; Jack Gooding.
 
Aberystwyth: Matthew Hughes: Ben Jones; Matthew Jacobs; Carwyn Evans; Jac Jones: Steffan Rees; Dylan Benjamin: Rhodri Evans Owain Bonsall; Guto Jones: Dan Binks; Arwel Lloyd: Efan Rowbotham; Iestyn Thomas; Llew Jones. Replacements: Celt Lewis; Oisin Canney; Isaac Evans; Llyr Thomas; Kanjamu Fasuluku.
 
 

Friendly Rugby:

 

Honours even in entertaining clash

 

Haverfordwest 2nds 17 - Pembroke 2nds 17

 
There was running rugby aplenty at Merlins Bridge before this entertaining clash ended even as the second strings from Haverfordwest and Pembroke shared 34 points.
 
Both clubs also used the opportunity to give a run out to a few first-team squad members and it was one such of Haverfordwest’s talented young players in full back Archie Thomas who gave The Blues the lead with an unconverted try.
 
It was the same for The Scarlets when wily campaigner Shane Gwyther levelled matters after good work by Rhys Mainwaring, Jack Hagan, skipper Dan James and Aaron Williams earned them a penalty and he took a quick tap from eight metres out and ploughed over the line.
 
But The Blues regained the initiative with a well-worked corner try rounded off by winger Logan Cunningham after Gareth John, Steve Thomas and Morgan Layton joined old timers Gareth ‘Savage’ Phillips and Paul Thomas had also been involved.
 
Then Pembroke created a score of their own right on the interval from experienced prop Jamie Brayford after second row Jack Millette had been held up just short, thus taking a 12-10 lead into half time as Luke Alderwick landed the conversion.
 
The Scarlets added their third try in the second half as Matthew Lewis and Yori Roberts tried hard to keep their pack going forward and flanker Alex Thomas crossed for an unconverted try.
 
But The Blues kept plugging away and Johnny ‘Chalkie’ White, playing his first game at outside half, went over for a try which he also converted to earn a share of the spoils, which in the final analysis was perhaps the most fitting result for an entertaining clash where both large squads gave 100%.
 
Pembroke 2nds: Luke Alderwick: Simon Stanford; Barry Alderman-John; Rhys Johns; Danny Langston: Yori Roberts; Matthew Lewis: Rhys Mainwaring; Jack Hagan; Jamie Brayford: Dan James (Capt); Jack Millette: Shane Gwyther; Alex Thomas; Aaron Williams. Replacements: Owain Johns; Billy Wood; Nathan Morris; Ryan Wilkins; Stuart Phillips; Morgan Owen; Ryan Queenan.