Midweek Rugby Reports

Blues bombed out in second half

Haverfordwest 22 - Aberystwyth 37

Haverfordwest conspired to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they allowed a deserved 22-10 interval lead to slip out of their grasp as Aberystwyth scored 27 unanswered points to claim a win that seemed most unlikely at half time.

To be fair to the Blues, they had lost influential forwards Adam Clark (suspected broken arm) and Lewis Wood (broken nose) but that doesn't explain the way they allowed the Mid Wales' side to claw their way back and then take control in the final quarter of a game that the Blues simply had to win.

The home side started well as Ashley Sutton kicked them into a three-point lead in the second minute but then Blues' skipper Gareth Green was yellow-carded and Aber showed they had not come to make up the numbers as Gareth Isaac, Iestyn Jones and skipper Rhys Lewis were all involved in a concerted attack from which flanker Isaac scored under the posts for outside half Mark Evans to convert.

The Blues showed their potency behind the scrum when scrum half Richard James made a cracking break out of defence and found centre Ollie Reyland in support before a long pass put winger Kern Cunningham in for a superb corner try which Sutton did well to convert.

Cunningham was involved again straight from the restart as he linked with Luke Harvatt before Richard James put Reyland over at the posts and Sutton added the simple extra points.

A penalty from Aber No 10 Evans reduced the deficit but Lewis Wood, skipper Matthew Clarke and Ryan Banner were involved before another powerful surge by Harvatt ended when prop Lewis Davies powered through for an unconverted try.

It set up a 22-10 interval lead and had Blues' supporters expecting a comfortable win and at least another try that would have ensured a bonus point.

But the warning signs were there as mark Evans reduced the deficit with a penalty and then added the conversion to a try by prop Tom Pluck which put them only two points away from a Haveroderset side which was struggling to keep possession with some poorly directed kicking and handling errors.

Worse was to follow for the Blues as Aber centre Ian Ellis sped through for two tries in four minutes, the second a sift score that showed how fortunes had changed. Evans kept up his excellent kicking record with both conversions and a late penalty to secure a win which earned them five points, leaving Haverfordwest with nothing to show for their first half efforts.

Haverfordwest: Craig Barnett: Kern Cunningham; Luke Harvatt; Ollie Reyland; Darren Salmon: Ashley Sutton; Richard James: Lewis Davies; Gareth Green (Capt); Terry Lovell: Gareth Phillips; Adam Clark: Ryan Banner; Matthew Clarke (Capt); Lewis Wood.Replacements: Jamie Zambas; Neil Phillips; Dean Lloyd-Hughes; David O'Leary.

Aberystwyth: Huw Bonner: Matthew Green; Owen Owens; Ian Ellis; Dorian Coleman: Mark Evans; Ifan Thomas: Tom Pluck; Matt Roberts; Rhys Lewis (Capt): Dan Binks; Iestyn Jones: Lee Evans; Gareth Isaac; Gwion Jones. Replacements: Llyr Thomas; Steff Bonswell; Billy Thomas; Bryn Phillips.

Referee: Jason Ludgate (Newcastle Emlyn).

Borderers beaten by Tata's steel

Whitland 10 - Tata Steel 20

Whitland battled really hard against a strong Tata Steel side which moved into sixth place as a result of this success, but not before the Borderers had pushed them all the way.

Indeed, Whitland were ahead at one stage in the first period and were still level at 3-apiece at half time, but then the Steel Men used their experienced pack to set up the platform for two converted tries and although Whitland managed a try of their own it was too little, too late, to swing the game back in Whitland's favour.

Scott Newton opened the Borderers' account after 19 minutes with a penalty from in front of the posts after good work by Callum Tree, Zac France-Miller, Dylan Richards, Kieran White and Dai Ebsworth – but Tata fought back with a penalty by full back Gareth Walters.

The Borderers had periods of pressure which they were unable to turn into points and were forced back on the defensive after the oranges so that Walters kicked his second penalty and converted a try by Tata hooker Gareth Coaker.

Veteran second rower Ebsworth's efforts were rewarded as he grabbed a try for Whitland which Newton converted to narrow the gap to just three points but the Steel Men had the final word when Coaker was driven over for his second try, again converted by Coaker, to give the visitors their 11th win from 17 starts.

*Before the game a minute's silence was held in memory of Isla and Harper Rose, the baby daughters of Whitland player Fraser Watson and his girlfriend Keeley Rose. Both girls tragically passed away after being born prematurely last week and the hearts of sports lovers across the county will go out to Keeley and Fraser at this terribly sad time for them and their families.*

Whitland: Jonathan Thomas: Will Davies; Daf Williams; Lee Glanville; Tomi Jones: Scott Newton; Andrew Jenkins (Capt): Rhodri West; Marc Jones; Nathan Price: Dai Ebsworth; Kieran White: Dylan Richards; Zac France-Miller; Callum Tree. Replacements: Gareth Lloyd; Gethin Jones; Rhys Thompson; Daf Evans; Carwyn Phillips.

Dai Ebsworth - try for Whitland veteran

Otters ousted in second half

Beddau 46 - Narberth 22

Beddau gained revenge for an earlier defeat against Narberth as they had by far the better of the second period to score 26 unanswered points after the Otters had edged into a narrow half team lead of two points.

Beddau, who were previously tenth in the table, five places below the Otters, started well and were quickly ten points to the good as Andy Humblestone marked his debut with a penalty and the conversion of a try from centre Adam Williams before winger James Russell opened the Otters' scoring with a penalty.

Humblestone added his second penalty but Narberth fought back when Johnny Morgan latched on to a clever kick by debutant No 10 James Stephenson to score a try which Russell converted.

Narberth took the lead with a try from No 8 Steffan Phillips, converted by Russell, but lost influential skipper Steve Martin and Beddau benefitted when No 8 Rob Davies scored a try converted by Humblestone But the Otters clawed their way back again to score a try by Richard Davies, again from a Stephenson kick into space, to lead 22-20 at half time.

But it was Beddau who took control up front in the second period, despite the efforts of Wayne Williams, Gareth Bateman, Dan Smith and co. Tries came from prop Liam Bodman (2) and his replacement Joe Popple and Humblestone took his tally to 21 points with a mix of conversions and penalties that helped take the game way beyond the Otters' reach

Narberth: Johnny Morgan: Will Lewis; Steve Martin (Capt); Richard Davies; James Russell: James Stephenson; Rhys Lane: Sion Lloyd; Dan Smith; Jamie Kaijaks: Gyles Vaughan; Alex Jenkins: Wayne Williams; Lawrence Reynolds; Gareth Bateman. Replacements: Tom Slater, Steffan Jones; Chris James; Aled Jones.

Steffan Phillips - try for Narberth