Milford Haven 31 - Haverfordwest 44
Haverfordwest will play Tenby United in this season’s Pembrokeshire KO Cup final after scoring eight tries in an entertaining game at the Observatory Field
The Blues cruised into a 12-point lead early on, but to the home side’s credit they fought back and were trailing just 19-22 after 50 minutes.
But the Blues, who play a division above the Mariners, then upped the tempo to score four tries in a dominant 20-minute period that effectively ended the contest.
Blues strike early
They were ahead early on when flanker Alun Harries took a quick tap penalty and set up an attack, which ended with centre Dan Birch picking up a loose ball and speeding over.
Just moments later, Birch wasted an overlap chance when the Blues seemed certain to score. But it mattered little as from the resultant ruck, scrum half Richard James chipped forward and half back partner Ashley Sutton collected the bouncing ball and dived over before adding the conversion.
Kiff claims solo try
But from the kick off, Blues’ flanker Ryan Banner threw a loose pass and Mariners’ outside half Joseph Kiff hacked ahead and showed good pace to score, before converting his own try.
The home side then opted to turn down an easy three points for a scrum five that came to nothing – but after Sutton again went close at the other end, Kiff did land three points for the Mariners from long range.
Haverfordwest winger Scott Candler then extended the lead when he breezed over after a heavy period of pressure. But two Kiff penalties, the second after Blues No 8 Lewis Wood was sin-binned, saw Milford a single point adrift
Mariners spurn simple points
The scoring continued when Blues winger Darren Salmon broke up field and although he was tackled short, prop Simon Gardiner was in support as he drove over the line.
Kiff missed another long-range penalty attempt before full back Ian Rusinek went close for the Mariners. But after the home side again opted to turn down three points in front of the posts, the visitors’ defence held out to ensure they led 22-16 at the break.
Blues take command
Kiff pulled another three points back early in the second half but then the Blues took command.
First, Gardiner scored his second try from close range before James, outstanding at scrum half, set up an attack that ended with Sutton putting centre Luke Harvatt over the line.
Craig Barnett then broke down the right wing and beat the cover defence to score, before James set up Sutton for his second try that the No 10 also converted.
Mariners refuse to bale out
But to Milford’s credit, they didn’t cave in and scored two tries in the dying minutes. Rusinek broke through from close range for a score that skipper Grant Rogers converted, before No 8 Wonnacott powered over in the corner.
But it is the Blues who now have the chance to make amends for a disappointing season when they face the Seasiders on Friday, May 17th at Whitland.
Milford Haven: Ian Rusinek, Steve Picton, Jonathan Coe, Grant Rogers, Lee Riley, Joseph Kiff, Dean McSparron, Joe Bradford, Michael Cockburn, Adam Rees, Rhys Thompson, Matthew Doncaster, Domenico Todaro, Dewi Williams, Mark Wonnacott. Replacements: Darren Lewis, Nathan Rees, Lee Devonald, Sam Stablow, Andrew Sutton.
Haverfordwest: Craig Barnett, Scott Candler, Luke Harvatt, Dan Birch, Darren Salmon, Ashley Sutton, Richard James, Gareth Green, Graham Jenkins, Simon Gardiner, Brett Davies, Gareth Phillips, Ryan Banner, Alun Harries, Lewis Wood. Replacements: Terry Lovell, Mike Jones, Lee Summons, Jamie Lewis, Kern Cunningham, Carl Rees.
PHOTO:
Prop Simon Gardiner scored a brace of tries for Haverfordwest.