Championship Division:
Otters hold off strong Wanderers’ challenge
Narberth 18 - Glamorgan Wanderers 12
Narberth retained their coveted top-five place with a home win over a Glamorgan Wanderers’ outfit which played far better than its bottom-three slot in the section table.
In fact the Wanderers, who play their home matches in the Memorial Ground in Ely, Cardiff, played some attractive rugby as they included former Crymych player Ianto Griffiths, who scored all their points with four penalties.
But the Otters’ defence, well marshalled by skipper Steve Martin, kept their try-sheet clean, covering well throughout the game.
Griffiths landed his first penalty in the sixth minute but midway through the half James Stephenson levelled matters with a similarly close range effort, and then added another three points after 35 minutes.
The Otters scored a vital first try after 39 minutes when full back Johnny Morgan ran on to a clever Stephenson chip ahead and there was just time before the interval for Griffiths to pull back three points.
Griffiths also opened the second half scoring with his third penalty before centre Ollie Reyland scored a good try for the Otters which Stephenson converted.
Then Griffiths slotted his fourth kick between the posts deep into injury time to ensure a bonus point for the Wanderers but it was Narberth who proved to be worthy winners.
Ollie Reyland - try for Narberth
Borderers so unlucky against ‘Pooler’
Whitland 8 - Pontypool 10
The old cliché says that when one’s luck is out the gods conspire against you, and this was certainly true at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn as Whitland should have gained victory over Pontypool but a penalty try at a key time ruined their hopes of beating a once-great side now battling alongside the Borderers for survival in this section.
There was no scoring in a tight first quarter where Pooler had use of the elements but the Borderers covered well and had the best chance as talented young fly half Scott Newton pushed a drop goal attempt just the wrong side of the upright.
But Whitland eventually opened the scoring after a typically powerful chip and chase from winger Tomi Jones set up a lineout won by Kieran White that enabled hooker Marc Jones to emerge from the ensuing drive to claim an unconverted try.
Pooler had a chance but dropped the ball over the line before they reduced Whitland’s interval lead to 5-3 when Sam Mills was on target with a penalty. Mills missed a sitter soon after half time from in front of the posts and Dan Newton increased the Borderers’ lead to 8-3 with a good penalty after 57 minutes.
Pontypool set up a period of pressure near the home line which saw three scrums in quick succession before the referee awarded Pooler a penalty try which Mills easily converted to nudge his team ahead for the first time.
It proved to be the final score as Newton was marginally off target with a last-ditch dropped goal attempt – and Pontypool pouched the precious points so vital to both sides!
Marc Jones - another try for Whitland hooker
Division Two (West):
Rhys scores all Preseli Men points
Crymych 19 - Aberystwyth 14
Rhys Davies was the toast of his Crymych colleagues as the livewire scrum half scored all of their points in a hard-fought, but fully deserved win over Aberystwyth at Parc Lloyd Thomas.
Davies slotted two early penalties as the Preseli Men pack played well, notching a third before scoring the first try of the game in the 36th minute with a typically strong break to the posts and then landing the simplest of conversion kicks to open up a 16-0 interval lead for Crymych.
Davies was again on target with his fourth penalty soon after the restart but there were to be no further points for them as Aber replied with tries from No 8 Gwion Jones and flanker Gareth Isaac, both converted by outside half Jamie Rees, before the final whistle saw the Preseli Men pleased to add a 10th win from 15 starts which sees them in an excellent third place in the section table.
Blues battle but Felinfoel are too strong
Haverfordwest 0 - Felinfoel 33
Haverfordwest never gave up the battle against visiting Felinfoel in very heavy conditions at Merlins Bridge but the Blues were unable to cope with the power of an experienced visiting pack and the ability of No 10 Aled Roberts to get his backs in motion as well as kick vital points.
Mark Busch caught the eye up front as the 44 year old played well alongside of Gareth and Neil Phillips, Ryan Banner, Jamie Zambas and Lewis Davies, whilst Lee Summons and Ashley Sutton made some nice breaks from limited possession where they tried to put Luke Harvatt, Scott Chandler, Darren Salmon, Kern Cunningham and Jamie Lewis on runs.
But Felinfoel were already 15 points clear at half time as they had an early try from No 8 Owen Pullman and a penalty try, converted by Aled Roberts to go with his earlier penalty.
As conditions worsened so the number of errors increased but Felinfoel added further tries by Pullman (2)
alongside one conversion and two more penalties from Roberts as the Blues had nothing to show for all their hard work in adversity.
Lee Summons back in action for Haverfordwest.
Division Three (West):
Mariners just pipped at the post
Milford Haven 17 - Pontyberem 20
Milford Haven missed out on the chance to leap-frog opponents Pontyberem at the Observatory Field as the Mariners took an early lead but trailed by seven points at the half way stage.
Grant Rogers missed an early penalty chance for Milford but made amends with the conversion of a good try by Lee Riley. Rogers also kicked a penalty before the oranges but by then Pontyberem had scored tries from Ian Harries, Marc Jones and Rhodri Davies to go with a single conversion by Darrell Griffiths.
Griffiths also slotted a second-half penalty as the Mariners had a good try from Ian Rusinek which Rogers converted but Pontyberem held out well as Milford desperately sought in vain for the vital winning score.
Cardis win well against basement battlers
Cardigan 15 - Lampeter 6
No details available.
Emlyn gain vital victory
Newcastle Emlyn 20 - Tenby United 15
This top-three clash saw Newcastle Emlyn gain a win over Tenby United but the Seasiders hauled themselves back from a 20-3 deficit to pouch a bonus point as consolation for a lot of hard work.
Emlyn were 8-3 in front at half time as Dan Davies scored their try and Rhydian Harries slotted a penalty against three points for Tenby from Lloyd Thomas.
Emlyn added two more tries after the break, one converted by Harries – and at that stage it seemed as if the homesters would win at a canter.
But the Seasiders collectively rolled up their sleeves and scrum half Will Crockford darted over for an unconverted try before Luke Dedman added another try to his growing collection and Thomas added the extra points.
It set up alarm bells in the Emlyn camp but there wasn’t enough time left for the Seasiders to claw their way back any further and they had to settle for second best in an absorbing clash.
Division Four (West):
Blacks are better but still lose
Neyland 6 - Llanybydder 13
A measure of the way that Neyland have improved over the second half of the campaign can be gauged from the fact that although they lost they deserved a share of the spoils against a Llanybydder team which had beaten the All Blacks 74-15 at home.
Neyland opened the scoring with a penalty from Mark Riley but Llanybydder responded with a try from loose-head prop Llyr Jones which outside half Owain Owens converted.
Riley landed his second three-pointer but missed a difficult kick at goal after Owens had notched a penalty that put the visitors into a 10-6 half time lead.
The second period saw the All Blacks have half chances as Mark Chamberlain was outstanding and found support from the likes of Dean Matthews and Adam Collins in the centre, Tony Parsley when he came on as hooker for Alex Swales, plus outside half Jonathan Lloyd, who had a good game.
But the only scoring turned out to be another Owens’ penalty for Llanybydder as they reinforced their strong claims for promotion - but Neyland can at least look back on a deserved bonus point for all their genuine efforts.
Mark Riley - scored Neyland's points
Division Five (West):
Scarlets win well at Cefneithin
Cefneithin 6 - Pembroke 17
Pembroke coach Ossie Boswell was pleased with the all-round performance of his Scarlet runners as they travelled to Cefneithin and scored three tries in a solid team display that saw their line intact throughout as they only conceded two penalties.
Richard Watts landed a Cefneithin penalty in the first half, but the Scarlets led 7-3 at the break through a quickly-taken Andrew Davies tap penalty which was handed on to powerhouse Dom Colman before Luke Dow sped though for a good try converted by Simon Hooper.
Watts also added his second penalty after the oranges but further Pembroke tries from James Skeels (when the ball was spread wide to the winger) and second row Will Edwards (rounding off a concerted forward effort) set up a good Pembroke win in which Adam James played well in the centre after switching from his normal wing berth.
James Skeels - try for Pembroke winger
Wasps lose but battle all the way
Llangwm 0 - Swansea Uplands 31
Llangwm suffered their expected defeat at the hands of promotion candidates Swansea Uplands but team manager Richard Scriven admitted afterwards that his squad had played as well as could be expected against such experienced opposition.
“All the lads played well,” said Scriven, “but if pushed I would single out flanker Josh Davies, prop Roy Venables and prop Aled Morgan for the way that they stuck to their tasks.”
The Wasps were 19 points adrift at half time and eventually conceded five tries to Sion Edmunds, Alistair Leese, Sam Jones (2) and Tom Pugh, who also landed three conversions
Quins collapse to Quam
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0 - Bynea 31
A try hat-trick from powerful centre Alex Quam helped Pontyberem gain a comfortable win over a Pembroke Dock Harlequins’ side which seems to have lost its way of late.
There was also two tries for co-centre Owen Thomas as the visitors led 19-0 at the interval, plus three conversions by outside half Rob Charles.
Dai Moseley and Alex Pierce battled hard up front for the Quins alongside Carl Williams but Bynea remain fourth whilst the Quins stay in fifth place despite this unconvincing performance.
St Clears wins the ‘Battle of the Saints’
St Davids 7 - St Clears 16
St Clears won the ‘Battle of the Saints’ as they outlasted St Davids in this vital relegation clash which saw the Pembrokeshire Saints without even the consolation of a bonus point against their Carmarthenshire opponents.
A vital component in St Clears’ battle plan was their back row and flankers Teifryn Bowen and Emyr Jenkins claimed their tries alongside two well-struck penalties from experienced centre Ceri Jones.
All St Davids could muster in response was a try by No 8 Rhys Morgan from a successful push over attempt at a scrum half which was converted by Phil Lamb – and these are worrying times for St Davids in the relegation battle!