Feature Match:
Division Three (West):
Seasiders still unbeaten
Tenby United 27 Haverfordwest 5
Tenby United maintained their excellent start to the new season as Haverfordwest became their fourth league victim in a hard-fought local derby.
The Seasiders were on top for much of the match but wasted chances galore in the first half as they could only muster a penalty from scrum half Jonathan Rogers and The Blues produced some gritty scrambling defence, whilst the homesters dropped passes or took wrong options at key times.
Rogers’ penalty came off the woodwork and he also missed two other chances, as did Blues No 10 Mikey Jones.
The Seasiders went close on several occasions but good defence by David O’Leary, Alun Harries and the rest of the Blues’ cover kept them out.
All changed after half time
But all that changed after the oranges because a period of pressure in the left corner saw flanker Jason Ronowitz score in the corner and then a came a soft try as Haverfordwest lost possession in midfield and Tenby hacked the ball through for Dai Meyrick to score a try which Rogers converted.
Home full back Aled Bowen, who looks a good player in attack and defence, scored the Seasiders’ third try, again converted by Rogers before hooker Gareth Jones scored the bonus-point try as reward for his work rate.
Blues’ full back Craig Barnett grabbed a late consolation score for the visitors but it proved too little, too late as Tenby were worthy winners – and in real contention at the head of the table!
Tenby United: Aled Bowen: Dan Colley; Dai Meyrick; Jack Guerreiro; Damian Miller: Lloyd Thomas; Jonathan Rogers: Johnny Palmer; Gareth Jones; Rob Clarke: Luke Dedman; Chris James (Capt): Jason Ronowitz; Patrick Roberts; Sam Smith. Replacements: Rob Fairleigh; Luke Hansford; Sam Davies; Nicky Guymer.
Haverfordwest: Craig Barnett: Jonathan Whitticombe; Luke Harvatt; Grant Rogers; Darren Salmon: Mikey Jones; David O’Leary: Gareth Green (Capt); Ashley George; Terry Lovell: Adam Williams; Ryan Banner: Richard Walters; Deian Lloyd-Hughes; Alun Harries. Replacements: Mark Busch; Graham Badham; James Barton; Gareth Morgan.
Gareth Jones on a charge for Tenby United
David O'Leary gets the Blues' backs in action
Championship League:
Otters batter Bargoed
Narberth 33 Bargoed 7
But then the home side moved up a gear to score 24 unanswered points – and secure a welcome bonus point into the bargain.
Outside half Ianto Griffiths nudged the Otters into a 9-0 lead with a dropped goal and two penalties before Bargoed bounced back with a try from their No 10 Josh Prosser which he also converted just on the interval.
Adrian Killa opened the Otters’ second half scoring with a typical dart through for an unconverted try before centre Morgan Griffiths made his mark with a very good try which Ianto Griffiths converted.
Narberth added a third try from a push-over attempt rounded off by Wayne Williams and they grabbed that vital fourth try when centre Richard Davies went in under the posts for Ianto Griffiths to add the extra points and secure a win in which young second row Josh Helps caught the eye for his work rate and lineout skills.
Richard Davies - scored a cracking try for Narberth
Division One (West):
Gavin guides Crymych home
Crymych 49 Ammanford 21
An excellent hat-trick by winger Gavin Thomas helped Crymych to an excellent home win against an Ammanford side which found itself adrift by 30 points at the break but managed to battle back to add a little respectability to a one-sided scoreline by scoring three converted tries.
Thomas scored one try in the first period alongside others from fellow winger Guto Griffiths (2) and scrum half Rhys Davies, who converted two of them and slotted two penalties as Crymych were completely in charge.
Winger Thomas then sped through for two more tries and full back Adam Phillips also got on the try sheet alongside two more conversions by Davies.
For Ammanford there were tries by flanker Llyr Morris, winger Gary Stephens and centre Tim Rees, all converted by outside half Rhydian Rees – but it was Crymych who remained on top and now stand in a respectable sixth place – four slots higher than their opponents!
Guto Griffiths - two tries for Crymych winger
Jack jolts battling Borderers
Whitland 5 Glynneath 15
Whitland were always in contention against league leaders Glynneath but conceded penalties at key times which were punished by centre Jack O’Reilly.
O’Reilly was on target twice in the opening half as he pushed his team into a 6-0 lead but the Borderers showed that they could play good rugby as they set up a period of pressure from which livewire flanker Jack Mason powered over for an unconverted try.
But there was to be no happy ending for the home side as they had two players yellow-carded for technical offences and had to endure a heavy penalty count against them which left them a little bemused – and from three of these O’Reilly was on target to give Glynneath their fourth win on the trot.
Fraser Watson tries his best to break a Glynneath tackle
Division Three (West):
Bonus point boost for Cardis
Cardigan 25 Llanybydder 11
Cardigan were good value for victory against visiting Llanybydder as they not only secured their second success of the season but acquired a bonus point for scoring four tries.
The Teifisiders played some quality rugby and were 17-5 in front at half time thanks to tries by scrum half Tom Turner, No 8 Llyr Griffiths and a penalty try which pivot Iestyn Crompton goaled – against an unconverted Llanybydder try by centre Gethin Davies.
Llanybydder, who are still seeking their first win of the campaign, added two penalties by right winger Sion Walker in the second period but Cardigan held sway Crompton notched a penalty and the bonus-point try came from Marcus Castell as reward for his endeavours as blind-side flanker.