Haverfordwest defend near their own line

 

Featured match

Division Three (West):

 

Blues battle to deserved win

 

Haverfordwest 13 Cardigan 8

 
Haverfordwest defied a strong challenge from Cardigan alongside the elements to record their second win of the season at Merlins Bridge as further proof of their upturn in fortunes under coach Barry John.

The Blues had to defend for long periods in the first half but were always capable of breaking out as their pack played really well under the leadership of skipper Gareth Green and experienced second row Gareth Phillips.

 
Home full back Ashley Sutton gave them the lead with a penalty which was soon cancelled out by three points from Cardigan No 10 Iestyn Crompton. The Teifisiders went close as they enjoyed a period of pressure in the left corner but all they could muster was an unconverted try by left winger Dorian Butler.
 
With Ollie Evans, Terry Lovell, Brett Davies and the back row of Jon Mason, Dewi Williams and Alun Harries covering well as a unit, the Blues fought back to lead 10-8 at half time thanks to a try by Gareth Phillips which Sutton did well to convert.
 
The second half was equally hard-fought but as the weather deteriorated further it was never easy to hold on to the ball for long periods and the only points came from another Sutton penalty as Matthew Morgan and Mikey Jones tried to keep their pack going forward and the backs kept tight in defence so that Cardigan had to settle for the consolation of a bonus point as Haverfordwest celebrated a deserved success.
 

Cardigan on the charge

Championship Division:

Gale force win for Otters

Narberth 6 Newbridge 5

Replacement winger Nick Gale was the hero of Narberth’s narrow win over visiting Newbridge as his long-range penalty attempt from literally the final kick of the match eased the Otters through by the very narrowest of margins.

 
Both teams deserve a medal for just turning out but at the half way mark Narberth would have been more pleased with the 0-0 scoreboard because they had defended superbly into the howling elements and had second use of them.
 
But the Gwent side showed the same defensive determination and it wasn’t until the closing stages that the Otters finally broke the deadlock when No 10 Ianto Griffiths slotted a penalty from close range.
 
But back came Newbridge and they stunned the home crowd when winger Lee Hudd sliced over for an unconverted try.
 
Fortunately, there was still time for the homesters to mount one last offensive and when the referee signalled a penalty up stepped Gale to be the hero of the hour for Narberth!


 

Division One (West):

Big boost for Borderers

Whitland 13 Kidwelly 5

Whitland produced an excellent all-round team effort to claim the points against Kidwelly in a tough tussle at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwynn where they established a 13-0 interval lead and limited the opposition to an interception try in the second period.

 
The Borderers took the lead with a penalty from James Stephenson and added their first try when a sustained forward drive saw New Zealand second row Kieran White round off a series of ‘pick and drives’ to plough his way over the Kidwelly line.
 
The back row of Matthew Clarke, No 8 Callum Tree and Jack Mason shone in a terrific pack effort by Whitland and it was Mason, who sprung the ball from opposing rucks on a number of occasions, who received his due reward when he powered his way over for his team’s second unconverted try after they had pinched Kidwelly’s ball at a throw-in.
 
The second half was equally as hard-fought and Kidwelly’s hopes were raised when second row Phillip Pearce intercepted near half way and legged it 50 metres for an unconverted try – but the Borderers used common sense in keeping the ball tight and were very good value for their third win of the campaign and eighth place in the section table.

Kieran White - try for Whitland

 
Preseli Men have to postpone
Crymych v Builth Wells
*Match postponed – waterlogged pitch
 

Division Three (West):

Seasiders surrender unbeaten tag

 

Penclawdd 14 Tenby United 3

 
Penclawdd claimed victory over previously unbeaten Tenby United and also leap-frogged the Seasiders into top spot in the section table as their reward.
 
Both sides deserved every credit for the way that they stuck to their task in the worsening weather and although the Seasiders trailed by 9-0 at half time, as Jamie Moore used the wind at his back to slot three penalties, they would have been confident of doing well after the oranges.
 
Lloyd Thomas reinforced that view as he landed a dropped goal early in the second half but, try as they might, Tenby were unable to prise open a solid home defence – and were rocked back when Chris Davies grabbed a try for the Cocklemen.
 
It proved to be the final score of the match as Penclawdd moved into first place, but only one point ahead of a Tenby United team which will still be there or thereabouts at the end of the campaign.
 

Division Four (West):

 

Improved Mariners still lose

 

Laugharne 18 Milford Haven 5

 
Milford Haven produced a much-improved performance at Laugharne but were left still seeking a first win of the season as the home side adapted better to the high winds and squally showers.
 
Laugharne centre Tom Jameston gave his team the lead with an unconverted try but the Mariners were soon back level as scrum half Tom Arnold levelled claimed five points.
 
But centre Ross Michael added a second try for Laugharne to give them a 10-5 half time lead and he notched a simple penalty in the second period to nudge them further ahead – and skipper Gethin Bateman made sure of victory when he grabbed Laugharne’s third try from his hooker’s berth.
 
Seagulls grounded by bad weather
Swansea Uplands v Fishguard & Goodwick
*Match postponed – waterlogged pitch

Division Five (West):

 

Colman leads Scarlets to Palmer Cup win

 

Llangwm 5 Pembroke 34

Dom Colman was the try-scoring star for Pembroke as they beat Llangwm at Pill Parks to get one hand on the Palmer Cup, competed for annually between these two old rivals.

Colman grabbed a hat-trick from his centre role and had support from experienced prop Dean Wilcox (2) and outside half Lewis Davies.

The Scarlets had first use of the wind and slope to build a 22-0 interval lead but the Wasps made a bright start before powerful centre Colman burst through from the 22 to score an unconverted try. Wilcox then ploughed over for his try brace and Colman added his second before half time, one of them converted by Davies. Colman made it a personal tally of three tries soon after the restart and Lewis Davies scored from a cracking pass by second row Will Edwards, with a second conversion rounding off the Pembroke scoring.
 
To be fair to the Wasps, they never gave up trying and had a try by winger Henry Brant as reward for his elusive running and sound defence, whilst skipper Ian Griffiths, Aled Morgan and Adam James led by example in a gritty performance by the entire Llangwm pack.

Jonathan Brock gets the ball away for Llangwm

 

Brave Blacks just beaten by Bynea

 

Bynea 20 Neyland 17

 

Neyland came very close to achieving their second win of the season in a tough tussle at Bynea but had to settle for a bonus point in a narrow defeat against a team in third place.

 
The All Blacks took the lead with a Mark Riley penalty but they lost possession from the kick-off and home fly half Mark Davies scored an unconverted try wide out.

Neyland regained the initiative, though, from a typically strong surge and Riley did well to add the extras – only for Bynea hooker Mark Liley to make it 10-all from close range.
 
The All Blacks tried to play positive rugby despite the weather but paid the price as Bynea punished errors to score tries from prop Chris Mills and flanker Andrew Pegler.
 
The visitors had the final score when Collins again blasted through but was held up short – although front rower Tony Parsley did well to get up in support and claim a try which Riley again converted.
 
It left the All Blacks a tantalising three points adrift but they were unable to break down the home defence again and so were left with that bonus point for coming so close!
 

Tony Parsley - good try for Neyland

Jones jolts Quins in final moments

 

Pantyffynon 5 Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0

 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins came within a whisker of their first point-less draw for a long time as they gave as good as they got against Pantyffynnon before conceding a late try that proved to be the only score of the match.
 
The Quins will look back on their share of chances as Joe Powell went very close to a try as reward for his play up front alongside Jake Newman, James Booth and Chad Monk. Darren Potter also played well and Adam Cawley was just wide with two first-half penalty attempts and hit the post with another kick.
 
Home hooker Nick Jones was also off target with a penalty in the tricky wind and was off the mark with the conversion attempt after full back Chris Jones broke the deadlock, and the Quins’ hearts, with that vital try in the final moments as the referee was looking at his watch.
 

Division Six (West):

 

12-man Saints pay inevitable price

 

Fall Bay 40 St Davids 7

 
St Davies could only muster 12 players for their trip to Fall Bay and although their determination to play must be admired they paid the inevitable price.
 
The Saints managed a very good try as prop Ben Evans powered through as reward for his hard work, and Craig Challonder converted.
 
They were unable to stop Fall Bay from running in six tries, though, led by a brace for second row John Groves.
 
Other Fall Bay tries were claimed by No 8 James Elliott, hooker Richard Ace, centre Dan Griffiths and outside half Ollie Loosemore, who also landed five conversions, no mean feat in the high winds on the Gower Peninsula.