PHOTO:
Flanker Jonathan Mason scored the Blues' solitary try that full-back Ashley Sutton converted
Division Three:
Brave Blues battle in vain
Haverfordwest 7 Tycroes 15
Haverfordwest battled all the way against visiting Tycroes and were in with a chance of winning throughout a hard-fought tussle.
The Blues scored a good try from flanker Jonathan Mason which was converted by Ashley Sutton but they trailed 7-10 at half time as Tycroes had a try from flanker James Ogden which centre Carwyn Richards converted to go with a penalty.
Haverfordwest had their share of ball in the second period but had two yellow cards against them at key times and Tycroes made sure of victory with an unconverted try from centre Chris Lemon.
Championship:
Griffiths guides Otters to deserved victory
Narberth 33 Beddau 3
Narberth were 13-0 ahead at the interval as outside half Ianto Griffiths claimed all the points in what was essentially another solid all-round team display. First he landed a penalty and then sliced through to the posts from good ball obtained at a lineout drive – and then added the conversion and a second three-pointer before the oranges.
It was a similar story in the second period as Griffiths landed another penalty and after Tom Benjamin had slotted a Beddau penalty Griffiths dropped a goal to go through the whole scoring regime.
Steve Martin then scored a superb try from a typical break by full back Johnny Morgan and the Otters were awarded a penalty try – and perhaps it was appropriate that Ianto Griffiths had the final word as he notched both conversions.
Ianto Griffiths - 23 points for Narberth No 10
Division One (West):
Borderers regret missed chances
Whitland 5 Llangennech 12
Whitland conspired to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory as they played quite well against Llangennech but were unable to turn pressure into points.
The Borderers found themselves 12 points in arrears at the interval but could easily have been at least level because they were held up over the line on one occasion and Nico Setaro was off the mark with four penalty attempts.
Llangennech, however, took their chances as centre Ashley Banfield scored a good try which was converted by Johnny Thomas, whilst No 8 Jonathan Roberts claimed an unconverted try from a successful pushover attempt.
The Borderers reduced the deficit in the second period with an unconverted try by replacement centre Carwyn Jones from a chip ahead near his own 22. They also had other half chances but Llangennech’s defence held firm and so the Borderers were unable to pick up a home win against a team two places below them in the table.
Off-colour Crymych miss out
Loughor 19 Crymych 3
Crymych found it hard going at Loughor but although they were unable to score any tries they kept the home side from running away with the game.
Gavin Thomas landed a penalty in the first half for the Preseli Men as they trailed 12-3 and Loughor were the only scorers in the second period as hooker Michael White ploughed over for a try, converted by Andrew Williams.
White had also joined centre Peter Smyriglia on the try sheet in the first half, one converted by Williams as Loughor picked up their fifth win of the season and Crymych still languish in the relegation zone.
Great win for classy Seasiders
Pontarddulais 13 Tenby 28
Tenby showed they are serious promotion contenders as they achieved the feat of winning at Pontarddulais, following a very strong second half display.
With Pontarddulais in fourth place at the start and the Seasiders two places above them, this was always likely to be a tight affair and that is just the way it turned out in a highly competitive first half where The Bont had two penalties by Gary Williams to lead 6-5, with winger Jack Price racing over for Tenby’s unconverted try.
The Bont had a second half try from replacement flanker Ethan Miles, converted by Williams, but that apart the Seasiders were a cohesive unit and were already on top as Lloyd Thomas landed a penalty and there were unconverted tries by Jonathan Rogers and Price again.
Replacement No 10 Tom Lewis also kicked a penalty and converted a late try by in-form No 8 Pat Roberts to give the Seasiders their deserved eighth win of the season.
Pat Roberts rounded off the scoring of tries for Tenby United
Teifisiders test section leaders
Penclawdd 21 Cardigan 17
Cardigan produced arguably their best performance of the campaign before bowing out narrowly to table toppers Penclawdd.
The Teifisiders trailed by 15-10 at the break as Iestyn Crompton kicked a penalty and converted a good try by second row Gethin Davis, whilst Penclawdd responded with a penalty by No 10 Dan Guaneri, who converted one of two tries scored by The Cocklemen in the final three minutes of the half.
Second row Christian Lewis added a second half try for Cardigan after good work by man of the match Emyr Harries, which Crompton converted, but Guaneri landed two penalties which were enough to give Penclawdd their ninth win from ten starts.
Division Four:
Seagulls succeed with a bonus point thrown in
Fishguard & Goodwick 27 Aberaeron 12
Leading the way for the Seagulls in that first period was Steve Jenkins, with two tries alongside other unconverted tries from Owain Morgans and Ed Bendall.
Powerful No 8 and skipper Simon James added a fifth Fishguard try, converted by centre Mike Jenkins, and all the Aberaeron points came from the trusty boot of Huw Williams.
Steve Jenkins - two tries for the Fishguard back rower
Mariners mauled by Uplands
Swansea Uplands 68 Milford Haven 0
Milford Haven were at the wrong end of a heavy defeat at Swansea Uplands as they were already in arrears by 33 points at the half way stage and were a reduced to 14 men after flanker David Round was sent off.
It was disappointing for Milford after their big win against Furnace, but Uplands, who were just two places above the Mariners in the section table, ran in ten tries. These came through Sam Jones (2), Ben Davies, Alex Greenslade (2), Paul Beck, Harry Leese (2), Ben Ghose and James Edwards, whilst nine conversions were claimed by scrum half Sam Jones (4) and his replacement Tom Pugh.
Division Five:
Scarlets struggle at Crickmarren
Pembroke 3 Cefneithin 25
Pembroke suffered a disappointing home defeat at the hands of a Cefneithin side full of confidence after losing only one of their previous eight matches and too strong overall for the Scarlets, who are suffering from a long injury list.
Lewis Davies landed a penalty for Pembroke but they were already 13-3 behind at the interval and Cefneithin secured win in which tries came from Owain Lewis, Richard Watts and Ian Williams, with Andy McCall contributing ten points from two conversions and a brace of penalties.
Wasps slammed by promotion favourites
Llangwm 0 New Dock Stars 58
Llangwm battled hard in the first half against undefeated section leaders New Dock Stars to trail by only 12 points but the greater experience of the Stars told after the interval as they added a further 46 points.
But the Wasps had useful performances from Craig Reeves, making his debut on the wing, plus Danny Chesmer at No 8, young second row Ryan John, Will Beresford and Dan Morgan.
The Stars had tries from Matthew Barrett (2), Tom James (3), Jason Baxter, Jamie Gregory and Justin Evans, with Baxter also contributing six conversions and two penalties.
All Blacks graft hard in narrow defeat
Pantyffynnon 12 Neyland 3
Neyland showed that they can travel away and do reasonably well as they fought hard at Pantyffynnon but sadly had nothing to show in terms of points.
They were 6-3 down at the break as Shane Phillips landed their penalty but home hooker Nick James had two successful kicks for Pant.
James added two further penalties on target after the interval but although the All Blacks went close on a couple of occasions they were unable to turn further possession into any points.
Quins wilt in Ponty
Pontyates 45 Pembroke Dock Harlequins 0
Pembroke Dock Harlequins found it hard going at Pontyates as the home side scored 45 points and the Quins were unable to muster a single point.
The game was beyond the Quins’ reach by half time as they trailed 31-0 and had found it hard going against a useful Pontyates outfit which had already secured a bonus point for scoring four tries.
Try scorers for Pontyates in that one-sided period were scrum half Rhys Jones, second row Osian Hughes, flanker Jonathan Cooper and full back Kieran Evans, who also kicked a penalty and all four conversions.
To be fair to the Quins, they limited Pontyates to further tries by No 8 Nicky Guest and centre Gareth Williams, both converted by Kieran Evans as the Quins found it a hard day at the office.
Division Six (West):
Saints battle until final whistle
Llandybie 56 St Davids 14
St Davids were 42 points adrift at half time against a Llandybie outfit showing why they can proudly boast a 100% record in this section after relegation last season.
But the Saints showed true grit after the oranges as they shared 28 points with the opposition in a tighter second half where they had good tries by half backs Jack Jones and Fraser Watson, both converted by winger Craig Challonder.
For Llandybie there were tries from prop Keenan Jones (2), centre Tomos Rees (2), Dafydd Nicholas, No 8 Rhydian Jones, hooker Rhys Carne and flanker Jonathan Davies, all converted by fly half Ben Featherstone.
Sadly, the Saints lost young winger Scott Riches with a nasty ankle injury and we wish him a speedy recovery and return to action.