PHOTO:
Tenby go on the attack

Featured Match:
 
Swalec Plate Second Round:

 

Borderers gain revenge in epic clash

 

Tenby United 6 Whitland 9

 
Whitland gained revenge for a shock home defeat by Tenby United in the Pembrokeshire KO Cup by edging through against the Seasiders at Heywood Lane in what turned out to be an epic battle in the Swalec Plate second round.
 
Both teams and supporters deserved a medal for completing the fixture in quite atrocious conditions where a swirling win powered its way down the pitch, strengthened by torrential rain, which meant that both teams had to defend ferociously for one half and then take advantage of the elements in the other.
 
Tenby had first use of the storm and took the lead with a penalty by Jonathan Rogers after eight minutes, followed by another seven minutes later after the Borderers had lost influential scrum half Andrew Jenkins with a pulled hamstring.
 

Heroic defence by both teams

 
But their attempts at getting some names on the try sheet were halted by some splendid Whitland covering in which No 8 Callum Tree led by example and he was joined by skipper Marc Jones and the rest of the Borderers’ eight.
 
It was a similar story after the interval as Whitland held a marked territorial advantage but heroic work by outstanding back rower Roy Osborne inspired the home defence.
But Johnny Thomas fired over a penalty for the Borderers after 45 minutes and outside half Carwyn Jones dropped a goal with 19 minutes left to level matters.
 
A second Thomas penalty took the visitors into the lead for the first time and that is the way the scoreline stayed for the remaining eight minutes so that Whitland took the spoils – but Tenby confirmed that they can compete at this level.
 
Tenby United: Damien Miller: Dai Meyrick; Toby Smith; Jack Guerreiro; Jack Price: Lloyd Thomas; Jonathan Rogers: Rob Clarke; Gareth Jones; Johnny Palmer: Chris James (Capt); Luke Dedman: Roy Osborne; Luke Hansford; Patrick Roberts. Replacements: Greg Lees Griffiths; Wes Bonser; Jason Ronowitz; Rob Luly.
 
Whitland: Johnny Thomas: Matt Hayden; Scott Newton; Lee Glanville; Duncan Evans: Carwyn Jones; Andrew Jenkins: Aled Richards; Marc Jones (Capt); Gethin Jones: Kieran White; Matthew Clarke: Jack Mason; Danny Evans, Callum Tree. Replacements: Zac France-Miller; Nathan Price; Will Davies; Nico Setaro.
 
Referee: Alan Jenkins (Swansea).
 

Championship League:

Injury halts Otters’ match

 

Bridgend Athletic 8 Narberth 3 (Match abandoned at half time)

 
A nasty neck injury just before half time for Jason Howells, one of the Narberth players, caused this match to be abandoned and will be replayed later in the season. Rugby players and supporters across Pembrokeshire will wish Jason a speedy return to full health
 

Division Five (West):

Scarlets’ fixture called off by visitors
Pembroke v Penygroes
Penygroes were unable to raise a side for their match at Crickmarren and so left the Scarlets without a fixture.

 

Swalec Plate:

 

Emlyn ease through as Blues battle hard

 

Newcastle Emlyn 17 Haverfordwest 0

 
Newcastle made their expected progress in the Swalec Plate as they proved too strong for Haverfordwest but the Blues will take a few plusses from their defeat when they return to league action.
 
Not least was their defensive work in the second half after having first use of the elements but finding themselves five points adrift as No 8 Alex Williams scored an unconverted try for Emlyn.
 
Indeed, the only time that Emlyn scored any points came when young Blues’ prop Oli Evans was yellow-carded for a technical offence and Emlyn grabbed tries by flanker Owain Howell and winger Llyr Jones, one converted by No 10 Rhydian Harries.
 
For the rest of the half Haverfordwest gave as good as they got but had to settle for second best on the day, but at least battling until the final whistle.
 

Swalec Bowl:

 

Laugharne hold on to win at The Obs

 

Milford Haven 10 Laugharne 24

 
Laugharne were 12 points ahead at half time against Milford Haven and 17-0 in front before the Mariners showed true grit in reducing the deficit to a single score before Laugharne grabbed a late try to ease their nerves.
 
The match was played in awful conditions blowing up the estuary and Laugharne had first-half tries by second row Tomos Rees and No 8 Carl Smith, the first converted by centre Tom Jameson.
 
Scrum half and captain Gethin Jones nudged Laugharne further ahead with a try under the pots but although Milford had lost Ian Proctor through injury they fought back well to record good unconverted tries by young No 8 Jonathan Fawcett and outside half Ian Rusinek.

It put them back into contention but Laugharne put their greater experience to good effect and No 10 Owain Jones, which he also converted, to send his side into the draw for the next round.
 

Seagulls shot down in Mid Wales

 

Tregaron 11 Fishguard & Goodwick 10

 
Last season’s runners-up Fishguard and Goodwick bowed out of the Swalec Bowl for 2013/14 with a disappointing defeat against a Tregaron side which is currently third in Division Six (West), two divisions below the Seagulls.
 
The visitors led 10-6 at half team but were unable to maintain their momentum in foul conditions later in the game. They allowed Tregaron back in with an unconverted try and although the Seagulls could rightly allude to the fact that they had what seemed a good try disallowed just before the final whistle because the referee was unsighted, they had only themselves to blame for not using their powerful pack better.
 
Winger Ed Bendall and prop Adrian Squelch scored unconverted tries for Fishguard in the first period when Chris Jones replied for Tregaron with two penalties. Rhydian Evans grabbed the all-important unconverted try in the second half for the homesters to nudge them ahead – and leaving the Seagulls to reflect on what might have been.