PHOTOS:
Alun Harries on the burst
Terry Lovell tackles Timoci Kaumaitotoya
Featured Match:
Division Three (West):
Blues edged out by late Gale penalty
Haverfordwest 17 Llanelli Wanderers 18
A late penalty by full back Nick Gale, playing alongside Timoci Kaumaitotoya on permit from Narberth, edged Llanelli Wanderers to a narrow victory that left Haverfordwest reflecting on what might have been after so much effort.
The Blues had shown real grit after twice fighting back and nudging 17-15 ahead when fly half Steve Williams slammed over his second superb conversion in treacherous conditions for a place kicker – but then referee Tom Simms awarded that late penalty. Gale had already been well off target just before but this time stepped up to slot the ball between the posts.
Haverfordwest had first use of the wind but trailed 7-3 at half time as they made handling errors at key times – and the Wanderers scored an excellent try from half way as Sean Jenkins, Kyle Richards and Jonathan George combined to put centre Rhydian Morgan in at the posts for Gale to add the extras.
Battling Blues in the second half
Steve Williams managed a penalty for the Blues and they drew level after the interval with a try from second row Adam Clark, whose contribution was immense alongside Ollie Evans, Terry Lovell, Alun Harries, Gareth Phillips, Ryan Banner, Deion Lloyd Hughes and skipper Gareth Green in the build up to the score, Williams somehow managing to add the conversion.
Clark was also held up over the line and the Wanderers regained the lead when Gale kicked ahead and won the race for the touch down – but again the Blues clawed their way back from a good move involving Danny Morgan, Williams, Luke Harvatt and Grant Rogers before full back Jon Whitticombe managed to reach the line wide out.
Williams’ conversion nudged the Blues ahead for the first time but one wrong option allowed the Wanderers to make that late incursion into Haverfordwest territory – and Gale’s trusty left boot did the rest!
Haverfordwest: Jon Whitticombe: Lawrence Hancock; Luke Harvatt; Grant Rogers; Darren Salmon: Steve Williams; Danny Morgan: Ollie Evans; Gareth Green; Terry Lovell: Gareth Phillips; Adam Clark: Ryan Banner; Deion Lloyd Hughes; Alun Harries. Replacements: Ashley George; Mikey Jones; Danny Miners; Adam Williams.
Referee: Thomas Simms
Championship Division:
Otters called off early
Bargoed v Narberth
*Match postponed – waterlogged pitch
Division One (West):
Borderers just beaten
Whitland 10 Kenfig Hill 12
Whitland were just shaded out by Kenfig Hill after leading 10-5 at half time but never quite being able to add further points after the interval.
The Borderers’ pack held its own against opponents five places higher than them in the table and they took a deserved lead when full back Carwyn Jones rounded off some good handling to score a try which outside half James Stephenson converted before adding a penalty to put his side ten points ahead.
But The Mules responded before the break with an unconverted try from flanker Dan Jones and second row John Thomas added a second in the second half which fly half Lloyd Giles converted to put them ahead.
Whitland had half chances to break back but they came to nothing and so the visitors gained revenge for a 19-18 defeat inflicted on them by Whitland at home.
Crymych so close to upset win
Crymych 10 Glynneath 10
The Preseli Men played really well in the first half as they utilised the wind to lead through a try, conversion and penalty from ubiquitous scrum half Rhys Davies.
They knew they would have to defend well from then on and flanker Aled Harries, second row Gruff Howells and No 8 Alex Humphreys led by example to keep Glynneath out until a late try by flanker Nicky Boyce was converted by Jack O’Reilly, who also kicked a penalty to level things up.
So both teams had to settle for the draw but it meant the visitors lost their 100% win record and Crymych deserve a collective pat on the back for their gritty performance.
Rhys Davies - scored all Crymych's points
Division Three (West):
Seasiders miss out in promotion tussle
Tenby United 5 Gorseinon 12
Tenby United’s promotion hopes received something of a set-back as defeat by Gorseinon allowed the opposition to stand five points clear of them behind Penclawdd in the race for the silverware.
The Seasiders had already beaten Gorseinon by 21-3 in their away tussle but there was little chance of a repeat win as the opposition led by 5-0 at half time thanks to an unconverted try by flanker Oliver Pardoe.
Tenby’s replacement scrum half Will Crockford did manage an unconverted try in the second half but centre Andrew Steel scored Gorseinon’s second try, which was converted by Andrew Colwell, as skipper Sean Heycock controlled things well from his No 8 berth to keep the visitors ahead until the final whistle.
Cardis ease home against basement battlers
Cardigan 6 Pontyberem 3
Cardigan completed their expected league double over basement club Pontyberem but it was a mightily close-run thing as the Teifisiders edged home by two penalties to one on a pitch that was understandable heavy after so much rain.
Cardigan had won by 23-10 in Pontyberem but were unable to raise their game out of the mud on this occasion. As their spokesman said afterwards, “It was not a pretty match!”
The visitors took the lead when outside half Mike Sauro landed a 14th-minute penalty but Cardigan drew level two minutes later when opposite number Iestyn Crompton landed a penalty from just inside his own half, utilising the strong wind at his back.
Inside centre Emyr Harries added a second three points for the Teifisiders right on half time with another long-range effort.
It proved to be the winning score as neither team was able to break down the other’s defence after the oranges, with Cardigan having Tristan Lewis making a promising debut at hooker after being converted from the second row. It gave Cardigan their fifth win in 12 matches and although Pontyberem are still holding a 100% loss record after 11 games they at least had the consolation of a bonus point.
Division Four (West):
Old timer Evans kicks Seagulls to double
Nantgaredig 0 Fishguard & Goodwick 9
Three penalties from veteran fly half Huw Evans were enough to give Fishguard and Goodwick victory in a hard-fought battle at Nantgaredig where the score was 0-0 at the interval and neither side looked likely to score tries as defences held firm in heavy conditions.
Evans used his wealth of experience to fire over three successful kicks at regular intervals as his forwards provided the launch pad with a powerful display in which skipper Simon James was again outstanding in the back row alongside flankers Steve Jenkins and Kevin Ormond.
Nathan Jenkins and Rhys Lewis joined Ryan McVeigh, Owain Morgans and Adrian Squelch in winning solid ball from set pieces and this win completed a nice double against a Nantgaredig team above them in the table as the Seagulls had already won 26-25 at home!
Huw Evans - three vital penalties for Fishguard old timer
Mariners mauled by table toppers
Gowerton 111 Milford Haven 0
Milford Haven suffered a huge defeat against table-topping Gowerton, who showed why the lead the table as they ran in 17 tries in a one-sided affair that saw them 42-0 adrift at half time and never able to put any points on the table. Yet Gowerton’s fixture secretary was quick to praise the Mariners for never giving in and battling until the final whistle as skipper Mike Cockburn led by example and had support from Adam Thomas and Ashley Murdoch.
For the record, Gareth John led the home try fest with five alongside others from Chris James (2), Gareth King (2), Liam Hedges, Craig Thomas, Bleddyn Jones, Ryan Thomas, Owen James and a penalty try.
Outside half Josh Hamer also claimed a brace of tries and completed a personal haul of 36 points as he also contributed 13 conversions on a day to forget for the beleaguered visitors.
Division Five (West):
Smashing win for Scarlets
Bynea 20 Pembroke 30
Pembroke produced one of their best performances of the season against high-flying Bynea as they scored five tries to their opponents’ four in an entertaining match where both sides defied the heavy conditions.
The Scarlets had first use of the strong wind but only led 20-15 at the interval, so they needed resolve aplenty afterwards as they outscored their opponents since forwards and backs combined well.
Particularly pleasing for the Scarlets was the fact that in Rob Hearne, Billy Woods, Kyle Wetherall and Gianluca Tremarco they had four youth players involved, whilst second row Rhys Williams led by example on the first occasion he had captained the club.
Tight head prop Hearne and centre Woods also got on the Scarlet try sheet alongside winger Huw Purser, centre Dom Colman and No 8 Sam Smith, who was again in outstanding form, with outside half James Davies contributing a conversion and penalty.
For Bynea, there were unconverted tries from Ryan North, Tim Morris, Mark Davies and Alex Kwam but it was too little as Pembroke followed their excellent home 15-5 success against the same opposition with this even better result here!
Dom Colman - another try for Pembroke powerhouse
Blacks beaten by Ponty pack power
Neyland 7 Pontyates 12
But they refused to submit, despite the fact that Pontyates went 12-0 ahead with a penalty try converted by Kieran Evans and an unconverted try by No 8 Josh George.
Shane Phillips and Mark Riley both played well at outside half until they had to go off injured whilst Adam Crawley made a promising debut at scrum half after switching from Pembroke Dock Quins.
Dean Matthews posed a constant threat alongside Adam Collins in the centre, the latter going close with a typically barnstorming run and Matthews grabbing a good try which Lewis Murphy, the third player to fill the pivot’s berth, converted. Delme Bateman also played well for the All Blacks but they were unable to claim any further scores from limited possession and Pontyates added to their 37-24 home success against Neyland earlier in the season to stay in the table’s top four.
Dean Matthews crashes over for Neyland's solitary try
Wasps miss out in first half
Pantyffynon 22 Llangwm 5
Llangwm suffered their usual dose of ‘travel sickness’ as they found themselves 17-0 down at half time against Pantyffynon before a second half rally saw them match the home side with a try apiece.
Michael Lay, Roy Venables and Will Beresford were the pick of the Wasps’ side and winger Simon Preddy was their try scorer as reward for his solid work in defence.
The home team had tries from Stuart Sutherland, Steve Downing, Ceri Jones and a penalty try, converted by hooker Nick James, to give them their sixth success of the season and the double over Llangwm, who are still seeking their first point after 13 losses in a row.
Pembroke Dock Harlequins v Cefneithin
Match postponed – waterlogged pitch
Division Six (West):
Saints stymied in second half
Mynydd y Garreg 10 St Davids 0
Scoring chances were few and far between in the match between Mynydd y Garreg and St Davies before the home side grabbed two second half tries to gain revenge for an earlier 18-12 defeat at St Davids.
Saints’ team manager Jack Dudley, never one to mince words, said that he had few complaints about the final verdict but was disappointed after victory the previous week. He singled out both players called Rhys Price for their efforts, with Rhys Tudor Price doing well to switch from prop to hooker and play his heart out, whilst the other Rhys Price played well in his unaccustomed role of scrum half.
After a scoreless first period, home scrum half Dan Jones scored the only try of the match, which was converted by No 10 Rhys Bartley to go with a penalty to help the home team into fifth place, one ahead of the Saints in the section table.