PHOTOS:
Chris Sousha opens the Seagulls' account with a try at the posts
Ed Bendel scores the first of his four tries
Simon James crossses in the corner
Feature Match:
Swalec Bowl:
Seagulls slam makeshift Saints
Fishguard & Goodwick 76 - St Clears 6
St Clears arrived at The Moors with a depleted team that forced coach Andy Deacon to play at scrum half and they were no match for a Fishguard & Goodwick side that eventually ran in 12 tries, four of them fro
m full back Ed Bendall.But the Carmarthenshire Saints deserve every credit for the way that they stuck to the task and the Seagulls’ coaching staff would have been less than impressed by the opening quarter, where their team made errors galore, took wrong options with try scoring chances – and found themselves three points adrift as visiting full back Chris Rodenhurst slotted a good penalty.
But then the Seagulls settled into a pattern of play that saw them score tries by flanker Chris Sousha, Bendall hooker Owain Morgans and No 8 Mark George, all converted by Griffiths as Rodenhurst’s second penalty from long range, was St Clears’ only reply.
Seagulls run amok in second half
A 28-6 deficit boded badly for the Saints as the Seagulls had second use of the breeze, and that is exactly what happened as Gavin Walsh opened the home side’s second half scoring with a try as reward for his endeavours alongside Mark George and Sousha.
Simon James caught Rodenhurst under his posts to set up a second try for Bendall as Rhodri Morgans and Griffiths spread play wide, and James added the next score with a corner try in his unaccustomed role as a centre.
As St Clears inevitably wilted under pressure Fishguard scored tries by winger Sam Kurtz, Owain Morgans and centre Gareth Adamson before Bendall raced over for his third and fourth scores. Griffiths contributed four more conversions to give the Seagulls a deserved victory and the teams meet again this Saturday at the same venue on the league.
Fishguard & Goodwick: Ed Bendall: Geraint Bateman; Simon James; Gareth Adamson; Sam Kurtz: James Griffiths; Rhodri Morgans: Mel McVeigh; Owain Morgans; Adrian Squelch: Richard Hunter; Rhys Lewis: Gavin Walsh; Chris Sousha; Mark George. Replacements: Randall Williams; Romeo Colella; Mark James; Gwilym Lewis.
St Clears: Chris Rodenhurst: Mark Bowen; Mark Pickersgill; Paul Emmanuelle; Steffan Lewis: Matthew Lewis; Andrew Deacon: Luke Hannah; Dafydd Page; Matthew Rees: Daniel Jones; Gavin Morris: Aled Lewis; Dafydd Williams; Andy Davies. Replacement: Ian Thomas.
Referee: Chris Oliver (who had a very good game!)
Championship:
Worrall wins it for the Otters
Tondu 17 - Narberth 22
Narberth gained a narrow, but deserved win, at Tondu as a try by bustling flanker Stuart Worrall, converted by Ianto Griffiths, proved to be the only score of a tight second half after the home side led 17-15 at the break.
Worrall and the rest of the Narberth pack played well throughout, other than a period in the first half when Tondu bagged three tries in quick succession after the Otters had taken an 8-0 lead thanks to a Ianto Griffiths penalty and an unconverted try by winger Rhys Davies.
Gavin Eager, Matthew Morgan and Shane Bowen crossed for Tondu, one try converted by scrum half Gareth Power but the visitors reduced the interval deficit to two points thanks to a second try from man of the match Rhys Davies, converted by Ianto Griffiths.
The second half was even more closely contested before Worrall claimed his vital score, and although the impressive back rower Steffan Phillips sustained a nasty injury the Otters were able to stay composed in defence to claim their fifth win in eight starts and maintain a top-six place in this demanding division.
Division Two (West):
Heartbreak for Blues with last-ditch penalty try
Tycroes 18 - Haverfordwest 17
There was heartbreak for Haverfordwest in their rearranged league match at Tycroes as the home side were awarded a late, late penalty try after the Blues had led 17-13 but incurred the referee’s displeasure after a series of scrums near their line.Experienced outside half Steve Williams landed an early penalty for Haverfordwest and then cut through for a try which he also converted to open up a ten-point lead against a team above them in the table.
But Tycroes fought back with a try from No 8 Adam Price which Chris Richards converted before also contributing a penalty to make the score 10-all at the oranges.
The Blues regained the initiative in the second half when quick hands put Scott Candler over for a try converted by Williams but a second Richards’ penalty reduced the deficit as Haverfordwest began to find it hard going up front.
But the visitors held out until those fatal final moments when they were unable to hold out and although Richards missed the simple conversion it was no consolation for the Blues had they had to settle for a bonus point when they might have pouched four points for victory!
Swalec Plate:
Aber outlast depleted Seasiders
Aberystwyth 21 - Tenby United 3
Tenby United were forced to travel to Aberystwyth minus several key players because of work commitments and injury – and paid the inevitable price as the Mid Wales’ side scored the only tries of the match.Luke Conbeer kicked the Seasiders’ penalty as they trailed 14-3 at the break after Aber scored a try by Paul Dunford alongside three penalties from Jason Rees. Steve Rees added a second try within two minutes of the restart which Rees converted but Tenby defended well via man of the match Wooles, Luke Hansford and the rest of their pack but the Seasiders were unable to penetrate Aber’s defence and so bowed out of the competition.
Excellent win for Preseli Men
Hendy 5 - Crymych 24
Crymych moved impressively into the next round with a comfortable win over a Hendy side which is currently third in Division Two (West) and traditionally difficult to beat at home.
The Preseli Men were on top from the outset as they took their chances to score three tries in the first half and defended well at the other end to prevent Hendy running up any points.
In-form winger Gavin Thomas opened Crymych’s account with a well-worked try after only 30 seconds and then impressive No 8 Joe Powell added a second, converted by Sam Phillips after eight minutes.
Gavin Thomas added his second midway through the half and again Sam Phillips was on target with the conversion to open up a 19-0 advantage.
Hendy’s efforts up front earned them an unconverted try by winger Tom Harvard but the Preseli Men threw a net in defence and two penalties from Sam Phillips made sure the final verdict was never in doubt.
Swalec Bowl:
Laugharne move through despite Blacks battling hard
Laugharne 37 - Neyland 19
Laugharne had the better of their Swalec Bowl match against Neyland but not before the All Blacks had played their part in an entertaining and always hard-fought tussle.
Laugharne played some good attacking rugby to lead 20-5 at the interval thanks to tries from outside half Aled Rees, plus wingers Luke Starkey and Michael Williams, one converted by centre Tom Jameson to go with an early penalty.
The All Blacks’ only score in response was an unconverted try by No 10 Patrick Bellerby but in the second half they added further tries by scrum half Adam Cawley and pocket-battleship centre Adam Collins, both converted by Bellerby.
Laugharne stayed strong, though, with further tries from Williams, centre Ross Michael and flanker Lewis Owen, one converted by Jameson, to make deserved progress in the competition.