PHOTOS:
Mark Wonnocott in charge at this Milford lineout
Craig Smith is busy on this charge
Alun George and Chris Shousha try to chase this ball down
Rhys Lewis scores a late Seagulls' try
Featured Match:
Division Three (West):
Magnificent Mariners shoot down Seagulls
Milford Haven 31 - Fishguard & Goodwick 15
Milford Haven produced a superb all-round team display to inflict a first league defeat of the season on high-flying Fishguard & Goodwick and even the most ardent Seagulls’ fan would have to say that it was no more than The Mariners deserved.
Urged on by player/coach Mark Wonnacott, who was a dominant force at No 8 alongside Sam Dolling and man of the match James Passmore, the home side clearly adapted to playing on the second pitch at The Observatory.
And pushing all the way for the man of the match tag was outside half Leigh Broome, who not only kicked the visitors out of the game at times but scored the first try of the match and added another late on to seal success.
Mariners much more focussed
Grant Rogers also showed his power in midfield for Milford before the Seagulls lost second row Gwilym Lewis with a shoulder injury – but a penalty from scrum half Alun George reduced the deficit.
Mariners take their chances
Other chances came and went for the Seagulls though, as mishandling and hurried errors set them back, as did some good defensive lineout work by Dolling and Tom Manning, ably assisted by the versatile Dai Sweeney, who popped up from nowhere to deliver a try-scoring pass for winger Lee Riley to speed over for an unconverted try.
Before Fishguard had a chance to regain their composure the Mariners rocked them back again as talented young full back Rhys Baker picked up a pass off his toes and still found time and space to race through for a terrific corner try that Broome converted as a bonus.
The Seagulls fought back right on half time as they were awarded a penalty try after a series of scrum fives, with George adding the simple extras, to serve notice that there was still plenty to play for.Broome sweeps away their chance of a Seagull comeback
But the Mariners used the slope well after the break to gain a foothold in the opposition’s 22 and prop Nathan Rees emerged with the ball from a series of drives that took him over the line, with Broome converting.
Fishguard’s attempts at a comeback were halted by some ferocious cover-tackling from the Mariners and sloppy errors by the Seagulls and it came as no surprise when a Passmore surge set up the chance for Broome to kick through and win the race for the touchdown.
Replacement Rhys Lewis did manage a late unconverted try for Fishguard but it was too little, too late as Milford Haven celebrated a fine victory in front of a big crowd who enjoyed the game.
Milford Haven: Rhys Baker: Lee Riley; Dean Matthews; Grant Rogers; Jimmy Thomas: Leigh Broome; Evan Morgan: Nathan Rees; Craig Smith; Andrew Rees: Tom Manning; Dai Sweeney: James Passmore; Sam Dolling; Mark Wonnacott. Replacements: Kern Cunningham; Dean McSparron; Michael Cockburn; Jonathan Coe; Dominic Todaro.
Fishguard & Goodwick: Ed Bendall: Gareth Adamson; Mike Jenkins; Joni Vatu; Matthew George: Ben John; Alun George: Gerwyn Davies; Gavin Walsh; Andrew Morrillo: Richard Hunter; Gwilym Evans: Owain Morgans; Chris Shousha; Simon James. Replacements: Rhodri Morgans; Romeo Colella; Rhys Lewis; Ryan McVeigh; Jason Davies.
Referee: Colin Phillips (Crymych)
Championship:
Otters ousted in second half
Merthyr 29 - Narberth 10
Narberth’s hopes of a double over Merthyr were spoilt as they allowed the home team to fight back from a 5-10 interval deficit with 24 unanswered points that saw the home side gain their 11th win in 15 outings and third place in the table.
The Otters conceded a 19th-minute try to Merthyr hooker Louis Jones but fought back with a Ianto Griffiths’ penalty awarded for a high tackle.Griffiths also added the extra points to a smashing try scored by full back Johnny Morgan from a typical counter-attack and that stage the Otters’ supporters were hopeful of a win to go with their 31-15 home success.
But Merthyr used their big pack after the break and full back Jeff Fry benefitted from a careless error to score a try which Stephen Lang converted, as he did when No 8 Tom Daley added their third try soon afterwards.
Even worse was to follow for Narberth as they conceded two more unconverted tries by replacement Richard East and scrum half Martin Wichnall and are sixth in the table as a result.
Johnny Morgan - cracking try for Narberth
Division One (West):
Seasiders miss out in closing moments
Carmarthen Athletic 19 - Tenby United 17
A last-gasp try by Carmarthen Athletic winger Robbie Thomas allowed his side to haul themselves level with Tenby United and then centre Sion Curran added the vital extra points which earned the home side their first win after 12 defeats in a row.
Tenby United were good value for a seven-point interval lead but were left to reflect on other missed chances as they allowed the Athletic to come back in the second period after winger Jordan Aspinall had scored the only try in the first period and Jonathan Rogers converted to put the Seasiders 7-0 in front.But a good third quarter for the Athletic saw flanker Richard Davies score a try converted by Sion Curran and then another which went unconverted.
The Seasiders gradually resettled via a Rogers’ penalty and a Toby Smith try and Rogers’ conversion which gave them a five-point advantage and the thought of the double since they had won the earlier fixture by 40-19.
But then up popped winger Thomas to claim his late try and as his supporters celebrated that first taste of victory the Seagulls had to swallow the fact that this was a game they should have won!
Gorseinon gain revenge win
Gorseinon 22 - Crymych 10
Gorseinon had lost at Parc Lloyd Thomas by 37-17 against Crymych but boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with this home win over a Crymych side which is currently not firing on all cylinders.
Gowerton led by 8-5 early on thanks to a try by hooker Josh John and a penalty from Rhodri Phelps before winger Tomos Jones responded with an unconverted try for the Preseli Men.
But the homesters were awarded a penalty try which Phelps converted before Crymych had the final word in the half with a second unconverted score – this time by winger Nick Bevan.
At this stage the Preseli Men were still in with a chance of victory but they were unable to raise the tempo enough to take control after the break and Gorseinon made sure of vicry with a try from second row Alun Evans which Phelps converted.
Jack’s try brace in vain for Borderers
Kidwelly 27 - Whitland 19
Jack Mason has been in outstanding form of late for Whitland and the livewire flanker added two more tries to his tally against Kidwelly – but still finished up on the losing side as Kidwelly completed the double, having won at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn by 24-20.The Borderers grafted hard against the section’s top team but had nothing to show for their efforts – although it would be interesting to know what coach Richard Jones thought about a quickly-taken tapped penalty in the closing moments which came to nought when a simple kick at goal would have earned them a deserved bonus point!
Whitland took the lead with a try from hooker Mac Jones before second row Richard Davies and hooker Christian Cullen replied for Kidwelly, both converted by outside half Steffan Marshall.
Mason then popped up to grab his first try, converted by Johnny Thomas, but Marshall added a penalty to ease his team into a 17-12 interval lead.
The Borderers played well in the second half but were unable to convert periods of pressure before centre Andrew Francis scored a Kidwelly try, converted by Marshall.
Mason grabbed his second Whitland score and Thomas converted but there were no further points and the Borderers had to settle for second best!
Jack Mason - two more tries for Whitland back rower
Division Two (West):
Blues well beaten by league leaders
Haverfordwest 5 - Gowerton 34
They were 19-0 down at half time as flanker Dan Jones opened Gowerton’s account and other tries came from No 8 Ryan Thomas and prop Rhys Davies, two of them converted by winger Josh Hamer.
There were further tries for Gowerton by centre Gareth John and winger Louie Taylor before Haverfordwest’s battling qualities earned them an unconverted try by winger Scott Candler before player/coach Gareth King rounded off the scoring and ensured a comfortable win – but not as convincing as at home, where they had beaten the Blues 59-16.
Scott Candler - scored Haverfordwest's only try
Cardis’ good run brought to an end
Llanybydder 20 - Cardigan 7
Llanybydder ended Cardigan’s recent run of successes as they led 10-0 at the half way stage and added another 10 points before the Teifisiders had a late consolation score from No 8 Llyr Griffiths.
It also earned them the double because they had won at the King George Vth ground by 34-23 earlier on in this campaign.
Llanybydder opened their account with a penalty from full back Llyr Davies before busy scrum half Dion Thomas sniped through from close range for a try that Davies converted.
Davies than contributed a nicely-taken try and Thomas darted over for his second score to make sure of a home win as the Teifisiders’ come-back proved too little, too late.
Division Three (West) B:
11-try Laugharne too strong for Saints
Laugharne 59 - St Davids 5
Laugharne spokesman Alun Jenkins was delighted by his team’s scoring of 11 tries against St Davids but was quick to praise the Saints for the way that they stuck to their task.
“We played some good rugby,” said Jenkins, “but the final scoreline doesn’t do justice to the way Sty Davids stuck to their task, and prop Dan Murphy scored a deserved try when he burrowed over from close range.”
Laugharne were 24-5 up at half time thanks to tries by No 8 Thomas Perry, winger Tom Thomas, second row Carl Smith and centre Tom Jameson, who also added two conversions.
Busy flanker Mike Williams led the way with three second-half tries for Laugharne, alongside two tries for Luke Starkey, a second for Smith and ne by Carwyn Evans, none of which were converted.
Centre Adam Collins on a typical burst against St Clears
Bellerby boosts All Blacks
Neyland 20 - St Clears 15
Patrick Bellerby helped Neyland to victory over St Clears at the Athletic Ground as he scored a try, conversion and penalty in a solid team performance which gave the All Blacks the double since they had already won 20-13 in St Clears last September.
But it was Adam Collins who opened their account with a typical blockbuster of a try from the veteran centre before Bellerby rolled out his ten points as they led 15-3 at half time, with scrum half Ryan Thomast landing a penalty for the visitors.
The Carmarthenshire Saints added two tries from Ryan Thomas and Andy Deacon in a tighter second half, one converted,by Thomas, but outside half Jonathan Lloyd made sure of a Neyland win as he crossed for a good try.
Aberaeron power ahead after the interval
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 5 -Aberaeron 21
Aberaeron gained victory at Bierspool against a battling Quins’ team which produced a better performance of late but couldn’t stop Aber grabbing three second-half tries, all of which were converted by Sion Evans.
With Tom Kaijaks making a welcome return and veteran prop Gary Burns also putting in a welcome shift there were chances for the Quins in a scoreless first half as Paul Jonkers always posed a threat with his strong surges.
Aberaeron second row Gethin Hughes opened the scoring with a close-range try before the Quins claimed a cracking try by Jonkers which went unconverted but home hopes of victory disappeared as centre Ollie Sawyer and replacement second row Kieran Etheridge added two more tries for Aberaeron.
All Square at Pill Parks
Llangwm 14 - Pembroke 14
Matters ended all square at Pill parks in an entertaining local derby where Pembroke used the slope to good effect in building up a 14-point lead in the first half and Llangwm fought back to level matters with five minutes left of an entertaining clash.
It set up a tense finale where neither side was able to break the deadlock but the Scarlets retained the Palmer Cup, competed for annually by the teams, by dint of the fact that they had beaten the Wasps by 48-10 at home.
James Skeels and Billy Wood scored Pembroke’s tries, both of which were converted by veteran outside half Phil Williams.
But with scrum half Rhys Mason looking very sharp around the fringes it was the Wasps who had the better of the second half and No 8 Carwyn Morgan’s excellent play was rewarded as he chased a clever little chip by Jonathan Brock, kicked ahead and won the race for the touchdown.
Andrew Brock converted and then added seven points as he picked up a loose ball and darted away to score a try which he also converted in front of a large crowd who are clearly enjoying their local derbies in this section!