PHOTOS:
A sad moment - both teams and supporters observe a minute's silence for Martyn Rees
Sam Katakai on a charge for Neyland
Dafydd Bowen tidies up for Llangwm
Mark Riley in the thick of things for Neyland  

Feature Match:
 
Division 3 (West) B

 

Blacks bag Sutton Cup

Llangwm 8 - Neyland 25

Neyland won the league points on offer from their local derby at Pill Parks against Llangwm and also scooped the Sutton Cup, competed for annually by these old rivals on an aggregate points basis.

The All Blacks had already won their home fixture by 41-3 so the destination of the Sutton Cup was already assured but The Wasps played much better in this tussle and can take satisfaction from their part in an absorbing clash watched by an excellent crowd, considering the abject weather conditions.
 
There was an emotional start to proceedings as both teams and supporters held a minute’s silence in memory of the late Martyn Rees, the popular Neyland administrator who was equally as regarded at Llangwm.
 

Text book kicking and good attacking play

 
Llangwm were forced to defend early on but some text book kicking out of defence by Andrew Brock kept the All Blacks at bay until the deadlock was finally broken by talented young full back Aaron James, who travels down from Llanelli to play for Neyland.
 
The All Blacks were 15-8 to the good at the interval as skipper Chris Parsley and flanker Andrew Slark also got their names on the scoresheet, whilst Andrew Brock landed a Llangwm penalty and full back Jonathan Brock claimed their try after a good backs move in which Rhys Mason, Ian Griffiths and Ollie Davies were also involved.
 

All Blacks are deserved winner

Luke Davies caught the eye for Neyland when he came on as prop and although James Lewis, Dafydd Bowen and Carwyn Morgan all grafted hard for the Wasps they were unable to prevent the All Blacks adding further tries by replacement No 9 Adam Cawley and winger Delme Bateman to give their side the double.

 
The Sutton Cup was presented to Neyland captain Chris Parsley by Keith Lawrence, the chairman of Llangwm RFC, to round off an absorbing, and emotional day at Pill Parks!
 
Llangwm: Jonathan Brock: Dan Morgan; Andrew Brock; Ollie Davies; David Lewis: Ian Griffiths; Rhys Mason: Gavin Barrett; Josh Davies; Dai Owen: Ryan John; Ieuan Power: Carwyn Morgan; James Lewis (Capt); Dafydd Bowen. Replacements: Ben Llewellyn; Roy Venables; Simon Preddy; Gavin Jones; Ashley Jack.

Neyland: Aaron James: Richard Smith; Adam Collins; Patrick Bellerby; Delme Bateman: Shane Phillips; Mark Riley: Richard Banner; Alex Swales; Gareth Bevan: Mark James; Chris Busby (Capt): Andrew Slark; Craig Grice; Sam Katakai. Replacements: Adam Cawley, Gareth Lawlor; Jonathan Lloyd; Gary Power; Luke Davies.
 
 

Championship:

Griffiths guides Otters home with last-gasp kick

Narberth 8 - Pontypool 7

Ianto Griffiths was the hero of the hour for Narberth as their outside half landed a last-gasp penalty which gave them the narrowest of victories over the once-mighty Pontypool side regarded then as one of the best club sides in the world but now reduced to more mundane matters.

Griffiths had hit the woodwork and been off- target with other kicks in the second half before a shrill blast on the referee’s whistle near the end signalled another chance for Griffiths, who judged the elements perfectly to curl in his three-pointer and give his side ample revenge for a 34-3 thumping at Pontypool last September.

The only down beat side for the Otters was the fact that they lost talented young prop Tom Slater, stretchered off to hospital after 26 minutes.

They had already opened the scoring with a 12^th-minute unconverted try by powerful flanker Stuart Worrall – but Pooler responded five minutes later with a good try which was scored by flanker Jamie Jeune and converted by centre Clayton Gullis.

And although both teams had half chances the scoreline stayed 7-5 in Pontypool’s favour until those dramatic last moments, when Griffiths guided the Otters to their 11^th win from 16 games.

Ianto Griffiths' last-gasp penalty earned Narberth victory over Pontypool

Division One (West):

 
Loughor v Tenby United (Match postponed)
**Ground unfit for play
 
Whitland v Ammanford (Match postponed)
**Ground unfit for play
 
Crymych v Felinfoel (Match postponed)
**Ground unfit for play
 

Division Two (West): 

Cardis suffer another narrow defeat

Cardigan 15 - Pontarddulais 17

Cardigan suffered yet another narrow defeat as a second half penalty try by Pontarddulais earned them a two-point win and left Cardigan with only the consolation of a bonus point for their efforts.

The Teifisiders will look back on the opening ten minutes, when they showed ‘The Bont’ far too much respect and conceded two soft unconverted tries to centre Joshua Gross and No 8 Aled Thomas.

But they fought back to actually lead 15-10 at half time, thanks to excellent tries from flanker Marcus Castle and winger Rhidian Jenkins alongside a conversion and penalty by Iestyn Crompton.

Cardigan also had half chances after the oranges but were unable to hold onto final passes in the inclement weather at the King George Vth Ground – and a penalty try hauled The Bont level before Adrian Giller’s simple conversion took the visitors into third spot in the table, whilst leaving the Teifisiders anchored in the bottom three!

Marcus Castle - try for Cardigan

 

Blues beaten by ‘The Cocklemen’

Penclawdd 25 - Haverfordwest 8

Haverfordwest played well in the first half at Penclawdd to trail by only 3-7 but ‘The Cocklemen’ exerted the influence of their pack power after half time and were good value for the double, having previously won 34-14 at Merlins Bridge.

Blues’ scrum half Dan Morgan opened the scoring with a penalty and the only other score of a tight first period was a try for ‘The Cocklemen’ by fullback Owen James, converted by Jamie Moore during the time that Blues’ front rower Gareth Green was in the ‘sin bin’.

Penclawdd extended their advantage with two Moore penalties but a good try by teenage centre Moritz Neumann pulled the score back to 8-13 – but then the homesters added tries from scrum half Lee Gunnell, converted by Moore, and Owen James again to set the seal on a disappointing game for the Blues, where they had nothing to show for a great deal of effort.

Moritz Neumann - try for Haverfordwest's teenage centre

 

Division Three (West):

Seagulls survive a shocking start

Laugharne 18 - Fishguard & Goodwick 37

Fishguard and Goodwick bounced back from their first defeat the previous week to gain the double over Laugharne, but not before the home side had given them a few nervous moments at the start as they took an early 13-0 lead and were still 18-15 ahead at the break.

But then The Seagulls raised the tempo after the interval to add 22 points without response, including the tries which earned them a bonus point.

Tom James opened the scoring with a Laugharne penalty and then added another to go with the conversion of flanker Mikey Williams’ try, which was sandwiched neatly in between.

But then James Griffiths exerted his influence with a try alongside Ryan McVeigh and Gareth Adamson, who also crossed the whitewash before Laugharne had the final word when replacement scrum half Gareth Earles grabbed an unconverted interception try right on the interval.

This reverse stung the Seagulls into raising the tempo and further second-half tries came from Sam Kurtz, Mike Jenkins and Griffiths, who also converted two of them and slotted a good penalty in the tricky conditions to earn them a ninth win from ten starts and still in line for a promotion place at the end of the campaign.

Sam Kurtz - try for Fishguard winger

 

Mariners too strong for Scarlets at The Obs

Milford Haven 33 - Pembroke 17

Milford Haven produced another power-packed display to account for a gritty Pembroke side in this top of the table clash at The Observatory Field where The Mariners were also home and dry by half time, as they led 18-0 and added another score almost immediately after the resumption.

Leigh Broome gave the Mariners the lead with two well-struck penalties as Mark Wonnacott’s pack gained the upper hand in the ball-winning stakes so that Broome and outstanding flanker Sam Dolling also claimed tries, one converted by Broome.

Then flanker James Passmore opened the second half with a try as reward for his support play and ability to be first to the break down, with Grant Rogers adding the extra points sine Broome was sin-binned, as was hooker Craig Smith to leave their team down to 13 men.

It says much for the Scarlets’ resolve that they kept plugging away and were rewarded with tries by Cyle Weatherall, Dom Colman and skipper Max Hayward, one converted by Louis Davies.

But Milford had the final word with further tries by replacement Dai Sweeney, a great stalwart of the club, and full back Rhys Baker, so that they stay top of the section table and also win the Ian Jones Cup, competed for annually between the clubs, after losing by 20-7 at Crickmarren but still doing well enough in this return to take the silverware.

Kevin Bratcher drives forward for Pembroke against Milford Haven. Picture by Keith Bryant

 

Quins suffer in the second half

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 7 - St Clears 32

Pembroke Dock Harlequins played into the elements against St Clears at Bierspool in the first half and were good value for a 7-6 interval lead which raised hopes of a third win of the campaign – but the Carmarthenshire Saints played equally well against the wind and hail to claim a deserved win.

All St Clears could muster in the first period were two penalties from Chris Rodenhurst as the Quins responded with a good try by replacement flanker Joe Powell which was converted be centre Liam Smith.

But home hopes of a win were shattered after half time as the Saints claimed further tries by replacement winger Steffan Lewis, and a penalty try conceded for a close-range maul offence, followed by others from second row Dafydd Watkins and prop Jack Rees.

Rodenhurst slotted three conversions, no mean feat in the conditions, to help his team to the double since they had previously won 24-7 at home.
 

Jack’s hat-trick in vain for Saints

St Davids 22 - Aberaeron 31

St Davids talented young fly half Jack Jones scored a cracking hat-trick of tries against Aberaeron but still ended up on the losing side as the visitors had the better of the second period after the teams shared 34 first-half points.

It was Jones who opened the scoring with a corner try and superb conversion before Aberaeron fought back through tries from scrum half Sion Evans and second row Gethin Hughes before flanker Carl Evans put the Saints just ahead again following good work by veteran hooker Neil Thomas, second row John Rellie and centre Dafydd Williams, who also played well when he had to switch to No 8.

Back came the visitors to score a try by No 8 Aaron Lewis which Jason Freeman goaled but with the last play of the 40 minutes it was Jack Jones who scored his second try to make it 17-all at the break.

Aberaeron moved to a 31-17 advantage with further tries by No 8 Lewis and No 9 Jones, both converted by Freeman before the Saints had the final word with Jack Jones’ third try, which gave the homesters the consolation of a bonus point after their involvement in an entertaining tussle, despite the awful conditions.

Jack Jones - three tries in defeat for St Davids