PHOTOS:
Whitland surge forward
Good tackling by the Borderers
Pembroke win a lineout
Man of the match - Steffan James
Griffiths Cup Semi Final:
Whitland Youth 34 - Pembroke Youth 26
Whitland youth beat their counterparts from Pembroke and will now play Haverfordwest in this season’s Griffiths Cup Final after an epic semi-final where the rugby served up was a credit to both clubs.
The game was played at real pace and although there were inevitably errors as a result they added to the non-stop excitement: it was hard and uncompromising but never dirty, both teams are clearly well-coached – and this was a match that showed all the best of development rugby in Pembrokeshire.
Fortunes ebb and flow
The Borderers established an early 13-0 lead but the Scarlets fought back, inspired by scrum half Lewys Gibby, Jack Parkinson and Rhys Fawcett, to lead 26-13 midway through the second period, with the result seemingly assured for the visitors.
But then up stepped Whitland No 10 Steff James, who has made such an impact for the Whitland first team recently, and he took the game by the scruff of the neck as he landed difficult penalties, created a couple of good tries and generally sent the opposition reeling backwards with a series of raking touch-finders when this talented Scarlets’ side tried to mount counter-attacks.
Good start for Whitland but Pembroke claw their way back
It was Pembroke who had the first chance but Jack Parkinson missed a relatively simple penalty before Steff James slotted two penalties for the Borderers – and added the more difficult extras after a Will Evans run to the corner and good support work by Scott Lloyd earned the centre a try.
But from the kick off Pembroke fought back as Fawcett, Gaskell and Danny James set up the platform for Gibby to put Tom Kinnear and Tom Lewis away – and it was Gibby who popped up again to snipe over from the ensuing ruck, his try converted by Parkinson.
A Whitland knock on in their own 22 allowed Pembroke another scoring chance from their superior scrummage platform, with skipper Jim Brace’s strong burst to the posts creating the chance for Parkinson to power his way over for an unconverted try.
It was the set-piece pressure exerted by Lloyd Davies, Jack Hogan and Sam Benbow that allowed the Scarlets to take a 19-3 lead into half time as Rhys Fawcett ploughed his way over the line and Parkinson concerted.
Great second-half start for Scarlets but James exerts his influence
Pembroke powered even further ahead when Jack Parkinson claimed the try of the match as he made a neat break out from a scrum in his own 22, handed off the last line of defence and scored near the posts, adding the extra points once he got his breath back.
At this stage the Scarlets seemed assured of victory but the Borderers, well led by flanker Dewi Davies, started a comeback with a penalty from James before Parkinson missed the chance to grab three points for Pembroke.
James then added the difficult conversion to a corner try scored by No 8 Leigh Thomas – and hauled the Borderers level with another penalty.
Tense finale
In a tense finale both teams had chances but it was James who sealed victory for Whitland as he notched a penalty from 44 metres and then sliced through for a try.
For once he was unable to convert but it mattered little because his team were through to the final as reward for a terrific comeback, leaving Pembroke to reflect on what might have been in a cracking contest!
Whitland Youth:
Gino Setaro: Jeavon Mumberson; Rhys Davies; Scott Lloyd; Will Evans: Steff James; Aron Ebsworth: Leigh Thomas; Kieran Heycocks; Jack Hirst; Tomos Walters: Steffan Nicholas; Aaron Williams: Dylan Nicholas; Dewi Davies (Capt). Replacements: Marcus Done; Harry Dickins; Ronnie Clark; Rhys Thomas; Antonio Setaro; Sion Benjamin.
Pembroke Youth:
Tom Lewis: Aaron Davies; Jack Parkinson; Tom Kinnear; Elliott Evans: Iori Richards; Lewys Gibby: Lloyd Davies; Jack Hogan; Sam Benbow: Jack Oliver; Hal Gaskell: Rhys Fawcett; Danny James; Jim Brace (Capt). Replacements: Rhys Manwaring; Jordan Evans; Darcy Longston; Dan Evans; Fraser James.
Referee: Stuart Phillips-Harries