PHOTOS:
Gareth Bateman leads Narberth by example
Pontypool win lineout battle
The Pontypool sponsors' helicopter 'parked' on the top pitch!
Championship:
Otters so close to beating Pooler
Narberth 18 - Pontypool 26
Narberth finished their opening league encounter of the season with no points to show for their efforts against a Pontypool side that made them pay for mistakes after the Otters looked in with a chance of victory as they led 15-5 early in the second half.
But then the new-look Otters were punished for errors in attack which saw Pooler sweep up field to score quality tries and a last-gasp penalty by replacement fly half Tom Hancock confirmed a hard-fought victory for Pontypool.
The visitors quickly served notice of intent as left winger Nathan Brooks sliced through a static Narberth defence, assisted by a huge dummy, to claim a fifth-minute unconverted try but the Otters fought back well as Adam Clarke was outstanding up front and scrum half Rhys Lane featured in a number of darts at the opposition defence.
Narberth reduced the deficit with a penalty from new fly half Jonathan Rogers, one of a number of debutants in a side that never gave up trying, and they took the lead with a quality try that saw Steffan Jones make an initial thrust continued by Lane and Johnny Morgan before play was recycled to the left for hooker Dan Smith to score a corner try.
Rogers missed the conversion and a penalty and Hancock, on for the injured Ross Preddy, fired a 55-metre penalty wide for Pooler with the last kick of the half.
The Otters added seven points to their 8-5 interval lead soon after the restart when centre Ollie Reyland and winger Adam Davies, who looks to have pace aplenty, put Morgan over the line and Rogers added the extra points.
But Narberth failed to turn further pressure into points and only a try-saving tackle by Adam 
A Nick Gale penalty levelled matters but again the Otters conceded points when they failed to clear a Quick kick through and Hancock was credited with a try and although for once he missed the conversion he made amends with a difficult late penalty before the Pooler sponsors from Medinet flew home in their helicopter parked on the top pitch – and their team travelled back to Gwent in their more conventional bus!
Narberth: Johnny Morgan: Liam Hutchings; Ollie Reyland; Steve Martin; Adam Davies: Jonathan Rogers; Rhys lane: Dan Jacobs; Dan Smith; Steffan Jones: Adam Clark; Lyndon Bateman: Lewis Wood; Llyr Morris; Gareth Bateman (Capt). Replacements (all used): Nick Gale; Ianto Griffiths; Dewi Williams; Callum Tree; Ollie Evans.
Pontypool: Josh Hurley: Nathan Brooks; Marc Thorley; Luke Ford; Mike Burke: Ross Preedy; Aaron Quick: Jamie Edwards; Ben Parry (Capt); Garin Harris: Deryn Jones; Ed King: Matthew Thomas; Gareth Rusby-Davies; Jordan Williams. Replacements (all used): Tom Hancock, Sione Tu’ipulotu; Will Guy; Nathan Hudd; Josh Powell.
Division One:
Seasiders edged out in second-half thriller
Llangennech 39 - Tenby United 36
“We had one of the most thrilling second halves I have seen,” said Tenby United spokesman Peter James, and he was spot-on in his summation as an 8-3 lead for Llangennech at half time was followed by 64 second-half points before the Seasiders were shaded out by just three points!
In that tight first period there was a try for the home team by full back Ellis Philips to go with a penalty from ace kicker Kieran Thomas – whilst Ashley Sutton landed three points for Tenby with a well-judged penalty.
Then the points’ floodgates opened as Llangennech added tries by winger Tom Barnes (2), fullback Phillips again, centre Rhys Davies and second row Phil Wright, plus two conversions by Thomas.
At the other end there were good Tenby tries by Toby Smith (2) and Harry Bolton, plus two conversions by Sutton – but they still trailed by 39-22 going into the closing stages.
Skipper Luke Hansford and Mark Heywood then grabbed late Seasiders’ tries, both converted by Sutton – but they ran out of time and had just a bonus point to show for their considerable exertions!
Toby Smith - two tries for Tenby United
Preseli Men pick up consolation bonus point
Loughor 29 - Crymych 24
Loughor have proved in recent seasons to be difficult to beat at home and this game against Crymych proved to be no exception as they led 14-12 at half time and were still five points to the good as the Preseli Men tried in vain to claw their way back to victory.
18 year old Ryan Bean marked his senior league debut for Crymych with a first half try alongside power-house winger Tomos Jones, one converted by No 10 Sam Phillips as Loughor edged two points in front with tries from winger Morgan Bryant and centre Peter Smiriglia, who also landed both conversions.
Smiriglia also notched a second half penalty and one of the conversions of tries by full back Jamie George and flanker Tom Davies – whilst the Preseli men added tries by flanker Tom Powell and centre Carwyn Phillips to earn a bonus point, one converted by Sam Phillips, but it wasn’t enough to give Crymych the boost of an away win on the first Saturday of the season!
Tom Powell - try for livewire Crymych flanker
Borderers beaten by ‘One Eyelid’!
Whitland 24 - Waunarlwydd 28
Whitland played well in parts during their home match against Waunarlwydd but in the final analysis the Borderers conceded points at vital times and after trailing 18-10 at half time were never quite able to wrest away the initiative from the team jocularly known to most Pembrokeshire clubs as ‘One Eye-Lid’!
The Borderers didn’t even have the consolation of a bonus point as they could muster only three tries via Jonathan Thomas, Nico Setaro and Sean Coles; their other points coming from two conversions and a penalty by Setaro.
Waunarlwydd, however, picked up maximum points from scoring tries by Adam Gretchy, Tom Bevan, Dan Joseph and Nathan Hart as Les Evans rounded off their winning start with one conversion and two penalties.
New Zealander Sean Coles scores another try for Whitland
Division Two:
‘Jenks’ jolts Tregaron as Seagulls soar
Tregaron 13 - Fishguard & Goodwick 52
Fishguard made the long journey to Tregaron for their first league match after runaway promotion last season and returned with maximum bonus points as they ran in ten tries, three of them scored by full back Mike Jenkins.
The Seagulls conceded an early penalty to Tregaron kicker Chris Jones but then played some positive rugby to score quality tries by outside half James Griffiths and Jenkins, both of which Griffiths goaled to put his side 14-3 in front.
Perhaps they took their foot off the pedal a little because Tregaron bounced back with a try by Dorian Rees, which Jones converted to go with a second penalty to narrow the deficit to a single point.
Perhaps it was the kick up the back side that the Seagulls needed Jenkins darted through for his second try and Griffiths converted to give his team a 21-13 buffer at the break.
Whatever coaches Huw Evans and Nathan Jenkins said at the interval it certainly worked because The Seagulls added 31 unanswered second-half points as Jenkins contributed his third try and there were others from skipper Simon James (2), winger Gareth Adamson and flanker Mark George. Griffiths added a further three conversions to round off a half century of points for the Seagulls in an excellent start as the only Pembrokeshire side in the section.
Mike Jenkins - try hat-trick for Fishguard
Division Three A:
Saints start well with Pill Parks’ success
Llangwm 12 - St Davids 25
It was No 10 Jones who gave the visitors the lead, winning the race to the touchdown after flanker Scott Riches had hacked on a loose ball.
Jones converted his try well from out wide – but the Wasps fought back as Luke Morrissey set up fellow centre Andrew Brock to score in the corner, and he duly converted his own try to level matters.
Llangwm then took the lead when full back Josh Hicks crashed into the line and ran 30 metres for an unconverted score – but it proved to be his final contribution as he pulled his hamstring evading a tackle as he crossed the line.
Just before the break Brock was denied a second score when he knocked on over the line, and it proved crucial as from the resultant scrum, St Davids scrum half Watson broke up field and set up Jones to cross in the corner.
Jones added a close range penalty to put the Saints 15-12 up after the break, before Watson sped over from half way following a strong run by full back Rhys Evans, one of the Saints’ standout performers on the day.
The Wasps tried to respond but failed to turn pressure into points and the Saints sealed the win, and a bonus point, when Watson crossed again from long range late on.
Jack Jones crossed for a brace of tries for The Saints
Blues back to winning ways
Haverfordwest 34 - Pembroke 8
The Blues claimed a 14-0 lead in the first quarter through good tries by second rows Gareth ‘Savage’ Phillips and Mike Griffiths, both converted by Mikey Jones, and Pembroke did well to make sure there were no further break-throughs before the break.
Jones continued his good form in the second half as he added the extra points to Griffiths’ second try before the Scarlets finally broke their points’ duck with an unconverted try by the industrious Rhys Johns and although Jordan Gwilliam was off-target with the conversion attempt he soon made amends with a penalty.
At this stage the visitors looked as if a continued come back was on the cards but the Blues raised the tempo and winger Liam Jones rounded off some good handling with a fourth try that ensured a bonus point and Jones continued his excellent form with the boot as he added a fourth conversion to go with two well-struck penalties as he helped Haverfordwest get off to the start they needed in this section.
Mike Griffiths scored two tries for The Blues
Picture by Matthew Kelly of Rawphotography
The Quins are back as Miller mauls Laugharne
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 31 - Laugharne 0
Pembroke Dock Harlequins ran in five tries against old rivals Laugharne and kept a clean scoresheet to confirm the fact that they are well and truly back on the rails after arguably the worst season in the club’s history.
Small wonder that coach Ossie Boswell had a huge chuckle in his post-match summing up as his return from Tenby United saw him joined by former Seasiders’ coach Gareth Thomas as his assistant – and players of the calibre of Damien Miller and Jack Price rejoining the Quins, along with a number of talented young players just breaking through.
“We stuck to our game plan and although I am pleased with this start the players know they can play even better than this.”
Miller slotted in at full back and posed a constant threat as he sped over for three tries, and centre Price claimed the other two as outside half Lewis Davies landed three conversions.
The Quins were deservedly 17-0 in front at the interval and Laugharne rarely looked likely to break their stranglehold as the Quins had Barry Parsons, Alex Pearce and Mike Davies leading the way up front and backs like scrum half Elliott Lewis and Thomas Doyle providing support to Messrs Miller and Price.
But as coach Boswell was eager to point out, this was an all-round performance and will have sent out a message to a few clubs that the Quins are no longer going to be the section whipping boys!
Damien Miller - a try hat-trick on his return to the Quins
Mariners make a solid start
Cardigan 18 - Milford Haven 21
The first half showed how tight things were likely to be as the Mariners led 5-3 thanks to a try by Rhys Baker after they had squandered a couple of chances, with cardigan’s three points coming from a penalty by outside half Llyr Tobias.
The lead changed hands a couple of times in the second half as the Teifisiders managed tries from full back Alun Jenkins, second row Trystan Lewis and centre Iestyn Crompton, but they were all unconverted.
In contrast, the Mariners managed to muster a single try by Dan Jenkins after good work from Andrew Rees, Luke Ryan and Nathan Rees but outside half Joseph Kiff, making a welcome return, slotted the conversion alongside three penalties that set up a good start for Mark Wonnacott’s boys on the road.
Joseph Kiff - 11 points with the boot for Milford Haven
Blacks beaten in final moments
Neyland 24 -St Clears 28
Neyland came within seconds of a 24-23 victory over visiting St Clears but then the Carmarthenshire Saints were awarded a close-range scrum from which veteran flanker Andrew Deacon settled the issue with a try converted by Luke Conbeer.
“I’m used as an impact player now,” admitted Deacon after being called upon for the final quarter of an absorbing clash, “and it was nice to see us edge home so late.”
Yet it was Neyland who made the brighter start with early unconverted tries from outside half Patrick Bellerby and pacy winger Ben Goodridge – but the lead changed hands several times as centre Adam Collins and Goodridge added further tries, converted by Bellerby and Delme Bateman, to ensure a bonus point for the All Blacks.
For the Saints, there were tries by prop Ian Rees, plus centres Tom Windsor and Ceri Jones, alongside two penalties and conversion from Luke Conbeer to go with a second two-pointer after Deacon had certainly made the impact he and his team-mates wanted.