PHOTOS:
Quins secure line out possession
Picture by Ceri Coleman-Phillips
Division Three A (West):
Quins too strong for gritty Saints
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 32 -St Davids 0
The only senior rugby game in Pembrokeshire to go ahead was at Bierspool – where Pembroke Dock Harlequins secured a bonus point win in treacherous conditions against a gritty St Davids side which battled hard throughout.
Despite a heavy surface, both sides agreed for the game to go ahead after a late pitch inspection from referee Julian Thomas - and to his credit, Thomas officiated with a great deal of common sense as The Quins pressed early on, and took a 5-0 lead when outside half Jonathan Rogers slipped a pass for hooker Carl Williams to crash over.
The home side pushed for a second score but after winger Paul Jonkers cut through in midfield, the visitors defended with great determination to keep them at bay. But the Quins, who were forced to ask for uncontested scrums as they were unable to field a front row, then struck when Saints’ scrum half Rhys Owen Price had a kick charged down, and from the ensuing attack, prop Jason Keight crossed from close range but Rogers, playing on permit from Narberth, was again just short with the conversion.
Quins' Jonathan Rogers tackles St Davids centre Fraser Watson
Good moments for both sides
Home full back Damian Miller then produced one of the moments of the game when he attacked from deep, but after beating several defenders down the left wing, sliced his chip ahead into touch.
The Saints enjoyed their best spell before the break when No 10 Bryan Phillips hacked on a loose ball, and as The Quins scrambled to get back they conceded a penalty in front of the posts – but visiting full back John Miles slipped as he went for three points and hooked his effort wide.
The pitch continued to cut up in the second period but The Quins grabbed another try early on when Thomas Doyle set up centre partner and youth team skipper Charley Dearden to score under the posts before full back Miller, taking over the kicking duties, slotted the conversion.
Doyle does well for Quins
It was then Doyle’s turn to get in on the act as he took a short pass 20 metres out and crashed through for a try which Miller again converted.
And in the dying minutes, Doyle completed the try scoring when No 8 Barry Parsons surged off the back of a scrum and popped a scoring pass to the inside centre - and Miller added the extras.
Again, The Saints rallied towards the end of the half and forwards Chris Jenkins, Rhys Tudor Price, and Anthony Davies all featured in a series of drives into the 22, but in the game’s final play, The Quins held up a driving maul metres from their own line.
It signalled the end of a game with both teams deserving great credit for being prepared to fulfil the fixture, with every other league or cup game scheduled in the county falling foul of the weather.
Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Damian Miller, Sam Richards, Charley Dearden, Thomas Doyle, Paul Jonkers, Jonathan Rogers, Jason Scarfe, Jason Keight, Carl Williams, James Gardner, Alex Pearce, Michael Davies, Jake Griffiths, Steffan Hallwood, Barry Parsons.
St Davids: John Miles, Anton Matthews, Fraser Watson, Rhys Evans, Mark Preston, Brian Phillips, Rhys Owen Price, Hywel Davies Neil Thomas, Dan Murphy, Rhys Tudor Price, Chris Jenkins, Scott Riches, Andrew Groves, Anthony Davies.
Replacements: John Sevenoaks, Adam Williams, Aaron Foster, George Raymond, Will Davies.
Jason Keight moves ball quickly for The Quins
Pictures by Joseph Kiff Photography
Division Two (West):
Seagulls so close to deserved victory
Penclawdd 3 - Fishguard & Goodwick 3
Fishguard & Goodwick shrugged off recent enforced inactivity to halt Penclawdd’s impressive run of 12 league victories in as many matches this campaign – and with a little more rub of the green The S
Fishguard pushed Penclawdd all the way in the previous fixture between the two clubs at The Moors before losing 23-17 and on this occasion they were just five minutes away from revenge as the only points of the match had come the visitors’ way after only five minutes when outside half James Griffiths punished a Penclawdd indiscretion with a well-struck penalty.
And that is the way the scoreline stayed until the 76th minute when home No 10 Dan Guineri took a penalty which eventually dropped over the bar via an upright.
Late chance denied
Even then the Seagulls had time to snatch the verdict when they were awarded a late penalty but had no advantage allowed by the referee after Griffiths’ up and under had been marked in the Penclawdd 22 by a defender.
It would have been a difficult chance but with Griffiths’ potent power in his right boot might have just swung the game back in Fishguard’s favour.
Power pack play . . .
The launch-pad for Fishguard’s remaining in contention throughout was undoubtedly their pack power, with skipper Simon James, Chris Shousha and Mark George belying any ring-rustiness with an all-action back row display, whilst Owain Morgans, Gavin Walsh and Ryan McVeigh anchored the scrum well as Gwilym Evans and Richard Hunter battled away in the second row.
Alun George and Griffiths tried to keep their pack going and a couple of half chances went begging at driving mauls where accidental offside or the ball squirting forward cost them points.
. . . And solid defence!
The Seagulls’ threequarters, boosted by the inclusion of Tomi Jones, inevitably had few chances to shine as conditions worsened but they defended well and Penclawdd were never able to stay on top for sustained periods.
Perhaps in the conditions a draw was a fair result but The Seagulls know just how close they came to a famous win over the promotion favourites!
Fishguard & Goodwick: Mike Jenkins: Sam Kurtz; Tomi Jones; Ben John; Steffan Lewis: James Griffiths; Alun George: Owain Morgans; Gavin Walsh; Ryan McVeigh: Richard Hunter; Gwilym Evans: Mark George; Chris Shousha; Simon James (Capt). Replacements: Romeo Colella; Steve Jenkins; Neil Perkins; Kevin Ormond; Dai Evans.