PHOTOS:
Narberth face a Merthyr 'brick wall'
Hooker Dan Smith on a rare Otters' burst
Rugby: Championship:
Otters over run in first half by table toppers
Narberth 0 - Merthyr 51
The gap between the top championship teams and those trying hard to compete with them was never more evident than at the Lewis Lloyd Ground as table toppers Merthyr produced a clinical first-half performance against Narberth to effectively end the game as a competitive one.
The Otters had battled gamely up front but lacked the cohesion of their opponents, who used the strong wind in their favour to such good effect that they racked up 37 points, without conceding any, with their no-frills approach really paying dividends.
Merthyr’s five-try performance was based on their well-drilled pack, led by skipper Craig Locke and experienced No 8 Phil Rees, but it was No 10 Dean Gunter who called the shots, gaining huge distances with his kicking and setting centres David Bishop and Matthew Trowbridge on searching runs alongside scrum half Rhys Downes; another potent threat.
Some sloppy kicking into the wind was a real problem for The Otters and after missing two early penalties, Merthyr’s ace points’ gatherer Matthew Jarvis slotted a penalty either side of their first try, claimed by skipper Locke from a sustained forward surge to the right corner.
But then the wheels really came off in the Narberth defence as missed tackles cost them dearly, allowing the visitors to establish a platform which left winger Alex Howman and Downes crossed for tries, both converted by Jarvis, as prop James Howe and flanker Osian Davies created the initial space.
Even worse was to follow as Downes set up a good try for right winger Daniel Parry, converted by Jarvis, and an unconverted try by No 8 Rees meant that The Otters had conceded 26 points in 11 minutes of mayhem!
The second half was more even in terms of territory but still The Otters were unable to break down a coordinated Merthyr defence – and Merthyr again improved their points’ differential as they added further tries from Phil Rees (his second) and replacement hooker Gary Way.
Jarvis added both conversions to nudge the visitors past the half century mark and keep them solidly on top of the chasing pack.
Narberth: Johnny Morgan: Jordan Roberts; Gareth Owens; Ollie Reyland; Liam Hutchings: Ianto Griffiths; Jonathan Rogers: Dan Jacobs; Dan Smith; Ollie Evans: Adam Clark; Alex Jenkins: Gareth Bateman (Capt); Llyr Morris; Lewis Wood. Replacements: Rhys Lane; Ryan Rees; Lyndon Bateman; Callum Tree; Scott James.
Merthyr: Matthew Jarvis: Daniel Parry; Matthew Trowbridge; David Bishop; Alex Howman: Rhys Downes; Dean Gunter: James Howe; Rhys Williams; Garry Powell: Ben Murphy; Craig Locke (Capt): Tom Daley; Osian Davies; Phil Rees. Replacements: Gary Way; Meurig Davies; Richard East; Martin Luckwell; Gavin Dacey.
PHOTOS:
Aidan Laxton scores a try for Whitland
Division One (West):
Borderers too strong in second half
Tenby United 6 - Whitland 21
Matches between old rivals Tenby United and Whitland are traditionally hard-fought and this one was certainly no exception as the teams shared 12 points in an attritional first half before the Borderers raised the tempo a little further and claimed 15 unanswered points after the oranges to complete the double over the Seasiders, having won 26-17 at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn.
The first half saw the teams having two penalties apiece as talented youngster Aaron Morgan scored for Tenby and the more experienced Nico Setaro found the target for Whitland.
But then No Ryan Banner, playing on permit from Narberth, grabbed the opening try of the match and although Setaro was off-target with the conversion attempt he quickly made amends with a snap dropped goal.
As Raff Williams led the Borderers well alongside Alan Proctor, Shane Webster and Steff Phillips Setaro also added the extra points when flanker Aidan Laxton ploughed his way through to set the seal on a Whitland win, with Tenby having nothing to show in terms of points from their contribution to a hard-fought tussle.
PHOTO:
Tenby centre Jack Guerreiro making a flying tackle to thwart Aled Jones' attack for Whitland
Pictures by Susan McKehon
Preseli Men postponed!
Crymych v Llanelli Wanderers – match postponed
**The Parc Lloyd Thomas was unfit for play
Division Two (West):
Superb Seagulls return to winning ways
Hendy 10 - Fishguard & Goodwick 24
Fishguard and Goodwick produced an excellent all-round team performance to take the spoils at Hendy, a place that traditionally is difficult to pick up points – but on this occasion the Seagulls returned to their basic strengths to deservedly take the verdict.
It was all the more pleasing because, as so often happens, they conceded an early try to home prop Bradley Davies which centre Josh Batcup converted but with the back row of Chris Shousha, Nathan Willard and skipper Simon James working tirelessly they gradually fought back to trail by only 7-5 thanks to an unconverted try by outside half James Griffiths from a quickly-taken tap penalty.
Griffiths also featured early in the second half as he landed two penalties and although Batcup landed a penalty for Hendy it was more forward pressure exerted by a pack which had assistant coach Nathan Jenkins showing he can still do a good job up front that resulted in Shousha grabbing a try which Griffiths goaled.
Griffiths also added another two late penalties to take his personal haul to 19 points but this was a lot more than a one-man show as the Seagulls deservedly claimed their fifth win of the season - and allowed them to leap-frog over Hendy in the table!
PHOTO:
Blues' winger Scott Candler scores a crucial try
Picture by Joseph Kiff Photography
Division Three (West):
Morgan penalty settles tense table topper
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 5 - Haverfordwest 8
With fourth-placed Pembroke Dock Harlequins playing host to top of the table Haverfordwest this was always going to be a tough encounter as the Quins sought to avenge a 15-0 reverse in Haverfordwest and the Blues were eager to extend their lead over Milford Haven and Cardigan at the top.
The Quins had Joe Powell playing at No 8 and he featured in some good work up front in a scoreless first half which started late because referee Colin Phillips was unfortunately delayed at work.
But The Quins took the lead after the break when left winger Jake Griffiths made a strong run up the flank before his well-timed pass inside allowed centre Joe Doyle to score his sixth try in his last three matches.
This set-back seemed to shake The Blues into an awareness that the game could slip away and they finally drew level with a well-worked unconverted try by winger Scott Candler after some quick hands had created the space.
As the game edged towards its conclusion the Blues were awarded a penalty and up stepped full back Danny Morgan, taking over the kicking duties from Mikey Jones, who joined Terry Lovell and Dan Richards on the club’s growing injury list, to send the ball between the posts.
Even then there was still time for the Quins to try and draw level when replacement kicker Ben Hathaway bravely stepped up to take a penalty which would have tied things up – but he sent the ball the wrong side of the upright so that his team had to settle for a bonus point and leave The Blues mightily relieved that they could recross the Cleddau Bridge with a 13th win in their 14 league outings!
PHOTO:
Neyland prop Luke Dawes goes on the charge
All Blacks edge home in local derby
Neyland 15 - Llangwm 8
Neyland completed the double over nearest rivals Llangwm in a hard-fought local derby watched by the traditional big crowd at The Athletic Ground – but they were pushed all the way by a determined Wasps’ side which drew praise from club spokesman Richard Scriven as they deservedly pouched a bonus point.
The All Blacks had coasted to a massive 68-9 win when the teams met at Pill parks but knew they faced a sterner challenge here as Oliver Hughes made a promising debut for Llangwm at scrum half whilst Daniel Hughes played at prop and Johnny Palmer helped out in the front row from Pembroke.
The teams were locked at 3-all at the half way stage as Patrick Bellerby landed a Neyland penalty and opposite number Luke Morrissey slotted a similar three-pointer for Llangwm.
The All Blacks had the likes of experienced Mark Riley and Adam Collins on the replacements’ bench as they gave a run out to promising young players like prop Luke Dawes and centre Alex Codd – and both contributed good tries, one of them converted by Bellerby.
Llangwm had the final word, however, when a series of close-range phases finally saw second row Gavin Jones plough over the line to end an entertaining game.
PHOTO:
Neyland centre Patrick Bellerby looks draw his man and pass
Laugharne overrun makeshift Saints
Laugharne 60 - St Davids 10
For the second successive week, Laugharne eased to a win over St Davids as they backed up last week’s 41-0 victory at Fishguard Road with ten tries in this 60-10 win at Woolford Park.
In inevitably heavy conditions, the home side took control early on as centre Mike Williams sliced through several tackles to score, before winger Tom Jameson crossed from a set move off a close range scrum. The latter converted his own try and then also added the extras when centre Jonathan Owen rounded off some good interplay to grab his side’s third try.
But the depleted Saints, who only travelled with the bare 15 players, then got on the scoresheet when a chip ahead from winger John Miles was gathered by scrum half Fraser Watson, who dived over.
However, the home side secured a bonus point when outside half Owain Thomas jinked over to make it 24-5 at the break.
And The Boathouse Boys proceeded to take control thereafter, as Thomas, Owen, and Williams all completed a brace, the latter after a superb length of the field effort.
Winger Thomas Thomas, hooker Tom Waters and replacement forward Tom Rees also crossed – with Jameson adding another three conversions.
But the visitors, for whom prop Ifan James stood out as he helped out on permit from Crymych, kept battling and were rewarded when flanker Hywel Davies charged down a clearance and then pounced on the loose ball for a consolation score.
Cardis resist St Clears’ come-back attempt
Cardigan 26 - St Clears 12
Cardigan enjoyed a bonus-point win over St Clears to remain firmly ensconced in third place in the table by scoring four tries and resisting a spirited comeback by the Carmarthenshire Saints in the second half.
The Teifisiders played well as a unit to deservedly lead 19-0 at the half way mark as player/coach Colin Davies started in the No 8 berth and grabbed their first two tries, both from close range.
Winger Rhydian Jenkins added a third try and Iestyn Crompton notched two conversions.
St Clears refused to give up, though, and were awarded a penalty try which centre James Davies converted – but Cardigan responded with their fourth try when inside centre Aaron Tomlinson sliced through and Crompton added the extras.
The Carmarthenshire Saints rounded off the scoring when No 8 Daf Walters grabbed an unconverted try but they had nothing to show for their efforts in terms of points – and Cardigan pouched a welcome five league points, as well as a measure of revenge for a 22-20 reverse when the teams met in St Clears.