PHOTO: Narberth and Newcastle Emlyn hold a minute's silence for Dickie Parry
and Barrie Webb
Championship:
Otters eased out by Emlyn
Narberth 15 - Newcastle Emlyn 20
Narberth produced a lack-lustre display against a Newcastle Emlyn side that were clearly more eager for action and deserved their success, although they were aided in part by some controversial penalty awards which raised the ire of home supporters.
And perhaps the most contentious of these was the sin-binning of influential Otters’ flanker Pat Roberts, which was timed by some local pundits as lasting 15 minutes!
Indeed, had the Emlyn place kickers Dan Davies and Shaun Leonard been a little more on form it is fair to say that the margin of victory might have been wider – although home fans might counter that with claims of blatant time-wasting in the final ten minutes as Narberth sought desperately for the winning score!
Yet it was Narberth who made the better start as Adam Clark and Alex Jenkins helped win set-piece ball and play was promptly swung left for winger Jordan Roberts to sear over for a corner try.
Emlyn show real spirit
Dan Davies slotted a penalty for Emlyn in response but he and full back Shaun Leonard conspired to miss several other kicks that were well within their scope – and Ianto Griffiths notched a simple penalty for the Otters before Shaun Leonard landed a three-pointer for Emlyn.
And the visitors then took the lead with an excellent try as the ball passed through several hands from influential scrum half Dafydd Evans before centre Teifion Davies raced through to the line and Dan Davies converted from in front of the posts.
Otters’ late efforts in vain
Narberth lost a couple of players to yellow cards and Emlyn increased their lead with a good try from flanker Steve Leonard which Shaun Leonard converted – but when they were also temporarily reduced to 14 men Narberth took the opportunity to score a penalty try which Griffiths converted.
It set up a tense final ten minutes but Emlyn’s defence was excellent and they celebrated the double as they defeated the Otters 24-21 at Ddol Wiber, despite a lengthy period of time added on.
Narberth: Johnny Morgan: Nick Gale; Steve Martin; Ollie Reyland; Jordan Roberts: Ianto Griffiths; Rhys Lane: Dan Jacobs; Dan Smith; Jamie Kaijaks: Adam Clarke; Alex Jenkins: Gareth Bateman (Capt); Pat Roberts; Lewis Wood. Replacements: Ollie Evans; Marc Jones; Dewi Williams; Jonathan Rogers; James Stephenson.
Newcastle Emlyn: Shaun Leonard: Dan Davies; Teifion Davies; Steffan Evans; Llyr Davies: Barry Thomas; Dafydd Evans: Emrys Davies; Alex Williams (Capt); Neil Elsworthy: Dyfed Morgan; Ryan Morgans: Steve Leonard; Owain Powell; Brynmor Jones. Replacements: Mike Jones; David Jones; Gareth Pattinson; Gethin Davies.
PHOTO: The Narberth and Emlyn packs prepare to do battle at a scrum
PHOTO: Borderers' full back Johnny Thomas in action
Division One:
Brilliant Borderers bag revenge win
Gorseinon 26 - Whitland 31
Whitland produced one of their best performances of the season to beat fifth-placed Gorseinon in an entertaining clash at the Welfare Ground which also earned The Borderers a bonus point by dint of the fact that they crossed for four tries.
Victory also gave them revenge for a 29-11 home defeat against Gorseinon and once again their star finisher was New Zealand winger Sean Coles, who crossed the whitewash three times.
But this was very much a whole-team performance against a big home pack as skipper Raff Williams led by example and the back row of James Thomas, Dewi Williams and Callum Tree were excellent ball-winners.
Excellent start for Borderers
The Borderers started off with some excellent handling which saw them 14 points to the good after only seven minutes as a solid platform was laid by Jamie Styles, Gethin Lewis, Alan Proctor, Williams and John Gardner so that the influential Andrew Jenkins was able to put half-back partner Nico Setaro over for a try which he also converted.
Jonathan Thomas, Scott Newton and Coles posed a considerable threat wide out and it came as no surprise when quick hands from centres Ryan and Aled Davies put Coles away for his first try, again converted by Setaro.
Coles sets up vital victory
Gorseinon fought back with an unconverted try but Coles sped through for his second try, this time unconverted, to help put his side 19-12 to the good at half time.
Fortunes ebbed and flowed after the interval but two Setaro penalties kept Whitland in control and Coles hat-trick try earned them a great win, despite the home side scoring tries by No 8 Sean Heycock, replacement centre Simon Stoneham, flanker Kieran Craig and centre Andrew Steele, three of them converted by full back Rhodri Phelps.
Whitland: Jonathan Thomas: Sean Coles; Aled Davies; Ryan Davies; Scott Newton: Nico Setaro; Andrew Jenkins: Jamie Styles; Gethin Lewis; Alan Proctor: John Gardener; Raff Williams (Capt): Dewi Williams’ James Thomas; Callum Tree. Replacements: Michael Ryan; Shane Webster; Dai Ebsworth; Daniel Evans; Adam Davies.
PHOTO: Nico Setaro tackles well for Whitland
Seasiders show second-half spirit
Dunvant 85 - Tenby United 39
An amazing second half surge saw Tenby United claim five tries and outscore table-topping by 29-21 in that 40-minute period but the damage had already been done in the first half, where Dunvant had led by 64-10.
Tenby United had a try by Mauritz Neumann in that morale-damaging first half, alongside the conversion and earlier penalty by Scott James, and it says much for their gritty approach that winger Greg Lees-Griffiths sped over for a deserved hat-trick alongside other scores from Alex Thomas and Jordan Asparassa, whilst Scott John added two more conversions.
Huge scoring by leaders Dunvant
No 8 Sam Crowley opened the Dunvant account early on, closely followed by another from centre Danny Davies – and then others came from centre Sam Crowley (2), Adam Williams-Parry (4), prop Gareth Davies, hooker Aled Thomas (2), Ceri Davies and Rhodri Wall.
James Davies (6) and Adam Williams-Parry (4) shared the conversion-kicking duties in a match which will be remembered by the fact that 19 tries were scored to provide entertainment aplenty – especially for the home supporters, who will soon be able to celebrate their team’s claiming of the section silverware!
Division Two (West):
Seagulls snatch vital success
Llanybydder 7 - Fishguard & Goodwick 17
A feature of this tussle was the fact that for once they didn’t concede points early on in an away match and they actually took the lead with a James Griffiths’ penalty, following good work up front by the front row of Ryan McVeigh, Gavin Walsh and Andrew Morrillo against a traditionally big home pack.
Boosting the Seagulls’ performance were the performances of Rhys ‘Beaky’ Davies and No 8 Trystan Griffiths, playing on permit from Crymych and working well alongside Gwilym Evans, Chris Shousha and skipper Simon James in the ball-winning stakes that allowed Sam Kurtz and Griffiths to call the shots.
Llan score a try – but The Seagulls maintain control
Llanybydder did manage to break the Fishguard hold on events with a try from flanker Stuart Phillips, converted by full back Terry Walsh, but Griffiths reduced the deficit to a single point with his second kick on target.
The Seagulls ruled the roost in the set pieces and Mark George, Gerwyn Davies and Richard Hunter played significant roles when they joined the fray the pressure increased on the home side so that they conceded two further penalties that Griffiths sent sailing between the woodwork.
Steffan Lewis caught the eye in defence for Fishguard alongside a third Crymych recruit in Tomi Jones, plus Ben John and Matthew George, who set up a try as he made the initial thrust before popping up the pass for full back Mike Jenkins to score.
Griffiths missed the conversion but it mattered little because his team were home and dry – and good value for victory!
Fishguard & Goodwick: Mike Jenkins: Steffan Lewis; Ben John; Tomi Jones; Matthew George: James Griffiths; Sam Kurtz: Ryan McVeigh; Gavin Walsh; Andrew Morrillo: Gwilym Evans; Rhys Davies: Trystan Griffiths; Chris Shousha; Simon James (Capt). Replacements: Gerwyn Davies; Richard Hunter; Mark George; Rhodri Morgans; Nathan Jenkins.
PHOTO: Mike Jenkins - vital try for Fishguard in Llanybydder
Division Three (West) A:
Gibby guides Scarlets to big win
Pembroke 48 - Milford Haven 24
But as home coach Geraint Lewis said afterwards, this was anything but a one-man show as the Scarlets played well as a unit, from props Johnnie palmer and Jamie Brayford through No 8 Sam Smith to full back Liam Price.
Pembroke were 31-10 to the good at the interval after scoring four tries in the opening quarter and although Milford showed typical grit under player/coach Mark Wonnacott all they had to show for their part in a thoroughly entertaining game was a bonus point for tries claimed by prop Adam Rees, centre Dean Matthews (2) and second row Dai Sweeny alongside a brace of conversions from outside half Joe Kiff.
As well as Gibby’s try-grabbing headlines there were other scores for the Scarlets through centre Toby Smith, left winger James Skeels, centre Billy Wood, full back Price and second row Cyle Wetherall, with Toby Smith adding four conversions to round off a good night for the rejuvenated Scarlets.