Division Three (West) A Rugby:
Haverfordwest 31 - Laugharne 7
Haverfordwest maintained their quest for the divisional silverware as they fended off a strong challenge from Laugharne at Merlins Bridge to not only secure a victory but managed to pouch a vital bonus point in the process.
They scored five tries to the ‘Boathouse Boys’ one but the visitors could consider themselves unlucky not to have added further scores, especially from a sustained period of pressure after half time when a mixture of good Haverfordwest defence and handling errors saw them with nothing to show for their efforts before The Blues regained control.
Great start for The Blues before Laugharne battle back
Haverfordwest made an excellent start as prop Terry Lovell and skipper Jon Mason provided the platform for second row Ilesi Vulu to score in the right corner, with outside half Mikey Jones adding the extra points.
But Laugharne showed their ability to spread play wide via No 10 Owain Thomas alongside centres Tom Jameson and Ross Michael – and it Thomas who sliced through for a Laugharne try and Jameson levelled matters with the conversion.
Deserved interval lead
Home No 8 Ryan Banner featured heavily in a series of attacks in conjunction with Liam Brown and Gethin Thomas and when play was spread wide from their efforts Dane Pindare, Gareth John and Moses Naivulu spread play left for scrum half Lee Summons to score wide out before Jones again did well to convert.
Summons added an unconverted try before the break when he supported Naivulu, Ashley Mathias and Jamie Zambas in the right corner to give his team a 19-5 interval lead.
No points from Laugharne pressure is punished by rampant Blues
Laugharne played really well after the break as skipper Carl Smith, Jamie Harries and Rhys Thomas featured but all they had to show was a missed Thomas penalty – and The Blues claimed their bonus point when Tom Slater came on as replacement after a long time out with a nasty leg injury and with his first touch rounded off a concerted 20-metre drive from a line-out.
As Haverfordwest’s scrum superiority strengthened late on they grabbed try No 5 as a superb run up the right flank by replacement Ollie Hughes let Matthew Morgan score at the posts and Jones added the easy extras and rounded off another win before the titanic tussle for the Blues when they entertain second-placed Cardigan!
Haverfordwest: Gareth John: Scott Candler; Moses Naivulu; Dane Pindare; Matthew Morgan: Mikey Jones; Lee Summons: Ashley Mathias; Jamie Zambas; Terry Lovell: Ilesi Vulu; Liam Brown: Jonathan Mason (Capt); Gethin Thomas; Ryan Banner. Replacements: Ashley George; Tom Slater; Tom Parry; Ollie Hughes; Mike Griffiths.
Laugharne: Steve Bevan: Gareth Davies; Ross Michael; Tom Jameson; Grant Waters: Owain Thomas; Gethin Jones: Rhys Thomas; Tom Waters; Dorian Harries: Sam James; Tom Rees: Lewis Owen; Jamie Harries; Carl Smith (Capt). Replacements: Ritchie Waters; Gethin Benjamin; Lee Clarke; Gareth Earles.
Referee: Julian Thomas (Pontyates).
PHOTOS:
Lee Summons - good support try for gritty scrum half
Tom Slater - try with his first touch after lengthy injury spell