Gethin Thomas on a charge for Llangwm

 

Featured Match – Division Three (West) A:

 

Tregaron’s long journey proves worthwhile

Llangwm 14 - Tregaron 30

Tregaron’s long journey from Mid Wales to Pill Parks proved worthwhile as they claimed their first win in this section against a Llangwm side which battled all the way but was made to pay for some costly errors caused through over-eagerness and the taking of wrong options.

Coach Any Barlow has instilled some self-belief in the Llangwm squad and they scored good tries by hooker Gareth Thomas and replacement flanker Tom Meehan, the first converted Kieran Walkden and the second by Steve Picton as Ashley James, Ian Griffiths, Gethin Thomas, Dave Reynolds and full back Paul Jonkers caught the eye.

But Tregaron took control early on with a well-worked try by winger Aled Jones and a superb touchline conversion into the wind by No 10 Huw Bonner, with others claimed by flanker Martin Lloyd, centre Delwyn Harries and No 8 Matthew Rose.

Bonner added a second conversion and two penalties to set the seal on success, but credit is due to both teams for providing an entertaining match for an appreciative crowd.

Kieran Walkden makes a try-saving tackle

 

Championship Division:

 

Cracking win for Otters over the Students

Narberth 39 - Cardiff Met 6

Narberth produced an excellent all-round display to comfortably gain a bonus-point win over a very fit and technically able team of students from the Cardiff Met College, but couldn’t match The Otters in terms of creating and taking chances.

Dynamic flanker James Bain gave the home side the early lead with an unconverted try scored into the wind before the students had one of their best sections of the game but could only muster two penalties from centre Tom Morgan.

Their one-point lead was short-lived however, as Liam Hutchings finished off some super handling to push the Otters back in front – and they led 13-6 at the break thanks to a Nick Gale penalty.

With the wind and rain at their backs The Otters did really well after half time as powerful centre Jack Price scored two tries, with another from Steffan Phillips sandwiched neatly in between, the first two converted by Gale.

Then Hutchings also sped over for his second try which Gale converted and this excellent win pushes The Otters up into third place in this very tough section.
 

Jack Price - two tries for powerful Narberth centre

 

Division One (West):

 

Crymych win well after long injury delay

Gorseinon 24 - Crymych 29

Crymych produced a really powerful all-round team performance to win away at Gorseinon in a competitive tussle which was held up for the best part of 30 minutes because one of the home players sustained a suspected dislocated hip.

That came after 62 minutes, when the Preseli Men led 26-24 and they kept their shape so that once the game restarted the only score was a successful Crymych penalty by Jake Jenkins.

Crymych played with the elements in a tight first half where they led 12-11 thanks to a try by  No 8 Guto Davies and hooker Carwyn Davies, one converted by talented young outside half Jake Jenkins with, second-half scores from Gethin Gibby (try) and four Jenkins’ penalties.

Gorseinon’s try scorers were Alun Evans, Nicky Southgate, Fenton Holder and a penalty try; two of them converted by David Rees but it was Crymych who held on for a win that keeps them in mid-table whilst inflicting a first defeat of the campaign on Gorseinon.

 

Jake Jenkins - kicked really well for Crymych

Borderers just miss out again

Whitland 22 - Kidwelly 25

Whitland went down to a narrow defeat at home to table-topping Kidwelly and earned a losing bonus point, as they have done from all three narrow defeats they have sustained this season so far.

Indeed, The Borderers might well have snatched the verdict late on when they were given a platform near the visitors’ line but failed to utilise a possible overlap through some mishandling – and Kidwelly cleared the danger.

Whitland were 17-8 in arrears at half time as they could only muster a Lloyd Phillips’ penalty alongside an unconverted try from skipper Jack Mason, who again led by example.

For Kidwelly there were tries by fly half Callum Price and centre Anthony Taylor alongside both conversions and a penalty by full back Gareth Rees, who also added another five points in the second half from an early penalty and the conversion of a push-over try from his big pack.

The Borderers had three more penalties from Lloyd Phillips and a good try by flanker Dewi Williams but, try as they might, that vital winning score just wouldn’t come for Whitland and Kidwelly were mightily relieved to go home with their fourth win from as many matches!
 

Jack Mason - another try for Whitland skipper

 

Division Two (West):

 

Makeshift Seagulls pay the price

Pontyberem 67 - Fishguard & Goodwick 7

Fishguard and Goodwick travelled to Pontyberem with a makeshift team and paid the inevitable price against a team that will almost certainly feature in the section silverware race at the end of the season.
The Seagulls were already 36-0 adrift at the half way stage and their only minor consolation was a try by Chris Shousha which the outstanding flanker also converted with a dropped goal kick.

But by then his side was 67 points in arrears and went on to concede another two unconverted tries as Pontyberem spread play wide at every opportunity and there were four tries for winger Dion Jones and three for Matthew Murphy on the other wing.

Further tries came from centre Rhodri Jones, and replacement Iwan Harries, with Craig Evans landing eight conversions and two penalties for a delighted Pontyberem side.

 

Seasiders win well in Mid Wales

Llanybydder 21 - Tenby United 31

Tenby United’s climb up the table continued with a hard-fought victory at Llanybydder which saw The Seasiders now share top spot with Hendy as their reward.

They led 17-14 at the interval thanks to tries by outside half Toby Smith and centre Morgan Griffiths, both converted by Smith to go with an early penalty – whilst the homesters responded with a try by winger Ross Hiller to go with his three penalties.

The Seasiders started the second half strongly as an Andrew Cook turnover set the platform for Morgan Griffiths’ second score, again converted by Smith – but Llanybydder stayed in contention thanks to a try from replacement Dion Thomas which Hiller goaled.

But Tenby had the final word when second rower Alex Thomas scored a good try and Smith added the extra points to maintain his run of good form with the boot to help Keep The Seasiders very much in contention.
 

Toby Smith - in fine form for Tenby

 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Cardis win in vital clash

Cardigan 19 - Milford Haven 8

Cardigan remain top of the section table after this hard-fought, but deserved win over Milford Haven, who must have felt they were in with a chance in the second half as they only trailed 7-3 but had second use of the elements.

But the Teifisiders raised the tempo to record their third win in as many starts whilst taking away the Mariners’ 100% start to the campaign.

Cardigan’s No 8 Colin Davies grabbed the only try of the first half which was converted by outside half Luke Rogers, whilst Craig Barnett responded with a well-struck penalty.

The Teifisiders played really well as a unit after the oranges and added further tries by second row Rob Connolly, converted by Rogers, and inside centre Emyr Harries to take control – and although industrious back rower Sam Dolling grabbed an unconverted try for the Mariners it was too little, too late as The Teifisiders celebrated a vital victory!
 

Rob Connolly - try for Cardigan second row

All Blacks win hard-fought local derby

Pembroke Dock Harlequins 24 - Neyland 40

Matches between old rivals Pembroke Dock Harlequins and Neyland are traditionally hard-fought and this local derby was no exception as The All Blacks made the short journey across the Cleddau Bridge to score six tries and record their first win of the season, whilst the Quins picked up a bonus point for scoring four tries in this absorbing clash.

Neyland led by 19-12 at the interval thanks to tries by wingers Luke Conbeer and Ben Goodridge (2), alongside two conversions from centre Mark Riley, whilst the Quins responded with tries by Alex Pearce and Josh Boswell, one converted by Ben Hathaway.

Conbeer raced over for his second try in the second half and other All Black scores came from  replacement Delme Bateman and full back Patrick Bellerby, all three converted by talented young fly half Toby Hayman.

The Quins grabbed their bonus point thanks to further tries from Alex Pearce, his second, and skipper Thomas Doyle, one converted by Hathaway.
 

Ben Goodridge - two tries in Neyland's win at Bierspool

 

St Clears No 10 Shane Morgan breaks for one of his six tries
Pictures by Ceri Coleman-Phillips

 

Pembrokeshire Saints slammed

St Clears 108 - St Davids 0

There were very contrasting emotions for the two 'Saints' of Division Three (West) A as a rejuvenated St Clears racked up over a century of points against a struggling St Davids.

The Carmarthenshire side used a strong wind to lead 40-0 at the break, and added 68 points thereafter to maintain their unbeaten start.

Flanker Matthew Dance got the ball rolling when he gathered a loose line out throw to score two minutes in, and from there it was one-way traffic.

Dance added two more for a hat trick, and winger Jonathan Gosling also crossed for a treble - but it was outside half Shane Morgan who did the most damage as he grabbed six tries.

Other scores came from centre Lee Glanville, scrum half Owain Davies, winger Aaron Rees, and full back Matthew Lewis, whose solo effort from half way rounded off a one sided 80 minutes.

And for Mike Jones' side, centre Liam Price added 10 conversions and replacement outside half James Davies kicked four.

The Pembrokeshire Saints did muster some pressure but were unable to take advantage of close range scrums and line outs late on - and finished scoreless to compound what has been a very difficult start to their campaign.

St Clears and St Davids grapple for lineout possession

Picture by Ceri Coleman-Phillips
 

Pembroke v Laugharne – Match called off

Laugharne spokesman Alun Jenkins said that because of an inordinate number of players injured and others unavailable they were unable to field a team for one of their favourite rivals and so had no option but to call the game off.

Pembroke coach Geraint Lewis was disappointed at the lateness of the call because sponsors were arranged and games in September are eagerly anticipated by the players.