Benji Kirk - one of the talented young breed of players with The Borderers

 

Featured Match:

 

National Plate Competition:

 

Borderers bow out as Ammanford prove too streetwise

Whitland 3 -  Ammanford 27

Whitland battled hard in this National Plate match against an Ammanford side currently sitting in 11th place in Division One (West Central) but their lack of confidence after four narrow league defeats was very much in evidence as a mixture of over-eagerness and taking of wrong options cost them dearly.

Wrong options taken

This was never more evident than in the opening quarter as full back Lloyd Williams was off target with two eminently kickable penalties either side of Ammanford’s opening score: a try for No 8 Emyr Price after a quickly-taken tap penalty, converted by outside half Lee Davies.

The Borderers had several good positions after this score but handling errors at key times, plus a bit of whitewash fever from players close to the line when there were support players in better conditions, saw their only reward being a penalty from Lloyd Williams after sustained effort from skipper Jack Mason, Gareth Bennett, Dai Ebsworth and especially Raff Williams set the platform.

Ammanford show how to take chances

Ammanford increased their lead when Whitland prop Jack Dewhirst appeared to be harshly yellow-carded for off-side and full back Ceri Rees landed the resultant penalty for the visitors.

Ceri Rees also converted a try in the left corner by replacement Chris Morris and after Whitland centre Rhys Schivoney had done well to catch Ammanford second row Carl Rees from a 40-metre interception the Borderers had half chances which came to naught.

The final Ammanford try came from Carl Rees after a probing 40-metre run by replacement scrum half Gareth Rees had set up the chance and The Borderers were left to reflect on missed opportunities at key times which put paid to their chances of progressing to the next round.

Whitland: Lloyd Williams: Fola Dario; Duncan Evans; Rhys Schivoney; Sean Coles: Connor Edwards; Adam Davies: Jacob Dewhirst; Gethin Lewis; Michael Ryan: Raff Williams; Dai Ebsworth: Jack Mason (Capt); James Lewis; Gareth Bennett. Replacements: Aaron Mayne; Marc Jones; Andrew Jenkins; Ben Kirk; Rhys Cadogan.

Ammanford: Ceri Rees: Dafydd Pritchard; Steffan Pryce; Andrew Owens; Steff Howells: Lee Davies; Alex Davies: Lewis Jonathan; Ryan Williams (Capt); Kevin Jones: Carl Rees; Jake Baker; Matthew Edwards; Simon Williams; Emyr Price. Replacements: Rhodri Jones; Dylan Phillips; Chris Morris; Gareth Isaac; Gareth Rees.
Referee: Neil Davies.

Dai Ebsworth - still battling as hard as ever in the Whitland cause!
Pictures by Paul Rodgers

 

Championship Division:

 

Narberth nails chewed to the quick!

Skewen 24 - Narberth 31

The hardy band of Narberth supporters who travelled to Skewen for this top-four battle must have had their fingernails chewed down to the quick as they saw the Otters take a deserved 20-3 lead shortly before the interval, watched Skewen claw their way back to lead 24-20 and then cheer loudly as Nick Gale grabbed a vital 11 late points to keep his side firmly in joint second spot in the table.

Rogers sets Otters on the road

Outside half Jonathan Rogers opened The Otters’ account with a sixth-minute drop goal and five minutes later strong-running centre sped through for a try which winger Nick gale converted.

Skewen responded with a penalty from full back Adrian Reynolds but the Otters resumed control with a penalty by Gale, who also added the extra points to a second score for Joe Hutchings as reward for the Otter pack’s performance where back rowers Sion Jenkins and James Bain played well – and later there were excellent cameos from Dewi Williams and Callum Tree.

Warning signs of a revival

The first warning signs of a Skewen revival came after five minutes of time added on when scrum half Anthony Boselli sniped over for try which he also converted to reduce the interval deficit to ten points.

There was no further scoring in the third quarter but then Skewen grabbed two tries in seven minutes by Jamie Ball and Ed Price, both converted by Boselli to put them in front before a Gale penalty hauled Narberth back to within a point.

Gale spares Otters’ blushes

In a tense finale The Otters showed their will to win as Gale landed his third penalty to put his side back in front – and then a final period of pressure saw him take the scoring pass in the corner and although he missed the conversion Narberth were still good value for victory, albeit with a sizeable scare at one stage!
 

Nick Gale scored a last gasp winning try for The Otters

 

National Plate Competition (Other matches):

 
Blues unable to field a team
Pontyberem C-C Haverfordwest
*Haverfordwest conceded the fixture
 
Seagulls scratch from cup contest
Felinfoel v Fishguard & Goodwick
*Fishguard & Goodwick conceded the fixture

Milford outside half Craig Barnett races clear to score

 

National Bowl Competition:

 

Mariners maul makeshift Scarlets

Milford Haven 34 - Pembroke 3

Milford Haven showed what a force they can be at this level as they comfortably accounted for a Pembroke side without several key players, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second period after leading 10-3 at half time.

But there were no excuses from Scarlets’ coach Geraint Lewis as he said,
“We were beaten by a very good and well-organised Milford side, and at least with our unavailability we had the chance to give talented teenagers like Tom Kinnear, Jim Price and Luke Hartland more experience – but the loss through injury of Harry Owen, George Kenniford and Billy Wood was more worrying for us.

The Mariners scored two good tries in the first period as Sam Dolling, Mark Wonnacott and Dan Jenkins caught the eye – and former coach Wonnacott showed what a force he still is with both unconverted tries as he was perfectly placed at No 8 to round off two good turnovers by his pack.

Luke Hartland slotted the only Pembroke points but it was back to the wall stuff in the second period as blind-side flanker Dolling grabbed two tries as reward for his support play, with others from centre Dan Jenkins and Craig Barnett, who also notched two conversions.

“It was a huge result for us,” said Mariners’ team manager James Hall, “and we really turned the screw in the second half as our game plan worked perfectly!”

Mariners flanker Mark Wonnacott pounces for a try

 

Teifisiders on top in second half points fest

Cardigan 45 - Laugharne 29

There were points galore at the King George Vth ground as Cardigan moved through to the next round at the expense of a Laugharne outfit which fully played its part in a thoroughly entertaining tussle.

The teams shared 20 points in the opening period but The Teifisiders outlasted their opponents as another 54 points were added, 35 of them to the homesters, with both teams running in excellent tries, some of them from long range in ideal conditions for running rugby.

Cardigan’s unconverted tries in the first half came from winger Rhydian Jenkins and outside half Llyr Jones, with Laugharne responding with a try from flanker Mikey Williams to go with a Tom Jameson conversion and a dropped goal by Owen Thomas.

Williams also claimed a second score very late in the game after prop Rhys Thomas and second row Gary Jones had also crossed the whitewash, the first two converted by Jameson.

But Cardigan got their second half off to a flier with 14 points in the opening six minutes with tries from Sion Hughes and Luke Rogers, who also converted both.

John Lumb, Kieran Hurley and Rogers also contributed to Cardigan’s tally with tries, all converted by Rogers in a match enjoyed by both camps for the overall quality of play.
 

All Blacks win well in ‘Ponty’

Pontyates 24 - Neyland 36

Neyland continued their recent run of good form with a deserved success against a useful Pontyates side which now plies its trade in Division Thee (West) C and scored four tries – but couldn’t stop the All Blacks for running in five tries as reward for their willingness to run the ball at every opportunity.

Pontyates had a penalty try to go with others from Gareth and Aled Williams, whilst Luke Emmanuel also crossed the whitewash and landed two conversions.

But Neyland always looked likely to score whenever they had the ball in hand and veteran centre Adam Collins showed his powerhouse running with two tries alongside others from prop Luke Dawes, flanker Iestyn Evans and centre Ashley Sutton.

Outside half Toby Hayman again played with a maturity that belies his years as he directed operations well from the No 10 spot, always tried to set his backs in motion and kicked well to slot four conversions and a penalty to round off this convincing win for the young All Blacks.
 

Veteran Neyland centre Adam Collins scored two tries

 

Quins bow out – unable to field a team
Cefneithin C-C Pembroke Dock Harlequins
*Pembroke Dock Harlequins conceded the fixture