PHOTOS:
Lewys Gibby gets his backs in motion
Amir Walji goes on the attack for Tata
Championship Division:
Otters complete deserved double over Steelmen
Narberth 39 - Tata Steel 17
Narberth played really well to outscore an aggressive Tata Steel outfit to leap-frog the opposition and move back into second place as reward for some fine attacking play to score five tries to earn a bonus point alongside some terrific late defence to deny The Steelman a fourth try and therefore a bonus point.
Superb late Otters’ defence
Leading the way in that late covering was replacement James Stephenson, who made a try-saving tackle in the clubhouse corner, fellow subs Tom Kaijaks and Dewi Williams, whilst Tom Powell was a major force up front alongside skipper Alex Jenkins and co-lock Jake Simm until he went off in the final quarter.Cracking start in opening quarter
The Otters made a cracking start in the opening 20 minutes as Ianto Griffiths landed a long-range penalty and then added the extra points to Nick Gale’s try after Lewys Gibby and Jonathan Rogers had set their bacs in motion.
Steffan Phillips also added a pushover try after Tata infringed at five consecutive scrums and had flanker Jacob Lewis and prop David Edwards yellow carded in the process - and although Phillips finally gained the touchdown the home supporters were rightly wondering why no penalty try was forthcoming.
Unusual try from a lineout drive
Then Tata suffered the ignominy of conceding a try from a lineout drive where Simm secured possession and the 12-man Otter surge saw them go from the 22 line before outside half Rogers claimed the touch-down and Griffiths again added the conversion.
A clearly rattled visiting side, with an excitable coach, conceded a fourth try where the Otters spread the ball wide and Rhys Lane, playing out of position on the winger raced over.
Stone shines for The Steelmen . . .
Tata showed why they are in the top three by scoring a try late in the period where Steff Stone showed his pace and allusive qualities to race clear – only for No 10 Callum Bricknell to hit the post with a simple conversion.
Stone added his second quality score soon after the restart and Bricknell converted but Nick Gale landed a penalty and a superb second try by Gale, after just being denied minutes early on, was converted by Griffiths.
. . . And skipper Malone features too!
Tata skipper Scott Malone deservedly added his team’s third try as reward for an all-action performance and as they had replacements Kevin Tallis and Ryan Davies firing up their efforts they came so close to grabbing a bonus point that would have kept them in second spot – but The Otters stood firm and deservedly completed the double since they had already beaten Tata 35-31 in the previous fixture.
Narberth: Ianto Griffiths: Nick Gale; Kieron Jones; Paul Davies; Rhys Lane: Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby: Bradley Davies; Dan Smith; Tom Slater: Jake Simm; Alex Jenkins (Capt): Richard Rees, Tom Powell; Steffan Phillips. Replacements: Tom Kaijaks; Rhodri Owens; Kieran Griffiths; Dewi Williams; James Stephenson.
Tata Steel: Amir Walji: Osian Edwards; Sean Wilcox; Jake Randell; Steff Stone: Callum Bricknell: Tom Bartle; Jordan Hawkins; David Edwards: Josh Cuggy; Ryan Davis: Scott Malone (Capt); Jacob Lewis; David Griggs. Replacements: Kevin Tallis; Matthew Llewellyn; Ashley Faulkner; Dalton Brown; Ryan Davies.
Referee: Andy Davies.
PHOTO:
Great covering and tackling by Narberth
Division One (West):
Vital win for Preseli Men in Pembrokeshire derby tussle
Crymych 52 - Tenby United 10
Crymych's remarkable run of positive results continued as they easily beat fellow Pembrokeshire outfit Tenby United at Parc Lloyd Thomas, leading by 24-5 at half time and then finishing with eight tries to The Seasiders' two.The Preseli Men had already won 10-3 when the teams met at Heywood Lane in awful conditions and this deserved double, which also earned them a bonus point, really improves their chances of avoiding the 'dreaded drop' as coach Randal Williams seems to have reinvigorated a team which at one time looked in real trouble.
But it was Tenby who made a positive start as they led 5-3 early on; thanks to a try by scrum half Matthew Morgan to a penalty for the home side by centre Jake Jenkins.
Crymych were able to raise their game a notch as their pack played really well, however, they claimed tries by Llyr Davies, Nick Bevan and Tomos Lewis, plus all three conversions by Jenkins.
It was a similar story after the break as all Tenby could muster was another unconverted try by Jack Guerreiro and Crymych took the game by the scruff of the neck to score further tries by Gavin Thomas, Sion Colella, Osian Davies and Carwyn Phillips, three Of them goaled by Jenkins before Phillips notched conversion No 7 when Jenkins was off injured!
PHOTO:
Nick Bevan - another try for Crymych winger
Division Two (West):
Brilliant Borderers maintain winning streak
Tumble 14 - Whitland 52
Whitland, who had been deservedly promoted in midweek, took another big step towards winning the section title with a comprehensive win at Tumble; never an easy place to pick up points, but The Borderers grabbed eight tries and were always in the driving seat after taking an early 19-point lead as forwards and backs combined to bring a smile to the face of coach Gareth Bennett.During the match Tumble managed a try by second row Nathan Willard alongside a penalty try, with Steve Hewitt landing a conversion, but The Borderers were already 33-14 in front at the oranges, thanks to tries by Jack Mason, Aaron Ebsworth, Sean Coles (2) and Liam Price, four of them converted by Nico Setaro.
Whitland assumed total control after the restart and their reward was a third try for winger Coles, a second for full back Ebsworth and one by Setaro, who added another two conversions.
Whitland now travel to play Yr Hendy on Wednesday in what could be a title decider, with the silverware within their grasp if the can repeat their narrow home win over the same opposition.
PHOTO:
Sean Coles - another hat trick in big Borderers' win
Seagulls just miss out again in tense finale
Mumbles 36 - Fishguard & Goodwick 31
Fishguard and Goodwick's run of narrow defeats continued as they just missed out at Mumbles and although they were on the attack at the end had to settle for a solitary bonus point for being within seven points of a relieved Mumbles side.the Seagulls actually led 18-14 at half time but as fortunes ebbed and flowed they made some basic errors and paid the fullest price as tries for Mumbles by centre Joe Rimell (2), winger Matthew Flynn (2) and winger Pablo Leipe were boosted by four conversions and a penalty from outside half Steve Broam.
The Seagulls scored tries by Thomas George and Ryan McVeigh alongside a penalty try, with Mike Jenkins landing one conversion and four penalties for a personal haul of 14 points - but in the final analysis Fishguard just fell by the wayside in this important tussle.
PHOTO:
Ryan McVeigh - try in vain for Fishguard prop
Division Three (West) A:
Llangwm just miss out as Hicks leads the way
Cardigan 38 - Llangwm 29
Llangwm's powerful No 8 Josh Hicks inspired an second half comeback by Llangwm which might have earned their first win of a long campaign but in the final analysis his three tries helped The Wasps to just a single bonus point for scoring four tries.The visitors looked dead and buried as The Teifisiders led 31-8 at the break as Hicks scored Llangwm’s only try and Luke Hayman added a penalty, whilst Cardigan scored tries by full back Llyr Jones, scrum half Matthew Roebuck, No 8 Sion Hughes, outside half Iwan John and centre Marcus Castle, three converted by Llyr Jones.
But Hicks led by example afterwards as he powered over for two more tries and prop Ieuan Power added a score, all converted by Hayman - but Castle added a second try which Jones also converted and Cardigan supporters were glad to hear the final whistle as The Wasps sought in vain for a first success.
PHOTO:
Josh Hicks - another three tries for Llangwm powerhouse
Milford too strong for Bierspool Boys
Pembroke Dock Harlequins 22 - Milford Haven 41
Milford Haven remain top of the section table after this win at Bierspool earned them a maximum haul of five points to keep them ahead of Pembroke, who have several games in hand and remain favourites for the title.But The Quins put up a terrific fight as Aaron James marked his leave from the army by running in three tries from his fill back berth, with skipper Thomas Doyle opening the scoring with a nicely created try from the centre; Aaron Cookson managing one conversion.
Ben Groves opened The Mariners' account as he barged his way over the whitewash and others followed from Dai Sweeny and Lee Riley, one converted by Dan McClelland.
Talented young second row Zac Davies claimed two Milford tries in quick succession before the ubiquitous Sweeny added a further try and winger Martin Cheshire also crossed for a five-pointer, and McClelland rounded off the Mariners' points haul with two more conversions.