Championship Division:

 

Narberth battle their way to a bonus point

 

Bedwas 31 - Narberth 25

 
Narberth showed how much they have developed as a team this season as they journeyed to high-flying Bedwas and although they went down to a defeat which keeps the opposition firmly in second spot, it was only by a six-point margin, which earned The Otters a deserved bonus point, something that few teams have done at The Bridge Field.
 
Bedwas were 21-15 at half time thanks to tries by hooker Mike Dacey, fullback Hamish Hamilton and winger Aaron Billingham, all converted by influential outside half Dion McIntosh.
 
Hamilton also featured in the second half as he landed an early penalty, scored a try alongside and conversion to complete the homesters’ winning tally.
 
For The Otters there was total commitment up front as Alex Jenkins did well in the linesout and there was terrific work in the ball-winning battles from Tom Powell, Tom Curry, Steff Phillips and skipper Richard Rees.
 
Half backs Ashley Sutton and George McDonald tried hard to keep their pack going forwards and there was solid defence from Jake Jenkins, Joe Hutchings and Nick Gale – and there were tries by Jenkins, McDonald and Josh Davies.
 
Sutton added the extra points to two of them and also kicked two penalties as The Otters sit in mid table with five wins from ten starts – no mean feat in what is a very competitive section of Welsh Rugby!
 
Bedwas: Hamish Hamilton: Aaron Billingham; Alec Jones; Lewis Bowden; Dafydd Thomas: Dion McIntosh; Jake Davies; Ben Drew; Mike Dacey; Rhys Hutcherson: Harry Oliver; Craig Hudd (Capt): Ben Sier; Rhys Morgans; Dale Rogers. Replacements: Rhys Lewis; Rhys Jones; Owen Jones; Sam Davies; Matty Bancroft.
 
Narberth: Nick Gale: Josh Davies; Jake Jenkins; Joe Hutchings; Alex Rees: Ashley Sutton; George McDonald: Bradley Davies; Rhodri Owens; Tom Slater: Tom Powell; Alex Jenkins: Tom Curry; Richard Rees (Capt); Steffan Phillips. Replacements:  Dan Smith; Ifan James; Rhys Williams; Ianto Griffiths; Gino Setaro.
 


 

Division One (West):

 

Cracking win for Crymych against league leaders

 

Crymych 13 - Yr Hendy 10

Crymych produced one of their best performances of the season as they showed great character, huge commitment and no shortage of skills in toppling divisional leaders Yr Hendy, who arrived at Parc Lloyd Thomas with six wins and only one defeat.
 
The first half showed things to come as there was little to choose between the teams and there was just one score from several half chances in both camps, when visiting full back Josh Davies scored a try which was converted by outside half Rhydian Morris.
 
But The Preseli Men battled hard up front as Rhys Richards played his 299^th game and joined Carwyn Rees and Jonathan Phillips in a tough front row contest, whilst Osian Gibby, Gethin and Osian Davies all competed well for the loose ball – and the home backs played their part when good handling by Huw Rees, Gavin Thomas and Tomos Lewis helped put centre Tomos Phillips in for a try which full back Adam Phillips converted to level the scores.

The Preseli Men took the lead from a second penalty by No 15 Phillips but Yr Hendy showed their desire when a good period of pressure Morris levelled matters again to set up a grandstand finish.
 
And it was Crymych who gained that all-important score with less than five minutes to go as they established a platform from a series of controlled drives and full back Phillips was the hero of the afternoon as he coolly dropped a goal from in front of the posts.
 
They defended sensibly until the welcome final whistle came and as well as celebrating success there was also time to recognise Rhys Richards’ getting even close to the 300-game mark - and Rhys ‘Beaky’ Davies appeared for the 200^th time in Crymych colours when he came on when he replaced second row Matthew Freebury, who had played well alongside Llyr Davies before he turned his ankle over
 
 Crymych: Adam Phillips: Daf Phillips; Gethin Gibby; Tomos Phillips; Tomos Lewis: Gavin Thomas; Huw Rees: Rhys Richards; Carwyn Rees; Jonathan Phillips: Llyr Davies; Matthew Freebury: Dafydd Gibby; Gethin Davies; Osian Davies. Replacements: Tomos Davies; Jason Nicholls; Rhys Davies; Rhydian Howells; Declan Harries.
 
 

Aber make home advantage pay off

 

Aberystwyth 27 - Pembroke 14

 
Pembroke produced a solid all-round performance against Aberystwyth but although were 15 points adrift at one stage early on they never gave up their gritty resistance against a very strong and competitive Aber side who were strong up front and with pace aplenty behind the scrum.
 
The Scarlets did manage two excellent scores after the break – and both were by dynamic No 10 Lewys Gibby, the first from a typical forward drive orchestrated by Will Edwards. Shane Gwyther, Evan Sheldon and skipper Tom Powell which gave him just the space he needed.

And the second was a cracker of a try as he broke from his own 22, chipped over the cover defence, regathered and won the race to the posts. Lewis Davies converted both and the full back also played well at the back with Luke Hartland, Geraint Powell and Tom Lewis.
 
For Aber, their tries came from hooker Owain Bonsall, full back Matthew Hughes, winger Ben Jones and No 8 Lee Evans, with two conversions from outside half Steff Evans.
 
Pembroke: Lewis Davies: Luke Hartland; Geraint Powell; Toby Smith; Steve Brown: Lewys Gibby; Tom Lewis: Evan Phillips; Shane Gwyther; Sam Smith: Scott Powell (Capt); Will Edwards: Evan Sheldon; Rhodri Walters; Matthew Price. Replacements:  Seamus Wiseman; Josh Hicks; Aaron Williams; Jarred Sharratt; Matthew Lewis.

 

Division Two (West):

 

Mariners battle their way to hard-fought win

 

Milford Haven 12 - Carmarthen Athletic 10

 
Milford Haven have been short of match practice of late but they shrugged off any signs of ring-rustiness to claim a narrow, but deserved, victory over Carmarthen Athletic at a sun-drenched Observatory Field.
 
The Mariners were well led up by skipper Dewi Williams and player/coach Steve Martin orchestrated matters behind in a strong half-back partnership with Dan McClelland, whilst Scott Buirds, Zac France-Miller, Ben Jenkins and Luke Ryan did well in the loose exchanges.

There were half chances for both teams but Milford took the lead when Lee Riley, Dan Birch, Dan Jenkins and full back James Lewis to race over and winger James Williams added the extras.
 
The Athletic responded with a penalty from Tom Gravell so Milford led 7-3 at the break and went further ahead with a try by James Williams that went unconverted.
 
This setback saw The Athletic raise the tempo and winger Logan Davey sped through for a try converted by Gravelle which set up a nervy final minutes but The Mariners showed good self-discipline and organised defence when needed, and were very good value for their third success in eight starts and a move up to a respectable eighth place in the table.
 
Milford Haven: Jamie Lewis: James Williams; Dan Birch; Dan Jenkins; Lee Riley: Steve Martin; Dan McClelland: Rhys Davies; Luke Ryan; Ben Jenkins: Zac Davies; Brandon Cooper: Dewi Williams (Capt); Scott Buirds; Zac France-Miller. Replacements: Ben Groves; Jimmy Buirds; Chris Hall.
 



 

Division Three (West) A:

 

Blues bag bonus point win

 

Haverfordwest 32 - Cardigan 13

 
Haverfordwest retained their place at the top of the table with this bonus-point win over a Cardigan side which was still very much in contention at the interval as they were 13-15 down and although they battled hard in the second half they were playing with 14 men after centre Aaron Tomkinson had been shown a yellow and red card in quick succession.
 
The Teifisiders took the lead after Craig Barnett, Matty Philips and Karl Busch had all gone close for The Blues, with Llyr Jones slotting a penalty.
 
But the home side took a lead they were never to lose as several close range scrums eventually saw scrum half Lee Summons nip through on the blind side and then skipper Phillips added a second score, again unconverted before Cardigan No 10 Jones landed his second three-pointer after good work by Andrew Fletcher, Ben Cox and Luke Palmer-Davies.

Jake Morgan was held up for The Blues after a good run out of defence but then Tomkinson departed and Craig Barnett grabbed a third try for Haverfordwest – but right on the interval The Cardis set up an excellent line-out drive for a try by outstanding No 8 and captain Tom Taylor, converted by Jones.
 
Both sides had early chances after the interval but it was Haverfordwest who claimed all the points as winger Johnny White intercepted on half way and sped to the line for their fourth try before he added the extra points – and after full back Jake Morgan was yellow-carded for a high tackle The Blues still managed to score again through inspirational player/coach Matthew John, converted by Barnett.
 
Then Archie Thomas rounded off the scoring when he came off the bench and showed his versatility with a 45-metre penalty and The Blues made it ten wins from 10 starts whilst The Teifisiders stay fifth with five wins and a draw in their 11 matches.
 
Haverfordwest: Jake Morgan: Johnny White; Matthew John; Jack Codd; Craig Barnett: Mikey Jones; Lee Summons: Dan Berry; Jamie Zambas; Tom Carrington: Karl Busch; Gareth John: Will Blackburn; Isaac Hathaway; Matty Phillips (Capt). Replacements: Ieuan Bevan; Adam Williams; Archie Thomas; Luke Eden; Jonathan Clout.
 
Cardigan: Alun Jenkins: Elis Jones; Kieran Greenland; Aaron Tomkinson; Hedd James; Llyr Jones; Danny Bradshaw: Ben Cox; Luke Palmer-Davies; Andrew Fletcher: Osian Rees; Sion Phillips: Kester Adams; Rhodri Davies; Tom Taylor (capt). Replacements: William Brice; Connor Owen; Owain Rees; Callum James; Jack Taylor.
 


 

Quins pay the price for conceding first-half penalties

 

Lampeter 33 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 5

 
Pembroke Dock made the long journey to Lampeter and battled hard but conceded a lot of penalties in the first half and found themselves 18-5 adrift at half time as home No 8 Tomos Wilson notched six successful kicks, whilst The Quins scored the only try of the half after some good handling involving Ollie Lewis, Aaron Cookson and Gethin Bradney saw centre Sam ‘Rasher’ James cross the whitewash.
 
To be fair to The Quins they did halt that flow of possession to Lampeter but by then they were on the back foot and Wilson completed a 25-point haul with the conversion of a try by right winger Ross Holder and a try of his own.
 
The Quins came close to adding to their points’ tally but the final passes went adrift and left winger Aaron Blayney crossed for Lampeter’s third try – but one of the loudest bursts of applause in the whole match was reserved for Quins’ full back Thomas Wheeler for a superb last-ditch tackle which saved a certain try and summed up the never-say-die spirit of this Quins’ side.
 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Thomas Wheeler: Kobie Thomas; Sam ‘Rasher’ James; Gethin Bradney; Byron Hughes: Aaron Cookson; Ollie Lewis: Jack Davies; Martin Culley; Kieran Cookson: Ben Gibby; Hywel Baker: Jordan Palmer; Danny Wilkes; Harry Owen (Capt). Replacements: Josh Brown; Wayne Nicot; Sam James;