Division Three (West) A:

 

Featured Match:

 

 

More disappointment for lowly Blues by Bill Carne

 

Haverfordwest 12 - Aberaeron 16

 
Haverfordwest produced a disappointing display against Aberaeron to lose their third league match in succession and with only Tregaron below them in the table as they were made to pay for having no recognised place kicker, some poor tackling and taking of wrong options.

In contrast Aberaeron defended well for long periods and had an excellent points’ gatherer in outside half Rhodri Wynn-Jenkins as he notched their only conversion and kicked three very good penalties, the final one from 45 metres.
 
The only area that The Blues dominated was the set-pieces and this platform was negated as Aber asked for uncontested scrums after losing a prop but even so the home side had enough pressure to win the game.
 
This was especially so in the place-kicking stakes as they trailed 12-13 and missed three relatively easy chances from Archie Thomas (2) and skipper Matthew John before Wynn-Jenkins showed them how to do it with almost the final kick of the match.
 
The Blues started well in the ball-winning contest despite the early loss through injury of winger Jack Evans and No 8 Lewis Tingay, with Lee Davies and Terry Lovell making an early impact in their places.
 

Blues’ pack power pays off early

 
From a series of scrums close to the Aber line The Blues had a pushover try from skipper Matty Phillips but then allowed Aber back in when they missed seven tackles in a move instigated by Morgan Llewellyn and continued by Llyr Davies and Sion Evans before Gethin Jenkins sped over in the left corner and Wynn-Jenkins converted.
 
Haverfordwest regained the initiative with a penalty try awarded for a collapsed scrum but failed to turn further pressure into points as Matthew John, the outstanding Mikey Phillips and Tom Carrington carried well before Wynn-Jenkins notched a penalty as Aber gained in confidence.
 
There were few clear-cut chances in the second period but Wynn-Jenkins eventually landed a penalty to put his team a point in front and The Blues wasted a number of half chances as they tried in vain to use their pack power against committed Aber defence – and then came that last-second penalty from Wynn-Jenkins to just about sum up Haverfordwest’s unimpressive performance.
 
Haverfordwest: Archie Thomas: Jack Evans; Matthew John; Jack Codd; Johnny White: Stuart Morris; Liam Eaton: Dan Berry; Jamie Zambas; Tom Carrington:  Karl Busch; Bleddyn Thomas:  Mike Griffiths; Matty Phillips (Capt); Lewis Tingay. Replacements: Terry Lovell; Ben Llewellyn; Gethin Bateman; Lee Davies; Josh Thomas; Lee Summons.
 



 

Championship:

 

Otters shaded out at The Gnoll

 

Neath 33 - Narberth 23

 
Narberth showed they need fear no other team at this high level of Welsh Rugby as they were actually 17-5 ahead at one stage in the first half and were still in front at half time – but The Welsh All Blacks staged a second half recovery to leave The Otters without a point as reward for all their efforts.
 
Jonathan Rogers landed an early dropped goal for The Otters and also added the conversion when scrum half George McDonald snipped through for a quality try and although home skipper Ryan Evans countered with an unconverted try McDonald grabbed his second try for Narberth as he chased a clever kick ahead and won the race for the touch-down.
 
Neath scrum half Macauley Griffiths scored his team’s second try from close range and Steff Williams converted but The Otters had the final word of the half with a penalty to put his team 20-12 up at the break.
 
But Neath utilised second use of the breeze to build a platform via their big pack and took the lead with tries from Jacob Blackmore and James Roberts, both converted by Williams.
A Rogers’ penalty pulled The Otters back to within three points but Neath made sure of victory when winger Aled Brew raced through and Williams’ conversion set the seal on his team’s victory.
 
Narberth: Ashley Sutton: Josh Davies; Ifan Phillips; Hedd Nicholas; Jordan Roberts: Jonathan Rogers; George McDonald: Bradley Davies; Dan Smith; Tom Slater: Rhys Williams; Alex Jenkins (Capt): Josh Hamer; Caine Rees-Jones; Richard Rees. Replacements: Kyle Hamer; Sean Janes; Ieuan Badham; Ianto Griffiths; Lewys Gibby.




 
 

Division One (West):

 

Preseli Men’s tense draw in top of table clash

 

Crymych 12 - Felinfoel 12

 
This match between the two top teams in the table was always expected to be a titanic struggle and that is exactly how things out as two powerful packs cancelled each other out and defences were so strong that not a single try was scored in the whole 80 minutes.
 
But it was an absorbing clash nonetheless as they shared 12 points in the first period as Crymych full back Adam Phillips landed two penalties and Llangennech skipper Elliot Evans, playing at No 8, did the same for the visitors.
 
These two players landed a third penalty apiece in the third quarter and with five minutes left it looked as if Crymych might just gain victory when Adam Phillips landed penalty No 4 – but there was still time for Llangennech to be awarded another penalty with Evans;’ range and he kept his nerve to ensure that both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils!
 
Crymych: Adam Phillips: Osian Hill; Tomos Lewis; Gethin Gibby; Dafydd Phillips: Ifan Phillips; Huw Rees: Dylan Phillips; Carwyn Rees; Ryan Rees: Rhys Davies; Matthew Freebury: Cai  Ifans;  Dafydd Gibby; Trystan  Griffiths. Replacements:  Jonathan Clout; Lee Griffiths; Llyr Davies; Morgan Davies; Ben Rogers.
 
 

Scarlets suffer as Wanderers win well

 

Llanelli Wanderers 64 - Pembroke 12

 
Pembroke’s struggles continued at Llanelli Wanderers as their young side found it hard going against a bigger and more experienced home side who led 31-5 at half time and eventually outscored The Scarlets by ten tries to two.
 
But Geraint Lewis’s young team deserves every credit for never throwing the towel in and their tries came from flanker Jordan Evans, the first unconverted and the second from the final move of the match, which No 10 Luke Alderwick converted, to show their grit.
 
Try scorers for The Wanderers were Lewis James (2), Iwan Mayze (2), Adam Oliver (2), Josh Woods (2), Elgan Morgan and Zac Lewis – and James completed a personal haul of 22 points as he converted six of them!
 
Pembroke:  Matthew Lewis: Steve Brown; Luke Hartland; Josh Hicks; Simon Stanford: Luke Alderwick; Jared Sharrett: Evan Phillips; Seamus Wiseman (Capt); Lloyd Davies: Scott Powell; Tom Cabot: Rhodri Walters; Jordan Evans; Jordan Cornick. Replacements: Andrew Evans; Sam Smith; Tommy John; Dylan Evans.
 


 

Backs to the wall stuff from The Borderers

 

Whitland 14 Llangennech 57

 
Llangennech showed what a useful team they are at this level as they ran in nine tries at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn and restricted Whitland to two scores, despite The Borderers’ yeoman efforts.
 
Full back Tom Davies and the club’s other Tom Davies, playing on the wing, also got his name on the try sheet alongside winger Tom Barnes, outside half Callum Harries, scrum half Gareth George, prop Callum Jenkins, skipper and flanker Shaun Edwards (2) and No 8 Jack Saunders, six of them converted by full back Davies.
 
For The Borderers there were tries from full back Jonathan Thomas and  No 8 Jack Richards, both converted by outside half Geraint Thomas.
 
Whitland: Llew Jones: Jonathan Thomas; Liam Price; Marcus Castle; Trystan Rees: Geraint Jones; Ianto Davies:  Mikey Ryan; Luke Palmer-Davies; Tomos Evans: Benjy Kirk (Capt); Raff Williams: Dan Bennett; Calum Evans; Jack Richards. Replacements:  Trystan Bowen; Max Jones; James Thomas; Dai Ebsworth; Rhys Nicholas.
 


 

Division Two (West): 

 

Seagulls earn a bonus point victory at Ponty

 

Pontyberem 3 - Fishguard & Goodwick 28

 
Fishguard and Goodwick played really well to record a deserved away victory that included a bonus point for scoring four tries but in the final analysis it was their first-half performance, when they trailed 3-0 that set the platform.
 
Dean Sauro landed the home penalty then but with the wind at their backs after the oranges a win was always on the cards, especially since they were completely dominating the set pieces with their powerful pack.
 
And with five minutes of the restart The Seagulls went into a lead they never looked likely to lose as skipper Chris Shousha provided the initial thrust and found winger Thomas George at his shoulder before scrum half Max Jones raced through at the posts for centre James Griffiths to convert.
 
Griffiths and co-centre Robbie Jones then combined well to put winger George in for another try converted by Griffiths before a third try came when livewire flanker Sion Colella pouched possession in broken play to combine with George and full back Kial Keane for winger Rhys Evans to cross wide out before Griffiths did well to add the extra points.
 
Shousha was again involved when The Seagulls grabbed their bonus-point score as he set No 10 Creegan foot away on a run before Robbie Jones drew the last line of Ponty cover to put Griffiths clear to score a try he also converted.
 
Fishguard & Goodwick: Kial Keane: Thomas George; Robbie Jones; James Griffiths; Rhys Evans: Creegan Foot; Max Jones: Will Delaney; Liam Wilkes; Adam Bowen:  Gwilym Evans; Richie Hunter: Cai Llewellyn; Sion Colella; Chris Shousha (Capt). Replacements: Iwan McVeigh; Andrew Morrillo; Ryan Foot; Ed Rathbone; Andrew Williams.
 




 

Superb Seasiders beat second-placed Loughor

 

Tenby United 24 -  Loughor 5

 
Tenby United’s confidence levels received a significant boost at Heywood Lane as they beat a Loughor outfit previously in second spot but unable to cope with The Seasiders’ pack, which dominated the set-pieces, and a back division eager to spread play wide.
 
Skipper Luke Dedman, the outstanding Dan Colley, Jake Roberts and Jack Broadhurst were key ball-winners whilst Tom Barrass, Rob Luly, Dan Allen and Ethan Morgan provided power aplenty as The Seasiders led 12-0 at half time and could well have been out of sight but for some over-eagerness in attack.
 
A Gwion Jones’ penalty to the corner saw this mighty eight set up a drive from which man of the match Roberts emerged with the touchdown – and then Toby Smith, making a welcome return in the centre, established a platform from which he supplied Colley with the scoring pass and full back Max Wiltshire converted.
 
After a period of almost 15 minutes where Tenby camped in Loughor’s 22 and received penalty after penalty and the opposition received yellow cards for their trouble, it was Roberts who claimed his second try – and The Seasiders showed their pace when Matthew Morgan spread play wide and Gwion Jones crossed wide out, with Max Brindley doing well to convert.
 
Sandwiched in between was an unconverted try by flanker Evan Budge on a rare excursion into The Seasiders’ 22 but a bonus-point win helped The Seasiders into the top four in the section table as their reward for such a good performance.
 
Tenby United: Max Brindley: Jack Gooding; Cam Broadhurst; Toby Smith; Oakley Milton:  Gwion Jones; Matthew Morgan: Ethan Morgan; Dan Allen; Rob Luly: Tom Barrass; Luke Dedman (Capt): Jake Roberts; Dan Colley; Jack Broadhurst. Replacements:  Nicky Guymer; Rob Clark; Frankie Boyd; Will Swales; Jimmy Davies.



 
 

Mariners miss out against Nant

 

Nantgaredig 27 - Milford Haven 15

 
Milford were very much in the hunt at half time against a strong Nantgaredig outfit as they trailed by 15-17, having scored unconverted tries from skipper Lee Riley (2) and full back James Williams but they were unable to add any further points and so went down to a second defeat in as many league matches against a home team now in second spot in the section table.
 
*NO FURTHER DETAILS AVAILABLE!
 
Milford Haven: James Williams: Lee Riley; Steve Martin; Dan Jenkins; Ieuan Davies: Dan McLeod; Ethan Bateman: Ben Jenkins; Luke Ryan; Jimmy Buirds: Brandon Cooper; Jay Goodall: Ben Groves; Dylan Morgan; Zac Davies. Replacements: Ethan Aldred; Dean McSparron; Dylan Evans.
 


 

Division Three (West) A:

 

All Blacks battle hard but lose out to Lampeter

 

Lampeter 31- Neyland 5

Neyland played some quality rugby in parts at Lampeter but the home side showed what a hard side they will be to beat as they outlasted thee battling All Blacks and are near the top of the table after this second success, both with bonus points.
 
Yet Neyland made the better start as full back Henry McBeth sped over from 20 metres but then they conceded a penalty try and lost skipper George Williams, and although they had the better of the battle for possession they were unable to turn it into points.
 
In contrast, Lampeter launched attacks from the deep and were 17-5 ahead at the break thanks to tries from Brian Mackie, Rhys Douglas (2), one converted by Osian Jones.
 
It was a similar story after the interval as Lampeter added further tries by Mackie and Jones, who converted both, to set the seal on their success.
 
But a plus for The All Blacks was the debut of Jake Griffiths, formerly of Pembroke Dock Quins, and the way that they stuck to their task against a very strong side.
 
Neyland: Jake Griffiths; Henry McBeth; Ben Millward; Alex Codd; Matthew Coles:  George Williams (Capt); Owen Hamer: Luke Griffiths-Dawes; Alex Swales; Ben James: Mark James; Iestyn Evans: George Evans; Owain Evans; Ben Williams. Replacements: Andrew Slark; Stuart Phillips; Harrison Grice; Toby Hayman; Simon Phillips.
 
 

Excellent Wasps win at Pill Parks

 

Llangwm 24 - Tregaron 5

 
Llangwm produced an excellent all-round team performance as they not only beat Tregaron but claimed a deserved bonus point as their pack produced plenty of possession which half backs Dylan Philpott and Luke Hayman used well.
 
The Wasps had the likes of Ian Griffiths (still as strong as ever at 45!), Owain Jones (fresh out of youth) and Dan Woodward working well as a back-row unit and took the lead when Hayman utilised good ball supplied by Matthew Rees, David Reynolds and Ieuan Power to score a good try which he also converted.
 
Power lived up to his name as he added a second from close range, supported by Calum Jenkins and Andrew Millward – and centre Yale Grice shrugged off a couple of tackles on a 35-metre run for a third score to ease his side into a 17-0 lead.
 
Dan Morgan also caught the eye with a couple of strong runs before replacement back rower Mikey Phillips scored The Wasps’ fourth try from a 20-metre charge to the line before Hayman converted – and rounded off a good day for Llangwm at Pill Parks!
 
Llangwm: Luke Dyer: Ollie Gerson; Yale Grice; James Brock; Daniel Morgan: Luke Hayman; Dylan Philpott: Ieuan Power; Callum Jenkins; Andrew Milward: David Reynolds; Matthew Rees: Dan Woodward; Ian Griffiths; Owain Jones. Replacements: Phil Llewellyn; Gavin Jones; Mikey Phillips; Jack Roberts; Dan Ridge; Steven Rees.




 
 

Saints shine in bonus-point success

 

Llanybydder 5 - St Davids 28

 
The hard work shown in training at St Davids is beginning to pay dividends as they took a strong squad to Llanybydder and returned with a rare away win alongside a bonus point for scoring four tries.
 
They opened their account as early as the fourth minute when scrum half Owain Swain but a nice snipe from the base of the scrum and put winger Zac Morgan in for a try – and although Aaron Foster missed the conversion he soon made amends with a well-struck penalty.
 
Ben Joyce is beginning to make a name for himself in the centre and he made it 13-0 at half-time a she received the ball in his own 22 and sliced through, brushing off several would-be tacklers on a terrific run to the line.
 
Another playing well for The Saints is skipper Nathan Foster and he opened the second-half scoring as reward for his work rate in conjunction with Dafydd Williams and Rhys Price, again with Joyce involved near his own 22 before a clever kick ahead saw Nathan Foster get over  for a try.
 
Brother Aaron Foster was off the mark with the conversion but showed how he is also making his mark as he landed his second penalty and then rounded off some excellent handling to score wide out – and full back Ollie Own landed the conversion from wide out.
 
The home side did manage a consolation five points but it mattered little to the result as The Saints made the long journey home with a cracking result.
 
St Davids: Olly Owen: Morgan Davies; Ben Joyce; George Raymond; Zac Morgan: Aaron Foster; Owain Swain. Adam Williams; Tom Clarke; Carwyn Lewis: Aled Davies; Llion Williams: Rhys Price; Nathan Foster (Capt); Dafydd Lewis. Replacements: Ben Evans; Kieran Jones; Gavin Jenkins; Norman Price.
 
 

Quins struggle as Saints rule the first half

 

St Clears 40 - Pembroke Dock Harlequins 7

 
This match was almost over and done with by half-time as St Clears showed why they are amongst the section front runners this season as they led 33-7 with a potent mix of strength up front and flair behind the scrum.
 
Burly prop Gareth Jones followed up his try brace the previous week with the opening score from an early forward surge and outside half Dan Griffiths added the extra points, as he did when centre Jac Howells sped through to the line soon afterwards.
 
Full back Scott Newton scored the third, this time unconverted and then Tom mason made sure of a bonus point and Griffiths again added the extra points.
 
The Quins finally managed a try from flanker Hywel Baker as reward for his efforts alongside Danny Wilks and skipper Jack Brown – but The Saints finished the half on a positive note as right winger Jacob Williams raced over and Griffiths converted
.
In sharp contrast to the flowing rugby of the first half the second was a stop-start affair as the Quins fought hard and St Clears were unable to break down some stubborn resistance until replacement centre Shane Morgan added try No 6 and Griffiths inevitably converted.
 
Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Ben Hathaway: Kobey Thomas; Gethin Bradney; Geraint Powell; Tom Donovan: Euan McDonald; Josh Brown: Connor Kolmel; Jaden Webber; Danny McLeod: Sam James; Jack Byrne: Hywel Baker; Dannie Wilks; Jack Brown. Replacements: Jack Mallitte; Harry Owen; Kieran Machin; Tom Wheeler; Adam Jones.