Featured Match:

 


 

Division Two (West):

 

Seagulls’ success richly deserved

 

Fishguard & Goodwick 19 - Mumbles 12

 
Fishguard & Goodwick RFC gained one of their best wins for some time when they deservedly beat high-flying Mumbles at The Moors as two late tries from front rowers Aled Bowen and Liam Wilkes saw them overturn a 12-5 deficit into a fifth win of the season alongside a draw from 13 starts.
 
It moved them up to seventh place in the section table and earned them revenge for a 34-12 defeat at Mumbles earlier in the season, but the visitors’ bonus point keeping them second and still very much in the promotion hunt.
 

Strong Seagulls against the elements

 
The Seagulls had opted to play against a strong, swirling wind in the first period and their pack played really well to earn a major share of possession and restrict the visitors to just two penalties by outside half Adam Rowlands, the first after 23 minutes from fully 45 metres and the second a simpler effort from 25 metres close to the break.
 
Home skipper Chris Shousha led by example in the ball-winning stakes alongside fellow back rowers Sion Colella and Tommy Taylor, with the front five of Will Delaney, Wilkes, Iwan McVeigh, Richie Hunter and Rhys Lewis always in the thick of things and stopping Mumbles’ influential skipper Andrew Evans exerting his usual influence.
 
Fishguard certainly had their share of chances as Max Jones and Jamie Jenkins kept the pressure on and sandwiched in between the Mumbles’ scores was an unconverted try by Taylor in the left corner which saw visiting second row Dave Phillips shown a yellow card.
 

Mumbles show their resilience too before Fishguard fight back

 
If The Seagulls thought they had done all the hard work they were soon disappointed, however, as Mumbles raised their efforts a notch and grabbed a third penalty from Rowlands, as reward for getting on top.
 
When Rowlands kicked his fourth penalty, however, it stung Fishguard into the realisation that they needed to reduce the basic errors and a sustained period of pressure was rewarded when replacement prop Adam Bowen scored after a going close a couple of times – and James Griffiths’ super conversion saw them draw level.
 
Mumbles lost full back Tom Richards, who hails from Narberth, through injury and had Kris Ions as a second player shown a yellow card - and The Seagulls also attacked in the wide channels as teenager Dylan Scott made a strong run down the right wing and good support from the outstanding Colella, Sion Rowlands and Creegan Foot saw a ruck form which allowed hooker Wilkes to be driven over the line.
 
Griffiths landed the conversion and coaches Nathan and Steve Jenkins must have been delighted at the commitment shown by their Fishguard & Goodwick squad in unpleasant conditions, against a Mumbles team that gave glimpses of their form – but weren’t allowed to control matches as they often do!



 
Fishguard & Goodwick: Creegan Foot: Dan Cleary; James Griffiths; Sean Rowlands; Ned Bennett: Jake Jenkins; Max Jones: Will Delaney; Liam Wilkes; Iwan McVeigh: Rhys Lewis; Richie Hunter: Tommy Taylor; Sion Colella; Chris Shousha (Capt). Replacements: Adam Bowen; Dylan Scott; Will Lewis; Thomas George; Cai Llewellyn.
 
Mumbles: Tom Richards: Tiaan Arthur; Lewis Ford; Bleddyn Taylor; Ed Jenkins: Adam Rowlands; Andrew Evans (Capt): Jamie-Lee Bradnum; Zak Jenkins; Dan Brooks: Dave Phillips; Leigh Perrett:  Lewis Buckley; Kris Ions; Tudor Hughes. Replacements: Jack Williams; Geraint Fry; Rod Taylor; Aaron Cookson; Will Mellowship.




 

Championship Division:

 

Otters outfought in second half

 

Ystrad Rhondda 29 - Narberth 20 

 
Narberth were in with a realistic chance of achieving the double over Ystrad Rhondda as they led 12-5 at half time but could only muster one more try in the second period as the hosts ran in four more to secure a bonus point and leave The Otters with nothing to show for a lot of hard work, especially in that first 40 minutes.
 
Narberth had won that earlier tussle at the Lewis Lloyd Ground by 16-3 but since then Ystrad Rhondda have grown in stature and this ninth win, alongside a draw, from 14 matches sees them in sixth spot, with The Otters now one place below having lost eight of their fifteen games.
 
The Otters were without a couple of key players but made a good start as they raced into a 12-point lead with their pack playing well and scores coming from flanker Caine Rees-Jones (from a concerted lineout catch and drive) and winger Aled Rees after he swooped on an interception chance and sped 70 metres to the line, with full back Nick gale converting the first try.
 

Ystrad fight back begins before half time

 
But Ystrad fought back near the interval to score an unconverted breakaway try and got on top after the oranges despite a penalty from Gale and a late consolation unconverted score by busy flanker Josh Hamer, from another forward drive.
 
Flanker Jarrad Llewellyn led Ystrad’s response with a deserved try brace alongside others from full back Josh Williams, skipper Alex Williams (playing on the wing) and hooker Corben Evans, with a conversion apiece from Williams and Rhys Truslove.
 
The Otters will now play at 11^th-placed Glamorgan Wanderers under lights next Friday evening (7.30pm start) and director of Rugby Sean Gale will be looking to see The Otters get back to winning ways against a team they beat 51-28 at home, earlier in the season
 
Ystrad Rhondda: Josh Williams: Alex Webber (Capt); Macauley Rowley; Cole Morgan; Gavan Davies: Liam Greening; Callum Phillips: Kai Carnell; Corben Evans; Callum Dawe: Nathan Hughes; Morgan Burgess: Rhys Dauncey; Jarred Llewellyn; Kelly Jones. Replacements: Jordan Pritchard; Carl Facey; Garyn Davies; Rhys Truelove; Cobe Green.
 
Narberth: Nick Gale: Aled Rees; Ilan Phillips; Ianto Griffiths; Josh Evans: Jonathan Rogers; Lewys Gibby: Bradley Davies; Kyle Hamer; Sean Janes: Rhys Williams; Alex Jenkins: Caine Rees-Jones; Josh Hamer; Tom Powell (Capt). Replacements: Dan Smith; Ifan James; James Price; Ben Thomas.