Sport
Mariners take derby spoils
MILFORD HAVEN inflicted a first defeat of the season on league leaders Neyland as they beat them 21-15 in a typical derby clash at the Athletic Ground on Saturday (Oct 27).
It was an excellent game with both sides showing plenty of commitment with some strong tackles and determination to get one over on their rivals.
A good crowd also gathered for the game and they saw George Evans put the home side ahead with an early penalty, (3-0).
They thought they had added to their lead when Richard Jones went over in the corner but play had been called back for an infringement at the lineout.
The Mariners looked to get themselves on the board and began to dominate the scrums, pushing Neyland back on numerous occasions.
With twenty minutes gone, the ball was worked from a scrum to former All Black Steve Martin whose pass was knocked on deliberately according to the referee who marched under the posts to award a penalty try before sending the offending Patrick Bellerby to the sinbin, (3-7).
Possession switched back and forth between the two sides as Neyland had a chance with a 5-metre scrum but it was Milford’s Dan Birch who emerged with the ball before being halted by a good tackle.
Alex Codd then tried his luck for the home side with a gutsy run but his pass wasn’t taken and was knocked on.
Milford then made their way into Neyland territory before being tackled out of play. The resulting throw went to a Milford player and the ball was eventually played out to David Round who barged over for the try. Dan McLelland then added the extra two points, (3-14).
The Mariners again won the ball back off a Neyland scrum but there was no further score before half time.
Both sides traded tries at the start of the second half with Bellerby scoring for the All Blacks while Evan Morgan scored for the visitors, (8-21).
Bellerby then broke and passed to Codd but his pass went backwards before being knocked on.
As Neyland looked to get back in the game, both sides upped their play but a late tackle on a Neyland player sparked a confrontation between players while a Neyland coach attending to their player also voiced his dissatisfaction with the challenge.
After all had calmed down two Neyland players, Sam Cataki and Owain Evans, were sent to the sinbin before Milford were marched forward by the referee.
The resulting play saw Milford again pushed themselves forward and they thought they had scored a try only for it to be disallowed for a knock on.
From a second scrum, Milford again pushed and looked to have scored again but were penalised once more for not binding properly.
Those two reprieves kept Neyland in the game and they then went up the other end, despite being down to 13 men, with George Evans finding Henry McBeth who returned the ball to Evans who duly ran in under the posts. Evans then added the extras to bring the All Blacks within six points, (15-21).
Lee Riley then came close for the home side but his run was halted by another good tackle.
Neyland’s two players in the bin then came back on before a late tackle by David Round, seen this time by the referee, resulted in him being shown a yellow card.
The home side pushed for a late score but were kept out by a combination of good Milford defending and a couple of errors and meant they were unable to find a winning score.
Both sides now take a break from league action as Wales kick off their autumn internationals. The sides return to action on November 10 as Neyland travel to Haverfordwest while Milford Haven welcome Llanybydder.
Sport
Swifts eyes on double.
Monkton Swifts reserves have blown away the second division this season and now have the double in their sights. They face Merlins Bridge reserves in the semi final of the second division cup and lived up to their favourites tag.
Swifts won comfortably with key player Butland getting three assists and Josh Sture grabbing a brace. Waterman and Rhys Sture added the other goals as outstanding Monkton won 4-0.
Herbrandston and Johnston played in the other semi final and this was a much harder fixture to call. The promoted Herbie a younger and perhaps less physical outfit in comparison to the Tigers. Johnston quickly took control of the game when they found themselves two up after just 29 minutes.
However when Scott Murray was shown a red card just eight minutes later, Herbie would have been confident of staging a comeback. Despite being a man light, Johnston held Herbie until the final minute of the 90, when Alex Ouzman gave Herbie late hope. The Tigers held firm however and progress to the final where they will be underdogs. A tag that I’m sure the players and manager Steven Allen won’t mind too much.
Sport
Tenby hit five against downbeat Bridge
On a beautiful day in Tenby, the hosts welcomed Merlins Bridge to The Clicketts, fresh from their West Wales semi final defeat midweek.
The Bridge squad was missing some influential players after picking up some injuries and the visiting team asked questions over the fitness of the pitch, which, according to the Bridge management, was too hard.
The referee waved these away and the game was on, with the Tenby squad clearly thinking they were already in the heads of the Bridge team.
Almost straight from Kick off Tenby set their stall out with some great attacking play, which Jerome Mansbridge benefitted from in just the second minute putting the home team ahead.
The bridge players weren’t at the races and Tenby capitalised scoring a further 4 first half goals, including a Mansbridge hat trick, leaving the away team bewildered and 5-0 down at half time.
What could have been a hugely embarrassing defeat for a team that harboured title hopes at the beginning of the season, turned around somewhat at half time, when Dai Davies, the club captain, almost singlehandedly dragged them to a much higher level in the second half, ensuring his players kept their discipline and worked hard against a very good Tenby team. Undoubtedly Merlin’s Bridge were the better team in the second period, but the damage had already been done in the first half, and despite Bridges best efforts, the score remained 5-0 to the home team.
In a game which saw Tenby jump to 4th in the league, they can be hugely proud of their season and will look to build on that for their next in Division one.
A fantastic game on a beautiful day with a good home crowd watching, the team from the Clicketts will be justifiably happy with their afternoons work.
Tenby 5-0 Merlins Bridge.
Sport
Preseli poses a challenge for novice crews
THE END of April will see the popular novice night rally organised by the Teifi Valley Motor Club being held in Pembrokeshire. On the weekend of 27th and 28th April, Rali Bro Preseli will see 75 novice crews tackling the winding and challenging roads that Pembrokeshire has to offer.
Clerks of the Course, father and son Richard and Jason Davies along with Aled Richards have a terrific route lined up for competitors. Starting as usual at the Crymych Mart, the route will appeal to all novice drivers and navigators.
“It will offer a bit of everything. It will be challenging but easy to follow with some whites thrown in the mix. Aled has designed the whole route and we’ve done the donkey work,” said Jason, now in his second year as Clerk of the Course.
As regular competitors, Jason and Richard wanted to give something back to the sport and they enjoy being on the organising side of the things.
Jason, who won the Bro Preseli with his father in 2013, explained: “We’ve competed in the Preseli on several occasions, and we decided to give something back to the sport and that’s why dad and I thought it would be a good idea to help.
“It’s interesting to see how it all comes together and the work involved, and there’s a lot of that,”
He also won the event with Tim Hand in 2016 and was fourth overall in 2019.
Aled Richards, Joint Clerk of the Course, knows the routes of Rali Bro Preseli like the back of his hand having only ever missed it once since its formation in 2003. He’s driven on four of them in 2005 – 2008 with the best result of a 4th place with Arwel Jenkins in the navigator seat.
Aled has been Chief Marshal on Rali Bro Preseli since 2013 before moving on to being Clerk of the Course this year and competitors can look forward to a great event.
Aled told the Herald: “This is the first time I’ve been Clerk of the Course, but we have a good team with Dylan Davies as Chief Marshal and Olwen Davies as Secretary.
“I live some 30 miles away from the actual route, but we’ve been around it twice and I’m confident it will be a good yet challenging night. Some of the whites are currently waterlogged but the farmers have been brilliant and offered to help clear the tracks before the event and we are very grateful.”
The rally, kindly sponsored by Arjay Factors and Home James Taxis, will have four official Spectator Points on the night and the locations will be available at signing on.
The Clerks of the Course and the Teifi Valley Motor Club would like to thank all those who have helped to organise the event – landowners, homes en route, petrol at Brian Llewellyn a’i Ferched, and the start and finish venues – Crymych Mart and the Teifi Waterside Hotel.
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