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Referee Marty Jones shares thoughts on the season

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LAST WEEKEND’S games may have been washed out, but The Herald sat down with popular referee Marty Jones to hear his reflections on the season so far.

Best welcome of the season?

“Fishguard Sports for their Division 2 clash against Carew 2nds was the standout,” Marty said. “The respect they showed was impeccable. From the warm welcome by coaching staff and players to the thoughtful touches like tea at half-time and full-time, they went above and beyond. Even the payment was sorted upfront, which is always appreciated! The atmosphere created by their coaches and supporters was excellent—no issues there, unlike what can occasionally happen elsewhere. Visiting Fishguard is always a pleasure… well, apart from the rabbit holes!”

Most impressive team?

“It has to be Goodwick United,” Marty revealed. “I’ve only reffed their first team once this season, and while that particular game didn’t go smoothly for me, they’re an incredible team. Their resilience and defensive quality set them apart. There’s a saying: ‘Attackers win you games, defences win you titles,’ and Goodwick embody that. Nick Jones, their keeper, has the best distribution in the league by far. Reffing them is always a privilege, and as a football lover, I relish officiating games involving the top teams.”

Surprising quality?

“Division 1 and Division 2 this season are the best I’ve seen in years,” Marty observed. “Tenby have particularly caught my eye. While I know how good they are, they’ve still managed to surprise me with their performances—drawing with Hakin, pushing Goodwick, and consistently playing entertaining, attacking football. They’re a pleasure to referee and would be great to watch as a fan. It speaks volumes about the strength of Division 1 that a quality team like Tenby isn’t in title contention.”

Standout players?

“It’s tough to choose,” Marty admitted. “For juniors, Ollie Clarke from New Hedges Saundersfoot deserves a mention. He’s respectful, talented, and scored the best header I’ve ever seen. The juniors league is in great shape, with plenty of promising players like him. For seniors, I have to highlight Jack Ashman. His recent performance was incredible—the best individual display I’ve seen all season. While I’m not saying he’s the most consistent player in the league, that match was something special.”

Title predictions?

“Goodwick United for Division 1,” Marty predicted confidently. “Their defence is rock solid, and I can’t see them losing. Hakin aren’t quite there yet. Division 2 is much harder to call, but I’d back Fishguard Sports. They have the squad depth to edge out Narberth in a close race.

“For the cups, I’d love to see a Hakin vs. Goodwick final in the Senior Cup, with Hakin on their day being capable of anything. In Division 2, I’m picking Fishguard for a league and cup double. That said, I haven’t reffed Narberth yet, so maybe I’m being a little unfair to them. It’s brilliant to see such strong competition in both divisions—it keeps the Pembrokeshire leagues exciting!”

Sport

Division Four West rugby: Thrills and tight contests on a chilly Saturday

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Exciting matches, hard-fought battles, and standout performances define the weekend’s action.

Dreigiau Emlyn Edge Harlequins in Close Contest
Dreigiau Emlyn 21 – Pembroke Dock Harlequins 15
Dreigiau Emlyn secured a narrow victory over Pembroke Dock Harlequins, strengthening their position in the top half of the table. Gethin Davies scored two crucial tries, while Deiniol Rees added three penalties and a conversion to steer the hosts to victory. The Harlequins kept the game competitive with tries from Craig Barnett and Tom Donovan, with Ben Hathaway converting one and kicking a penalty. However, Emlyn’s composed performance ensured they held on for the win.

Teirw Crymych Outgun Llangwm in High-Scorer
Llangwm 22 – Teirw Crymych 33
Teirw Crymych powered to a 33-22 victory over bottom-placed Llangwm, bolstering their challenge for the league’s top spots. Sion Williams and Morgan Jones led the visitors’ try-scoring efforts, with additional tries from Sion Owen and Nick Bevan. Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, adding four conversions. Llangwm fought back with tries from Aidan Rees and Ryan Banner, while Harry Makepeace contributed two conversions and a penalty. Despite their spirited display, the hosts couldn’t match Crymych’s attacking prowess.

St Davids Win Key Clash Against Llanybydder
Llanybydder 17 – St Davids 29
St Davids took a significant step away from the relegation zone with a vital 29-17 win over Llanybydder. Harvey Godkin, Nathan Foster, Zac Morgan, and Morgan Griffiths all crossed the whitewash for the visitors, with Bob Froy converting three and adding a penalty to secure a bonus-point victory. Llanybydder’s John Evans delivered an impressive hat-trick of tries, with one conversion by Matthew Rowlands, but St Davids’ all-round performance proved too much for the home side.

Division Four West continues to deliver thrilling rugby as teams battle for position in a tightly contested league.

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Sport

Division Two goals galore as Narberth continue to dominate

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Big wins and thrilling contests highlight the latest round of fixtures.

Narberth Crush Broad Haven
Broad Haven 1 – Narberth 11
League leaders Narberth delivered a masterclass, thrashing bottom side Broad Haven 11-1 in a one-sided encounter. Ryan Williams, Chris Brown, and Steffan Williams each netted hat-tricks, with further goals from Jordan Williams and Josh Jones. Broad Haven’s Ashley Bladen grabbed a consolation goal, but the hosts were no match for the rampant visitors, who tightened their grip on the top of the table.

Swifts Reserves Hammer Carew II
Monkton Swifts II 7 – Carew II 0
Rudy Poole’s incredible six-goal performance powered Monkton Swifts II to a commanding 7-0 victory over Carew II. Mark Jones added the final goal as the Swifts dominated from start to finish, boosting their push up the table with an emphatic statement win.

Johnston See Off Camrose
Johnston 2 – Camrose 0
Johnston earned a crucial 2-0 victory against fourth-placed Camrose in a tightly contested match. Marcus Allen’s opener and Josh Knapp’s second-half goal secured the points for the hosts. Johnston’s resolute defending ensured a clean sheet, helping them solidify their mid-table position while dealing a blow to Camrose’s hopes of catching the teams above them.

Merlins Bridge Reserves Edge Neyland in Thriller
Merlins Bridge II 3 – Neyland 2
Merlins Bridge II clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory over Neyland in a closely fought contest. Kian Lee opened the scoring for the hosts, with Bradley Barrett converting a penalty and Harrison Goddard adding a third. Neyland pushed back through Jay Johnstone and Ben Gale, but the Bridge held on to secure all three points in an exciting encounter.

Solva Outclass Lawrenny
Solva 5 – Lawrenny 0
Solva made light work of struggling Lawrenny with a 5-0 win. Kieran Price’s hat-trick stole the spotlight, with Luke Mason and Morgan Elliott also finding the net. The result leaves Lawrenny rooted near the bottom of the table, while Solva capitalized on their opponents’ weaknesses to secure a comfortable victory.

As the season progresses, Division Two continues to deliver high-scoring games and thrilling battles.

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Sport

Division One drama as relegation battle intensifies

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Two thrilling matches offer key moments in the fight for survival.

Robins Rise with Win Over Clarbeston Road
Milford United 2 – Clarbeston Road 1
Milford United climbed out of the relegation zone with a crucial 2-1 victory over Clarbeston Road at Marble Hall. The visitors struck first, with Laurie Haworth setting up Rhys Lloyd-Roberts for a close-range finish just before halftime. Milford responded quickly in the second half as Joey Jones delivered a pinpoint cross for Rhys Brown to equalize from six yards. The decisive moment came in the 68th minute when Liam Davies unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike, earning Milford a vital three points and pushing them a point clear of St Ishmaels with six games remaining.

Swifts Swoop Past Tish in Tight Encounter
St Ishmaels 1 – Monkton Swifts 2
Monkton Swifts secured an important 2-1 win at St Ishmaels, easing their own relegation worries while plunging Tish into the bottom two. Jonathan Lee opened the scoring for the Swifts nine minutes before halftime, assisted by Liam Butland. Gareth Finnegan doubled the visitors’ lead midway through the second half. Finley Armstrong pulled one back for Tish late on, following impressive work by Brennan Devonald, but the home side couldn’t find an equalizer. The result leaves Tish with an uphill battle to escape the drop.

The relegation fight promises more drama as every point becomes crucial in the final stretch of the season.

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