Sport
Late drama and strong comebacks highlight Pembrokeshire rugby action
Premiership Division:
Cross Keys 30 – Narberth 24
NARBERTH nearly pulled off one of the season’s most memorable comebacks after trailing 30-7 at halftime. The Otters fought back fiercely in the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points with tries from No 8 Roy Osborne (2), centre Harrison Griffiths, and fly-half Jonathan Rogers. Despite their determined effort, they fell just six points short, securing two bonus points for scoring four tries and finishing within seven points. Skipper Tom Powell was named Narberth’s ‘Player of the Match.’ The Otters now face a crucial relegation battle against bottom-placed Newcastle.
Championship Division (West):
Tata Steel 42 – Crymych 5
Crymych faced a daunting challenge against league leaders Tata Steel, who dominated the match from start to finish. Crymych’s only points came from hooker Lee Griffiths, as they trailed 21-5 at halftime. Unable to break through Tata’s defense in the second half, they conceded another 21 points to lose 42-5.
Laugharne 41 – Whitland 12
Laugharne completed the double over Whitland with a comprehensive 41-12 victory in this local derby. The home side raced to a 22-0 halftime lead, and although Whitland managed to score two tries in the second half through Tom Hughes and Oli Bujega, Laugharne remained in control throughout. This win strengthens Laugharne’s position in second place in the section, behind Lampeter Town.
Division Two (West):
Fishguard & Goodwick 29 – Milford Haven 13
Fishguard & Goodwick secured a dominant win over Milford Haven, completing the double over their rivals. The Seagulls controlled possession and scored five tries, while Milford Haven managed just one. Fishguard’s tries came from Kial Keane, Cai Llewellyn, Liam Wilkes, Rhys Evans, and Rhys Lewis, with Mark Jones converting two. Milford Haven fought hard, with scrum-half James Trueman kicking two penalties and prop Dai Sweeny scoring their only try. Despite a late effort from Milford, Fishguard held on for the win.
Division Four (West) A:
Pembroke 29 – Pembroke Dock Harlequins 28
In a thrilling local derby, Pembroke narrowly defeated Pembroke Dock Harlequins by a single point. The Quins led 28-21 in the final stages, but Pembroke mounted a late comeback. Danny Davies scored a try, and Jared Sherratt’s calm penalty in the dying moments secured the victory for Pembroke, who had earlier fallen behind to tries from Jack Price and Craig Barnett for the Quins. Pembroke took revenge for an earlier defeat to the Quins this season.
Division Three (West):
Tumble 31 – Haverfordwest 28
Tumble won a tightly contested match against Haverfordwest, who fought back until the final whistle. Haverfordwest’s tries came from Ollie Roberts, Guy Barrons, and Jack Codd, but Tumble’s attacking pressure, combined with solid defense, saw them hold on for a 31-28 victory. The win keeps Tumble in second place in the table.
WRU Division One Cup – Last 16:
Bridgend Athletic 24 – Tenby United 19
Tenby United came close to securing a quarter-final spot after leading 16-5 at halftime against Bridgend Athletic. However, they faltered in the second half as Bridgend Athletic turned the game around with four tries. Tenby could only manage a drop goal from Lloyd Thomas and one try in the second half, while Athletic scored through Ben Owen, Mike Powell, Tom Jenkins, and Geraint Richards, with Rhys Williams converting two.
Division Three Cup – Last 16:
Cardigan (Walkover) vs Newtown
Cardigan advanced to the quarter-finals of the WRU Division Three Cup after Newtown were unable to field a team, giving Cardigan a walkover despite Newtown’s home advantage.
WRU Division Four Cup – Last 16:
Dreigiau Emlyn 15 – Neyland 26
Neyland secured a hard-fought victory over Dreigiau Emlyn, leading 13-7 at halftime. Dreigiau Emlyn briefly took the lead early with a try from Sam Forrester-Evans, but Neyland responded with a penalty from Oli Rothero and tries from Owen Hamer and Patrick Bellerby. Despite a late penalty from Dreigiau Emlyn, Neyland held on for the win and remain the only Pembrokeshire club left in the competition.
Athletic Battle Hard Against League Leaders:
Pontyclun 26 – Narberth Athletic 19
Narberth Athletic played bravely against league leaders Pontyclun, scoring three tries through Llew Jones and Shane Rossiter (who also converted two), but fell short in a 26-19 defeat. Pontyclun capitalized on key penalties and tries from Ewan Jones and Joe Williams, as well as a flawless kicking display from Nicky Theaker, who slotted four penalties and two conversions.
Bulls Beaten by Better Side on the Day:
Tylorstown 32 – Teirw Crymych 17
Teirw Crymych’s strong first-half performance wasn’t enough to overcome Tylorstown, who scored 17 unanswered points in the second half. Crymych had led 17-15 at halftime, but Tylorstown dominated after the break, claiming a 32-17 victory to advance to the last eight of the competition.
Sport
Division Four West rugby: Thrills and tight contests on a chilly Saturday
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.
Sport
Division Two goals galore as Narberth continue to dominate
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.
Sport
Division One drama as relegation battle intensifies
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.
-
Top News5 days ago
Dock man threatened to kill male with golf club, court told
-
Crime1 day ago
Man charged with attempted murder after child found in critical condition
-
News5 days ago
Survey vessel stranded at Newgale beach prompts RNLI response
-
Community4 days ago
Stricken vessel now off Broad Haven as pollution experts stand-by
-
Crime2 days ago
Milford paedophile caught with 1600 indecent images of children avoids jail
-
Charity7 days ago
Charity seeks homes for hens destined for slaughter in Pembrokeshire
-
Crime1 day ago
Air ambulance called to Parc Prison as inmate suffers ‘severe medical episode’
-
News3 days ago
Landslides close section of Pembrokeshire coastal path once again