Sport

Team of the week: Pembroke Dock Harlequins

Published

10 years ago

November 21, 2013

PEMBROKE DOCK Harlequins RFC began back in 1880 when around fifteen men working in Pembroke Dock’s Dockyard pulled on their rugby shirts and set up the club with the teams matches being played at the Barrack Hill Ground. Since then the club has survived through some very tough periods including two World Wars and the closure of the town’s dockyard leaving us with the fine club we have today.

The club over the years
When the club began all those years ago it was called Pembroke Dock Football Club then later Pembroke Dock Rugby Football Club until the early 1900’s when the name Pembroke Dock Harlequins was finally established. The Pembroke Dock Quins began playing at the Barrack Hill Ground and many other venues until they made their permanent home the Bierspool Ground in 1956. But the facilities at the ground were very basic with players having to get changed at various pubs and having to walk to the playing field but with help of members and friends of the club over the years buildings have been added enabling the players to use amenities such as hot showers and clean changing rooms.

But all of this may not have been possible if it had not of been for the spirit of the town and members in keeping the club going through two world wars and through the closure of the Quins’ main supplier of players the Pembroke Dock Dockyard in 1926. It was five committee members that unanimously voted to keep the club going in the 1927 A.G.M. after the closure of the dockyard and their names were Walter David, Llew James, A. Skerry, Bill Husband and Archie Howell.

Over the years the Pembroke Dock Quins has had some great players and some great teams. Some of these players include Ernie Finch and W.J.A Davies who went on to play internationally for their respected home nations of Wales and England. W.J.A Davies even went on to captain England in 1921 at Twickenham against Scotland.

The Quins has also hosted some great teams including the mighty Llanelli in the Welsh Cup. This Llanelli team had internationals galore including Phil Bennett, Delme Thomas, J.J. Williams and Derek Quinnel.

Ladies Committee
The Pembroke Dock Harlequins Ladies Committee was formed after the Second World War. I played a vital role in helping to finance the purchase he Bierspool Ground by helping out with fundraising including running dances. All of this money went towards purchasing a permanent home for the Quins. When the committee was first set up in was under the chairmanship of Mrs Egerton and included Mrs Dix, Mrs Williams, Mrs Hay, Mrs Lloyd, Mrs Shirlock, Miss Blackmore and Miss Peters.

After the Ground was finally purchased and a pavilion was built the ladies now had a new task and this was to provide the players with cups of tea and meals. Thanks to their support and fundraising the Quins rugby club is still going strong and still holding their annual summer carnival.

The club setup
Pembroke Dock Harlequins RFC run 11 mini and junior rugby sides from U7s through to U16s.This season also sees a new ladies rugby team under formation and numbers are building each week. he Quins also run a youth side and a first team and development team. Head oach is Bob Lovell, who is assisted by Gavin Lloyd, Jeff Newman and Tony Manning.

The club is always on the look out for new players throughout its age grades and welcome new and old players to the Quins Ground. Senior training is held on a Monday and Thursday night at 7pm. The youth train on a Wednesday night again with a 7pm start. Youth coaches are Gareth Scourfield and Ian Osbourne with Dai Lewis as youth team manager.

Mini and junior rugby are held every Sunday with either training or rugby matches – start times on a Sunday are 10.30am. The club has a great sports physio in Mr David Usher, who is available on Monday and Thursday nights at the Rugby Club Physio Room from 7pm. Pembroke Dock Harlequins RFC respects rugby club within the local community and is a great focal point for the many youngsters and sports enthusiasts within the area.

The club has over twenty WRU qualified rugby coaches and eighteen WRU qualified Level 1 referees. All of these are volunteers who give up their valuable time to help promote the great sport of rugby and team work within the community. The rugby club would also like to thank all their sponsors and supporters for their continued generous support – this support helps make this club the great place that we all enjoy today.

If anyone would like to get involved with this fantastic rugby club, whether its playing in one of the many rugby sides we have to offer, or assisting in the running and day to day club duties, please get in touch with the following committee members:

Quins Seniors and Youth: Dean Maiden – [email protected]
Quins Seniors: Gavin Lloyd – [email protected]
Quins Juniors: Huw Baker – [email protected]
Quins Minis: Andrew McDonald – Andrew.mcdonald@bevanbuckland.
co.uk

Sport

Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double

Published

4 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Herald Sport

Two thrilling semi finals last weekend has meant Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road will meet in the senior cup final this coming Saturday.

Goodwick faced Pennar Robins in their semi final who pushed the champions very hard. Carl Vincent will be disappointed but proud of the Robins as they gave a great account of themselves. However in the end Goodwick’s quality and experience just was too much for Vincent’s team.

The other semi was an absolute thriller, and after a nail biting game Matthew Fox’ Clarby progressed to the final. A offside call has sparked a lot of debate around the county. However it seems that linesman Jenkins made an absolute perfect call so credit to him for that.

Both teams would have wanted a nice week of preparation for the final, maybe without any games to play. Unfortunately this hasn’t been possible due to the fixture backlog and both outfits have played already this week.

Goodwick will be favourites of course, however if anyone can upset the apple cart Saturday it’s this Clarbeston Road team. Fox’ outfit have impressed over and over this season. Without too much pressure on them, they are in a good place going into the final.

The double at one staged looked like the minimum Goodwick would be aiming for this season. However losses in other cup competitions, means its Senior Cup success or just the league title for the outstanding team of the season. Oddly becoming champions with no cup success maybe seen as a huge disappointment considering their dominance this season. A unique pressure. However if anyone can handle that pressure it’s O’Sullivans outfit.

Sport

Swifts eyes on double.

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Herald Sport

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

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Herald Sport

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.