Sport

Blues close out feisty game

Published

10 years ago

February 23, 2015

Haverfordwest 22
Tycroes 17

HAVERFORDWEST made a welcome to return to winning ways, even though they were plagued with injuries and unavailability,

Scrum time: Haverfordwest scrum half Dan Morgan looks to put the ball in at a Blues scrum.

with the Blues coaching staff calling up Rhys Price and Hywel Davies from St Davids RFC, the latter playing an impressive eighty minutes at prop.

Under bright sunshine and a gentle breeze, Merlins Bridge was offered some entertaining, and at times feisty rugby between two sides who haven’t had the best of seasons.

The Blues made the brighter start, as a loose line out from the visitors allowed Moritz Neumann to kick ahead the ball, and outpace the covering defence to touch down within the first five minutes of play. Neumann, traditionally a centre, was playing for the third week at blindside flanker, but has taken to the position like a duck to water. Fly half Steve Williams missed the conversion.

Tycroes replied quickly after, as their scrum looked the more dominant and a nice break from the visitors full back cut the Blues defence in two, before he passed to winger Scott Bowen to score just wide of the posts. The conversion was missed by outside centre Carwyn Richards.

The Blues took the lead again, as open side flanker Dewi Williams won the foot race to a kick ahead, sliding on the loose ball, for another unconverted try.

The visitors then again fought back, as they clawed their way up the pitch towards the home sides try line, before a series of penalties at the scrum resulted in a penalty try for the visitors, which was converted by Richards.

With the score at 10-12 to the visitors and the half time break approaching, memories of the Blues losses in the last two fixtures came to the forefront. This spurred on the home side, and a turn over provided quick ball for Haverfordwest, and slick handling provided winger Scott Candler open space, and the winger raced away to score under the posts, with Steve Williams adding the extras. The score now 17-12 at the half time whistle.

After the break, the game started at a frantic pace as both sides threw caution to the wind in attack, and gave everything in defence.

Haverfordwest’s Zac France- Miller was yellow carded however, as the hooker was deemed to have had his hands in at the ruck.

An attacking line out for Tycroes provided the next points of the game, as skipper Dylan Cooper was helped over the try line in a driving maul to touch down. The conversion kick by Carwyn Richards struck the upright.

There then proceeded to be a nasty scuffle, which resulted in both Haverfordwest skipper Darren Salmon and Tycroes’ Steffan Davies being red carded.

This scuffle didn’t clear the air, as within a few short minutes Tycroes were down to 12 men as Aled Griffiths and Tim Rees were both yellow carded for infringements at the break down.

This allowed Haverfordwest, who were back to 14 players as France-Miller returned to the pitch, to capitalise, and it was the continuous pressure which resulted in Scott Candler scoring his second, as he received a lovely delayed pass from Steve Williams, as he arched his run around the trailing defence. The kick went wide, but it was enough to give Haverfordwest the win, along with a much needed bonus point in their fight for survival.

Haverfordwest sit in tenth position and face Penlan away on February 21.

News

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association – Final Table 2024/25

Published

14 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Herald Sport

All matches complete as season concludes

THE 2024/25 season of the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association – known as The Friendly League – has now officially concluded, with all clubs completing their outstanding fixtures.

The past few weeks saw the following catch-up matches played:

Carew 8–2 Llanteg
St Johns 8–2 Cosheston
Hundleton 8–2 Reynalton
Reynalton 9–1 Lamphey
Cosheston 10–0 Kilgetty
East Williamston 9–1 Kilgetty

Final League Table (2024/25 Season)

Position	Club	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	S/D	Points
1	East Williamston	20	18	0	2	313	158
2	St Johns	20	14	0	6	111	122
=3	Carew	20	11	1	8	105	111
=3	Cosheston	20	12	0	8	77	111
5	Reynalton	20	11	0	9	28	104
6	Hundleton	20	9	0	11	74	97
7	Llanteg	20	7	1	12	-71	92
8	St Twynnells	20	8	1	11	-97	89
9	Badgers	20	6	1	13	-22	82
=10	Lamphey	20	6	0	14	-179	67
=10	Kilgetty	20	6	0	14	-262	67

Congratulations to East Williamston, who finish the season as clear champions with an impressive 158 points and a shot difference of +313.

News

Plans submitted to redevelop home of one of Wales’ oldest football clubs

Published

20 hours ago

April 20, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

FORMAL plans to redevelop the grounds of one of the oldest football clubs in Wales – which includes a new 310-seater stand – have been submitted to the council.

Aberystwyth Town Football Club has submitted an application for the redevelopment of its grounds at Park Avenue Stadium, Aberystwyth.

A supporting statement from agent JMS Planning and Development says the proposal seeks “full planning permission for the demolition of the existing main stand and the creation of a new clubhouse, turnstile, changing rooms, business unit and improvements to the existing seated and standing terraces which will include new roof canopies and all associated works”.

The formal application follows an earlier public consultation.

It adds: “Aberystwyth Town Football Club is proudly one of the oldest football clubs in Wales, whereby the club was founded some 140 years ago in 1884. The club is one of the founding members of what is now known as the ‘Cymru Premier’, of which it is only one of two teams to have never been relegated since its inception in 1992.

“The men’s senior team is loyally supported by local community and has seen an increase in attendance over the past couple of years, reaching nearly 6,000 spectators over the year for the men’s team alone. A number of Cymru Premier matches are broadcast live from the ground each season on S4C and streamed online to a worldwide audience. The Football Association of Wales recently confirmed a new structure and strategy to the league with the aim of boosting its commercial profile, competitiveness, and fan interest both nationally and internationally.

“As a Premier European Division, clubs are provided the opportunity to qualify for UEFA competitions and compete across the Continent, whereby it is imperative that facilities and infrastructure across the country are developed to meet UEFA Licensing requirements. Should Aberystwyth Town qualify – or host other clubs’ European matches as has occurred in recent years – the redevelopment of the facilities at Park Avenue will enable Ceredigion to continue to host continental sporting events.”

It says Aberystwyth Town Football Club “is often called ‘home’ by a number of other teams in the region which rely on the club’s facilities and all-weather pitch for the provision of training sessions and matches”.

The scheme itself is the first phase of development, the second relating to residential development.

Of phase 1, it says: “The proposal seeks the construction of a new clubhouse and community facility, a 310-seater stand, replacement turnstile, ticketing office, roofs over existing seated and standing terraces, new primary and secondary changing room facilities, dedicated business/employment unit, with improvements to accessibility throughout the site, including the re-construction of a dedicated disabled viewing platform.”

It adds: “The scheme proposes vast improvements to the accessibility of the site by providing step-free access throughout the whole site, thus promoting an inclusive environment. Similarly, the scheme introduces improvements to a dedicated viewing platform for less-able bodied.”

It goes on to say: “The existing main stand and changing rooms are in a state of deterioration and require significant investment if required to serve the club for years in the future. Hence, modern and fit-for-purpose facilities are proposed to revitalise the site which will enhance the provision of the community facility, encourage the uptake of sports, and in-turn promote the health and well-being of a wide range of social groups in the local and regional area.

“The development also promotes equality and inclusivity for both male and female players and officials, who will benefit from segregated and modern changing facilities, in accordance with the requirements of the Football Association of Wales.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

Sport

Mixed fortunes as Narberth fall short and Crymych crushed

Published

5 days ago

April 16, 2025

Herald Sport

IT was a weekend of frustration for Pembrokeshire’s top rugby sides, as Narberth narrowly missed out on valuable points in the Premiership Division and Crymych suffered a heavy defeat in the Championship (West). Despite showing fight and flashes of quality, both teams were ultimately undone—Narberth by second-half ill-discipline, and Crymych by a well-drilled Trebanos side.

Neath 29 – Narberth 21

Narberth produced a spirited performance but came away empty-handed after a hard-fought battle against high-flying Neath in the Premiership Division. The Otters showed impressive character, recovering from a 17-point deficit to trail by just a single point at the break—but second-half disciplinary issues ultimately proved their undoing.

Neath stormed into an early lead with two tries from Rhodri Wall and one from Iestyn Morgan, with Steff Williams adding a conversion. Narberth responded with tries from winger Dean James, scrum-half Lewys Gibby, and centre Llew Jones. Fly-half Osian Evans converted all three to keep the visitors in touch.

However, the tide turned when Jones was shown a second yellow card, and replacement Alex Williams also saw time in the sin-bin, reducing Narberth to 13 men. Neath took full advantage, with centre Kieran Charles crossing for a decisive try, converted by Williams, extending the gap to eight points—just out of reach for a losing bonus point.

The result leaves Narberth hovering just above the relegation zone, with Bonymaen close behind and holding a game in hand.

Trebanos 45 – Crymych 12

Crymych endured a heavy defeat on the road as a depleted side, still reeling from a recent illness outbreak, were comprehensively beaten by a slick Trebanos outfit in the Championship (West).

The Preseli Men trailed 19-0 at the break but managed second-half scores through captain Carwyn Phillips and replacement Jac Delaney, with one converted by Elis Thomas. However, it wasn’t enough to stem the flow as Trebanos ran in seven tries.

Home captain Steffan Lewis led the charge with a brace, while Sam Lewis, Matthew Hutchinson, Conor Thomas, and Rhodri Jones (2) also crossed. Kris Jones added five conversions to round off an emphatic victory.

Crymych remain in the relegation zone, but with four matches left to play, their hopes of survival are still mathematically alive.