Sport
Blues close out feisty game
Haverfordwest 22
Tycroes 17
HAVERFORDWEST made a welcome to return to winning ways, even though they were plagued with injuries and unavailability,
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.
Sport
South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics
Two of the finest athletes in south-west Wales are dreaming about bringing home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Track cyclist Emma Finucane and sailing star Micky Beckett will head to France in a buoyant mood after enjoying a successful build-up to their respective events.
Welsh athletes collected a record-equalling 11 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes are high that the tally could be beaten this year.
The Carmarthen-born rider cemented her rapid rise up the sprint ranks by winning a gold medal at the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
She became Great Britain’s first women’s sprint world champion since Becky James in 2013 and is now on track to chase more medals at the Olympics across three events.
The 21-year-old has yearned to compete at the Summer Games since watching Team GB sparkle at London 2012 and she is eager to make her mark this summer.
“It’s a massive dream of mine and it’s pretty cool that I’m kind of living my dream,” Finucane said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the journey and hopefully I’ll get selected and compete for my country.
“And it’s exciting because as the Team GB women’s sprint. I feel like we’re in a really good place to do well at the Olympics, not just compete as Olympians.”
Pembrokeshire-born sailor Beckett will also head to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning gold in the hugely competitive ILCA 7 class.
He will renew rivalries with Australian Matt Wearn, who controversially claimed the World Championship title ahead of Hermann Tomasgaard and Beckett earlier this year.
Online bookmakers rate Wearn as the favourite to emerge victorious this summer, but Beckett’s recent form gives him every chance of turning the tables.
Several new sports betting sites in Australia cut the Welsh sailor’s Olympic odds after he completed a trio of World Cup successes at a recent event in Palma.
Beckett believes the hard work he has done over the past few months gives him every chance of toppling Wearn when the action gets underway this summer.
“There is still plenty of work to do and managing form is probably the most important thing of any athlete’s job,” Beckett said. “There is no point being the best in the world unless you are the best in the world when it counts.
Sport
Kilgetty and Carew Share Spoils in End-of-Season Showdown
In the picturesque setting of Kilgetty, under the soft glow of the evening sun, local football fans were treated to an enticing clash between Kilgetty and Carew in the Pembrokeshire League Division 1. With the season winding down, both sides took to the pitch amidst numerous squad rotations, following a hectic week of multiple fixtures.
The match kicked off in a leisurely pace, resembling more of an end-of-season friendly than a fierce competition. Kilgetty seized the early initiative, with the trio of Josh Bevan, Richard Tebbut, and Richard Cope causing headaches for the Carew defense, skillfully led by Gareth Lewis. It was Jac Waters who broke the deadlock for the home side, putting Kilgetty ahead 1-0 as the first half came to a close.
However, Carew emerged revitalised after the break, with Jonty Bennett, James Hinchcliffe, and Zac Rowell putting in the hard yards to level the score. The introduction of Harvey Drummond for the ineffective Sam Christopher added further depth to Carew’s attacking prowess, culminating in an equaliser courtesy of the excellent Hinchcliffe.
As tensions rose, the game took on a newfound intensity, marked by needless bookings, after a clearly offside goal and a few heated moments on the field. Despite the fatigue evident from their recent fixture congestion, both teams showcased their competitive spirit, treating the fans to an entertaining second half.
In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, with Kilgetty and Carew having to settle for a well-fought 1-1 draw. While neither team was at their absolute best, the match provided a fitting conclusion to their respective seasons.
Sport
The stage is set – Senior Cup Final
It’s the time of the year again, Saturday see’s Bridge Meadow host the senior cup final. The sun has been shining and both teams will be dying to get on the pitch. This year the final will be contested by Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road.
League champions Goodwick will go into the final as favourites, and most around the county expect a Goodwick win. It has been an outstanding season for Goodwick however cup success has evaded them so far. Clarbeston Road have impressed everyone this season and really deserve their place in this years final.
Neill Crawshaw will referee the game, with Tudor Walters and Stefan Jenkins running the line.
There will be a unique contest on the pitch as brothers Will Haworth and Laurie Haworth come face to face on opposing teams. Adrian their father was a great player in the county, and played in many cup finals himself.
The stage is set, Clarby will feel less pressure than Goodwick and will be a threat with Haworth, John and Davies in attack. Meanwhile Goodwick are also blessed with quality players in every department, there is no weak link in O’Sullivans team. Cup football and finals in particular never go as people predict. On paper Goodwick are firm favourites, Clarbeston Road will be happy the game will be played on grass though and not paper, anything can happen! Hopefully it’ll be a good crowd down at the Meadow for the show piece of Pembrokeshire football.
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