Sport

Draper brace sinks Bluebirds

Published

9 years ago

November 26, 2015

Double: Greg Draper’s two goals
were enough to give The New
Saints victory against the Bluebirds

TNS 2
Haverfordwest County 0

H A V E R F O R D W E S T COUNTY remain in the bottom two following a 2-0 defeat to league leaders TNS on Saturday.

The home side dominated for much of the game, as was expected, but the Bluebirds did well to stop them from scoring.

The Saints began well and nearly opened the scoring through Greg Draper. The TNS number nine was one on one but his shot was superbly saved by Scott James.

Simon Spender then found space in the box but he was also denied by another impressive save from James.

Moments later and it was the visitors who broke forward. Firstly Jordan Follows shot over before Greg Walters’ powerful strike flew just wide of the post.

However, half an hour played and Draper converted from close range after being magnificently picked out by Matty Williams.

On the stroke of half time, Draper doubled the lead as the New Zealand International calmly rounded the goalkeeper and slotted in from eight yards out.

The second half began with TNS once again controlling possession and Williams nearly made it three nil on the hour mark, but his header flew over.

Robbie Parry was then sent on for the Saints and within minutes, his dipping volley struck the bar.

With the bar still shaking, Chris Seargeant’s shot from 20 yards out also smashed the bar as TNS looked to add another goal.

The visitors did not give up and in the final minute of the game they almost pulled a goal back through Ryan Batley whose strong drive was brilliantly turned round by the post by the TNS keeper.

Following the game, manager Wayne Jones said: “Disappointed with the result, another defeat, that’s three on the bounce now but in all fairness to the players, they worked hard, we had a game plan and they stuck to it and it was TNS’ supreme quality that won them the match in the end.

“It’s a very important November for the club with games where we are looking to pick up points with three out of four games being at home we look towards that and be optimistic about things.”

The Bluebirds head in to a crucial period of the season with games coming up against sides around them in the table.

On Saturday, November 7, they take on fourth placed Newtown at the Bridge Meadow. Following that is another home game against the side directly above them in the table in Gap Connah’s Quay on November 14.

They also take on the side currently bottom of the table in Rhyl at home at the end of the month, November 28, which could be crucial in deciding whether or not they remain in the Welsh Premier League.

Sport

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

Published

12 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Herald Sport

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

Published

12 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Herald Sport

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

Published

12 hours ago

January 19, 2025

Herald Sport

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.