Sport

Wales comeback denies impressive Scotland

Published

10 years ago

March 1, 2016

Wales 27

Scotland 23

George North: Delighted to end his international try drought

JAMIE ROBERTS and George North came up with second half tries to haul Wales back from a three point deficit into an 11 point lead to set up a ninth successive win over Scotland. Gareth Davies had given Wales a fantastic start with a breakaway try after seven minutes, but the Scots hit back to lead at half-time and took the lead three times in an enthralling match. But Wales took the spoils in the end to retain their unbeaten tag in the 2016 RBS 6 Nations.

The Scots arrived in the midst of their worst run in the championship since the 1950s, with eight successive defeats following their 15-9 loss to England at Murrayfield in the opening round, and facing a ninth successive defeat to Wales.

The last time the Scots won in Cardiff was 2002 and their last win over Wales was in 2007. So they must have had a sinking feeling early in the game when Welsh scrum half Gareth Davies raced 48 metres to score his sixth try in 11 internationals.

The try began with a chip kick ahead over half-way by Dan Biggar and Jamie Roberts leapt high to knock the ball back towards his supporting players. Davies picked up the loose ball and veered to the left away from two defenders to give Wales a flying start in the seventh minute.

Biggar added the conversion and the Welsh fans roared their approval of the first scores at the newly named Principality Stadium. But if the home fans thought that was going to be the cue for business as usual for the fixture, they were given a quick reminder of why Scotland came so close to reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup earlier in the season.

Having worked their way through successive phase from half-way to deep in the Welsh 22, Finn Russell kicked wide to the right over the rather narrow Welsh defence to allow Tommy Seymour to gather in-goal and score a try which the skipper Greig Laidlaw converted to level the scores.

The Scots had the better of the exchanges and looked very composed, although the Welsh scrum won a couple of penalties with their power. The only other scores in the first half were kicks, one from Biggar’s boot and two from Laidlaw’s to give the Scots a 13-10 half-time lead.

Biggar levelled the scores again at 13-13 with a simple penalty off the 22 six minutes after the re-start, but the battling Scots hit the front for the third time in the game through Laidlaw’s boot when he hit the mark after a power scrum from his forwards.

The Scots attempted to pin Wales back in their own territory with some strategic kicking, but when John Hardie lost the ball in a tackle just inside the Welsh 22, Tom James snapped up the loose ball and sprinted up the left touchline. At one stage it looked as though he might go all the way as he left his opposite number for dead, but a brilliant cover tackle from Duncan Taylor just cut him down with less than 10 metres to go to the line.

That run gave Wales a foothold in the Scottish 22 they need to launch their revival and after some tight Scottish defence had held up Jamie Roberts, Ken Owens and Jonathan Davies, Sam Warburton opted for a scrum in front of the posts instead of taking the simple three points.

It was a brave decision, but the right one, because moments later Roberts shrugged off two defenders to crash over for his 10th try for his country. Biggar’s conversion hoisted Wales back into the lead and six minutes later George North raced 30 metres to bag his 24th try with a great solo effort.

Biggar added the extras and from being three points down in the 55th minute, Wales found themselves 11 points clear in the 71st. That proved to be a winning margin, even though Taylor showed off some great footwork to get past Gareth Anscombe and score a lovely try which Duncan Weir converted with a minute left to play to cut the gap to four points.

Sport

Narberth youngsters impress in busy day of cricket

Published

20 minutes ago

May 17, 2026

Herald Sport

NARBERTH Cricket Club’s junior sides enjoyed a strong day of performances, with the under-15s recording a convincing win and the under-14 girls pushing Cresselly all the way in a close contest.

The under-15s defeated St Ishmaels after posting 120-7, before bowling their opponents out for 54.

Narberth’s under-14 girls were also in action, producing an excellent effort against a talented Cresselly side.

In an eight-a-side, 16-over match, Narberth made 83-5 before Cresselly reached 84-4 to edge the contest.

Mia Phillips top-scored for Narberth with an unbeaten 22, while Sylvie Dunlop made 7 not out. The pair also shared a 50 partnership.

Leah Lewis contributed 18 with the bat and took 1-4 with the ball, while Tia Blewitt produced an excellent spell, taking 3-3.

Despite the narrow defeat, the performance underlined the strength of girls’ cricket at Narberth and the progress being made by the club’s young players.

Sport

Narberth hosts successful girls’ cricket festival

Published

2 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Herald Sport

YOUNG cricketers from across west Wales took part in a successful under-10s girls’ cricket festival hosted by Narberth Cricket Club on Sunday.

Teams from Whitland, Pembroke Dock, Neyland, Llangennech and Pembroke joined the host side for a day of cricket which highlighted the growing strength of the girls’ game in the region.

Organisers said all teams showed excellent teamwork, enthusiasm and sportsmanship throughout the festival.

Thanks were also given to Narberth coach Ceri Davies, whose organisation helped ensure the day was a success.

Host team: Narberth’s under-10s girls at Sunday’s cricket festival (Pic: Shannon Harries).

Sport

Rain halts most action as Pembs cricket battles the weather

Published

8 hours ago

May 17, 2026

Herald Sport

Only a handful of matches completed as showers cause widespread disruption across all divisions

THE WEAETHER won the battle across much of Pembrokeshire cricket on Saturday (May 16), with abandoned matches dominating the fourth week of the Pembroke County Cricket League season.

Only a small number of fixtures reached a result, although there were still impressive individual performances and significant movement in the league tables.

Division 1: Carew stay top despite washout

Rain interrupted almost every match in Division 1, with no full fixtures completed.

Carew remain top of the table after taking four points from their abandoned clash with Whitland, while Saundersfoot and Neyland continue to keep the pressure on.

Division 1 results

Fixture	Result
Saundersfoot v Herbrandston	Match abandoned – Herbrandston 57-5
Narberth v Lawrenny	Match abandoned – Narberth 74-2
Cresselly v Neyland	Match abandoned – Neyland 64-3
Burton v St Ishmaels	Match abandoned – Burton 44-2
Carew v Whitland	Match abandoned – Whitland 38-7

Division 1 standout performances

Player	Club	Performance
Jordan Howell	Narberth	35*
Lewis Hough	Narberth	25*
Paul Murray	Neyland	37
Iori Hicks	Carew	3-17
Tom Mansbridge	Saundersfoot	3-12

Division 1 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Carew	4	60
2	Saundersfoot	4	50
3	Neyland	4	47
4	Burton	4	33
5	Herbrandston	4	33
6	Cresselly	4	31
7	Narberth	4	27
8	Whitland	4	24
9	St Ishmaels	4	22
10	Lawrenny	4	16

Division 2: Haverfordwest cruise to nine-wicket win

The only completed match in Division 2 saw Haverfordwest ease to a nine-wicket victory over Llangwm.

Chris Phillips starred with both bat and ball, taking 4-36 before smashing 71 as Haverfordwest chased 142 with ease.

Division 2 results

Fixture	Result
Llanrhian v Cresselly II	Match abandoned
Hook v Fishguard	Match abandoned – Fishguard 117-2
Llangwm v Haverfordwest	Haverfordwest won by 9 wickets
Pembroke Dock v Llechryd	Match abandoned
Johnston v Pembroke	Match abandoned

Division 2 standout performances

Player	Club	Performance
Chris Phillips	Haverfordwest	4-36 & 71
Johnnie White	Haverfordwest	56*
Ashish Jayes	Fishguard	75*
George Smith	Pembroke Dock	56
Jack Phillips	Llangwm	43

Division 2 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Johnston	4	61
2	Haverfordwest	4	61
3	Cresselly II	4	57
4	Pembroke	4	51
5	Hook	4	45
6	Pembroke Dock	4	34
7	Llanrhian	4	29
8	Fishguard	4	23
9	Llechryd	4	22
10	Llangwm	4	21

Division 3: Laugharne impress before rain arrives

Laugharne looked in control at Kilgetty thanks to an unbeaten 61 from Matt Tait before the weather intervened.

Elsewhere, Burton II made a strong start against Haverfordwest II, reaching 43 without loss before rain stopped play.

Division 3 results

Fixture	Result
Haverfordwest II v Burton II	Match abandoned
Stackpole v Carew II	Match abandoned
Pembroke II v Lamphey	Match abandoned
Kilgetty v Laugharne	Match abandoned – Laugharne 131-4
Hundleton v Saundersfoot II	Match abandoned

Division 3 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Kilgetty	4	61
2	Carew II	4	56
3	Lamphey	4	47
4	Laugharne	4	46
5	Hundleton	4	44

Division 4: Narberth II earn biggest win of the day

Narberth II secured one of the weekend’s few completed victories with a 42-run win over Llechryd II.

Ceri Davies smashed 76 while Richard Howell starred with the ball, taking 4-12.

Crymych also impressed before rain halted play against Lawrenny II, reaching 146-3 thanks to Rhys Davies’ unbeaten 73.

Division 4 results

Fixture	Result
St Ishmaels II v Carew III	Match abandoned
Lawrenny II v Crymych	Match abandoned – Crymych 146-3
Neyland II v Haverfordwest III	Match abandoned
Herbrandston II v Hook II	Match abandoned – Hook II 95-2
Llechryd II v Narberth II	Narberth II won by 42 runs

Division 4 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Narberth II	4	67
2	Hook II	4	58
3	Lawrenny II	4	57
4	Llechryd II	4	45
5	Crymych	4	43

Division 5: Whitland II pile on the runs

Whitland II posted the highest score of the weekend, smashing 256-2 before rain ended play against Llanrhian II.

Steffan Lee (61*) and Matt Driver (67*) were in fine form.

Llechryd III also impressed, reaching 160-4 thanks to Andrew Davies’ unbeaten 69.

Division 5 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Cresselly III	4	67
2	Llanrhian II	4	63
3	Whitland II	4	52
4	Llangwm II	3	43
5	Llechryd III	4	25

Division 6: Whitland III romp home

Whitland III claimed the most emphatic result of the weekend, skittling Kilgetty II for just 17 before knocking off the target for the loss of one wicket.

Ben Rodea (3-8) and Sion Benjamin (2-8) starred with the ball.

Haverfordwest/Cresselly also picked up a valuable seven-wicket win over Laugharne II.

Division 6 table

Pos	Team	Played	Points
1	Whitland III	4	63
2	Lamphey II	3	56
3	H’West/Cresselly	4	39
4	Neyland III	4	37
5	Laugharne II	3	32

Despite the weather chaos, the early league tables are beginning to take shape, with Carew, Johnston, Kilgetty, Narberth II, Cresselly III and Whitland III all setting the early pace in their respective divisions.