Sport
Wales comeback denies impressive Scotland

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
Travel advice for Wales vs Ireland on February 22 in Cardiff

WALES will be taking on Ireland on Saturday 22 February at Principality Stadium.
With the kick-off taking place at 2.15pm – there will be a full city centre road closure from 10.15am until 5.45pm to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely.
The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy due to this rugby match – so please plan ahead – and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the park & ride at the former Toy’s R Us site car park in the Sports Village – CF11 0JS.
For up to date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go to the Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook.
Gates open at 12.15pm, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to plan their journey and get in early. Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at principalitystadium.wales, in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city.
Road closures
From 7am, Scott Road and Park Street will be closed because of the need to prepare Gate 5 and protect queuing fans.
The following roads will be closed as part of the full city centre road closure which will take place at 10.15am until 5.45pm.
- Kingsway from its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street.
- Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street.
- Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted via Fitzhammon Embankment).
- Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted).
- The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street, Castle St, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.
- Station Terrace and Guildford Street from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way will be access for buses only during the times of the road closures. This is to ensure that there is reliable access for buses to the satellite points in Churchill Way.
- Additionally, Penarth Road will be closed 30 minutes before the game finishes and up to hour after the final whistle on safety grounds for train passengers arriving and departing from the train station.
Additions:
Civic Centre: Access to part of the Civic Centre will be controlled throughout the day, with access allowed only for event parking, limited commuter parking, loading and access to private car parks.
Roads affected include King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.
Transport for Wales (TFW) will be providing additional capacity where possible on routes in/out of Cardiff on Saturday 22 February but trains are expected to be very busy, so please allow plenty of time for your journey.
Post-event queues for mainline rail services will be on Central Square and queues for Valleys services will be to the rear of the station. Cardiff Queen Street will close at 3.30pm except for accessible access and passengers that wish to travel to Cardiff Bay.
Pre and post-event revenue checks will be taking place at Cardiff Central so please ensure you have purchased your rail ticket before entering a queuing system.
Great Western Railway (GWR) will run additional services to help customers get home from the Wales-Ireland fixture. Extra trains will operate from Cardiff Central to Swansea, Newport, Bristol and London; with plenty of parking available at station car parks.
Trains are, however, expected to be very busy immediately after the match and a queueing system will be in place outside the station to help people board trains safely.
Those travelling from further afield should check connecting services at www.gwr.com/check.
Park & Ride facilities
The event park & ride facilities will be at Toy’s R Us in the Sports Village, Cardiff Bay – CF11 0JS.
The drop of point in the city centre is Callaghan Square.
The park & ride site will open at 8.45am, with the first bus leaving at 9am. The last bus from the city centre will be at 6pm with the site closing at 6.30pm.
Civic Centre Event Day Parking (Cars and Coaches)
Getting there: Exit Junction 32 of the M4, head south on the A470 towards the city centre and follow signage to the civic centre.
Cost: £20 payable on the day for cars and £30 for coaches – card payments are also now available.
Parking time: The car park will open at 8am and closes at 12 Midnight.
Event Day Parking at Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens (cars)
(Approximately, 0.5 mile walk to the Principality Stadium, Gate 2).
Sophia Gardens Event Day Parking
Getting there: Exit junction 32 off the M4
Cost: £20 for cars and £30 for coaches – card payments are now available.
Parking time: Car park opens at 8.00am and closes at 12 midnight.
Please note: Sophia Gardens car park will be staffed until 7.00pm all vehicles are left on site at the owner’s risk. Cardiff Council will not be held responsible for any theft or damage to motor vehicles or personal possessions. Any vehicles left in the car park after closing time will be fined.
Bus
Local buses:
Bus services will be diverted while the city centre road closures are in place
Please visit the relevant bus operator’s website for more information about your specific bus routes.
For Stagecoach services, please visit: Welcome to Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)
For Cardiff Bus services, please visit: https://www.cardiffbus.com/principality-stadium
For NAT services, please visit: https://www.natgroup.co.uk/
National Express:
National Express coaches will use Sophia Gardens as usual.
Can you cycle or walk?
The cycleways and the pop-up cycleways within the road closure area will remain open for cyclists to use during the event, but due to the number of people expected to attend the rugby match, we ask all cyclists to take due care and attention.
The road closures apply to all motor vehicles of any kind, but not to bicycles with pedals.
Those who live locally in Cardiff may want to travel by bicycle or walk. Research shows us that 52% of car trips made in the Welsh capital are less than 5km. This is a distance that can be comfortably cycled in 20 minutes.
We also know that 28% of Cardiff residents who currently do not cycle would like to do so.
When the roads are congested this makes cycling an even more attractive option as travel by bicycle would be quicker than a car during rush hours or during big events.
Shopping Parking
City centre car parks are also available: North Road Car Parks, St David’s Shopping Centre, John Lewis, Capitol Shopping Centre, and NCP (Adam Street, Dumfries Place and Greyfriars Road.)
Disabled parking
Disabled drivers are advised to use Sophia Gardens. Disabled parking is also available at various private car parks.
Please check individual websites for availability.
Taxis
St Mary Street taxi rank will close at 10.15am and will re-open at 5.45pm.
Sport
Local cricket clubs praised in Welsh Parliament

CRICKET-MAD local MS Sam Kurtz raised the efforts of two local cricket clubs to give something back to their communities and improve their facilities in the Senedd on Tuesday, February 11.
Mr Kurtz, who plays for Fishguard CC, is well-known – possibly notorious – in local sporting circles for being a keen participant in whichever sport he turns his hand to.
On Tuesday, he asked for a Welsh Government statement from the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership on the support available to grassroots cricket clubs in Wales.
While doing so, he raised the example of Pembroke Dock Cricket Club, which is currently fundraising for new changing rooms for men, women and juniors at its ground at Imble Lane.
Sam Kurtz said: “I’ve enjoyed many a tough game against the Dock, who’ve done amazing charity work over the years, raising some £45,000 for local charities. Now it’s time that support is given to them so that they can continue to grow. They are working with the local authority and the Enhancing Pembrokeshire grant, but further support is needed.”
Sam Kurtz continued: “Neighbouring Pembroke Cricket Club has also worked tirelessly since the pandemic, improving their facilities at Treleet, including new nets, covers for the wicket and refreshing the pavilion. They’ve even been able to introduce a third senior side into the Pembrokeshire league, which shows the growth of the game in the county of Pembrokeshire.”
Mr Kurtz concluded by asking for a statement from the Minister about how he is working with Sport Wales, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Glamorgan Cricket to offer support for grassroots cricket clubs so that one of the world’s leading sports can continue to grow across our country.
The Welsh Government’s business manager, Jane Hutt MS, is notorious for not wanting Welsh Government Ministers to give statements on anything that isn’t on their news grid. Every week, MSs ask for statements on issues important to their constituents or of national importance, and Jane Hutt finds new ways to say “no.”
Mr Kurtz was probably optimistic about asking for a minister to make a statement about funding grassroots sport, a subject in which hundreds of thousands across Wales are interested but in which the Welsh Government has minimal interest.
Sure enough, Jane Hutt responded: “Now, this is something where Sport Wales is very engaged on with the grant funding scheme, and also, I have to say, I’ve been able to fund through the community facilities programme some of the improvements that are needed and refurbishments that are often needed in these often voluntary-owned community clubs. So, I hope that you will also look to the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, which has a funding portal because there are many trusts and sources of community funding. But certainly, it’s important that you’ve brought this to the attention of the Chamber, and we can celebrate that vibrancy of cricket and enjoy the season as it starts, especially Glamorgan, which I’d say is a bit biased.”
In short: “No, I won’t ask the Minister to make a statement. I’ll patronise you and the cricket clubs by telling you how to suck eggs. And, by the way, Glammy-Glammy-Glammy-Glammy Glamorgan.”
Highlighting the importance of grassroots sport and the need to support it raised its profile and focused attention on two of Pembrokeshire’s sports clubs who are doing the most to feed back into their community and provide more opportunities for participation. While Mr Kurtz didn’t get his statement, he managed to get Senedd time to shine a light on those clubs and their efforts.
Sport
St Clears and Letterston shine as Neyland struggles in Division 3

THE PEMBROKESHIRE Third Division delivered another thrilling weekend of football, with key results shaping the league standings.
Clarbeston Road II capitalises on Neyland errors
Clarbeston Road II secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Neyland Reserves, with Robert Reed-Griffiths and Henry Lucas both getting on the scoresheet. Neyland’s woes were compounded by two own goals, further adding to their struggles. Mason Morgans-Hurley netted Neyland’s only goal, but it was not enough to prevent yet another defeat.
Pendine and Kilgetty II battle to a draw
Pendine and Kilgetty II played out a 2-2 draw in a hard-fought contest. Carl Gwyther and Andrew Evans (penalty) found the net for Kilgetty, while Julian Blewitt and Kyran Lewis (penalty) ensured Pendine earned a share of the points. The result keeps Pendine in the promotion race, while Kilgetty II continues their push to climb the table.
St Clears see off Haverfordwest Cricket Club
A hat-trick from Nick Squire powered St Clears to a 4-2 away victory over Haverfordwest Cricket Club. Scott Page also found the net for the visitors. Despite Liam Sheehan scoring twice for the hosts, they were unable to contain St Clears, who now edge closer to the top four.
Letterston cruise past St Florence United
Letterston produced a dominant display, claiming a 4-0 win over St Florence United. Simon Jones bagged a brace, while Gareth Mathias and Gary Delaney added to the tally. The victory cements Letterston’s place in the top half of the table.
New Hedges Saundersfoot United march on
New Hedges Saundersfoot United continued their strong form with a 4-1 triumph over Pembroke Borough. Adam Davidson and Harvey Drummond both struck twice to secure a convincing win. Sonny Price managed to pull one back for Pembroke Borough, but they were no match for the high-flying contenders.
League standings update
Goodwick United Reserves remain at the summit with 51 points, while New Hedges Saundersfoot United continue their charge in second place with 38 points, holding games in hand. Pendine and Pembroke Borough remain tightly matched on 35 points, while St Clears’ latest victory sees them move to 30 points in the top five. At the bottom, Neyland Reserves remain rooted with just six points, unable to turn their season around.
As the season enters its final stretch, every point is crucial in the race for promotion and survival in Pembrokeshire Division 3.
-
Business2 days ago
Digital marketing challenges for rural Welsh businesses
-
Community6 days ago
National triumph: Pembrokeshire pub ranked among the friendliest in UK
-
Education6 days ago
Excluding pupils for knives ‘too simple’, says Estyn chief
-
News6 days ago
Threatening email revealed: Why Neyland’s clerk missed controversial meeting
-
News2 days ago
Police report filed over Neyland Town Council email controversy
-
News6 days ago
Cat stuck in Pembroke Dock tree for days sparks local rescue effort
-
Health2 days ago
Emergency care failing in Wales, warns damming report
-
Business6 days ago
Key Pembrokeshire aerospace employer set to expand