Sport

Wales comeback denies impressive Scotland

Published

8 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

The stage is set – Senior Cup Final

Published

8 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Herald Sport

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.

News

70 Pembrokeshire clubs benefit from Sport Wales funding

Published

19 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

SEVENTY Pembrokeshire clubs have been successful in receiving grants from the Be Active Wales Fund over the last financial year.

In total the clubs received more than £407,800 from the grants scheme from Sport Wales in 2023/24.

The fund backed 25 different sports, ranging from archery, basketball and cricket to sailing, short mat bowls and weightlifting and everything in between.

The Be Active Wales Fund is open to applications from not for profit community clubs and groups to help develop and sustain their activities.

Grants range from a minimum of £300 up to a maximum of £50,000.

The scheme will support coach education courses, the purchase of essential items of equipment right up to larger projects such as floodlighting and boats for sailing clubs.

For advice and support with your application contact Alan Jones or Lois Hilling at Pembrokeshire County Council’s Sports Development department, Sport Pembrokeshire on [email protected]

The Be Active Wales Fund is always open for applications.

More information is available on the Sport Wales website.

Sport

Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double

Published

1 day ago

April 24, 2024

Herald Sport

Two thrilling semi finals last weekend has meant Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road will meet in the senior cup final this coming Saturday.

Goodwick faced Pennar Robins in their semi final who pushed the champions very hard. Carl Vincent will be disappointed but proud of the Robins as they gave a great account of themselves. However in the end Goodwick’s quality and experience just was too much for Vincent’s team.

The other semi was an absolute thriller, and after a nail biting game Matthew Fox’ Clarby progressed to the final. A offside call has sparked a lot of debate around the county. However it seems that linesman Jenkins made an absolute perfect call so credit to him for that.

Both teams would have wanted a nice week of preparation for the final, maybe without any games to play. Unfortunately this hasn’t been possible due to the fixture backlog and both outfits have played already this week.

Goodwick will be favourites of course, however if anyone can upset the apple cart Saturday it’s this Clarbeston Road team. Fox’ outfit have impressed over and over this season. Without too much pressure on them, they are in a good place going into the final.

The double at one staged looked like the minimum Goodwick would be aiming for this season. However losses in other cup competitions, means its Senior Cup success or just the league title for the outstanding team of the season. Oddly becoming champions with no cup success maybe seen as a huge disappointment considering their dominance this season. A unique pressure. However if anyone can handle that pressure it’s O’Sullivans outfit.