Dan Hawkins hits hat-trick as Bluebirds overwhelm Llanelli at Bridge Meadow

HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY secured their place in the JD Cymru Premier European play-offs with a crushing 6-0 victory over Llanelli Town at the Ogi Bridge Meadow.

The Bluebirds were far too strong for the visitors and had the game under control early on, turning sustained pressure into a commanding first-half lead before finishing the job in emphatic style after the break.

Dan Hawkins was the star of the show with a hat-trick, while Ben Ahmun, Rhys Abbruzzese and Panashe Makwiramiti also got on the scoresheet in a one-sided contest.

Tony Pennock’s side wasted little time in stamping their authority on the game. Haverfordwest moved the ball sharply, created openings from the outset and were rewarded with an early breakthrough which set the tone for the afternoon.

Llanelli struggled to cope with the pace and movement of the home side, who looked dangerous whenever they went forward. Ahmun added a second as the pressure told, and although the visitors tried to stay in touch, Haverfordwest always looked the more likely to score again.

Even a missed penalty did little to slow the Bluebirds’ momentum. They continued to push forward, and a third goal before the break effectively ended the contest, giving the hosts a deserved cushion at half-time.

Any hopes of a Llanelli response disappeared quickly in the second half as Haverfordwest stepped up another gear.

Hawkins completed his hat-trick in style, underlining an impressive individual display, before Abbruzzese added a fifth as the home side carved open the visitors once again.

There was also a welcome moment for Jack Wilson, who made his return after a long spell out with injury, as the Bluebirds continued to dominate in front of their home support.

Makwiramiti rounded things off with a superb long-range strike late on to complete a memorable afternoon for the hosts, who rarely looked troubled and could have scored even more.

The result keeps the momentum firmly with Haverfordwest heading into their final outing before the play-offs, and the manner of the victory will only add to belief that they can extend their season further.

Young Vikings prove too strong for Johnston in eight-goal final

HAKIN UNITED 2nds lifted the Pembrokeshire Division Two Cup after a powerful display saw them beat Johnston 5-3 in front of 719 spectators at the Ogi Bridge Meadow Stadium on Friday night.

The Vikings’ young side rose to the occasion in style, turning in an energetic and confident performance to take control of the final and keep Johnston on the back foot for long periods.

Hakin made the most of mistakes from the Tigers and showed real quality going forward, with Mason Dolling and Callum Stannett particularly impressive in attack as they helped drive their side towards the trophy.

Although Johnston did manage to get two late goals on the scoresheet, they came too late to change the outcome of a contest that had already been decided.

By that stage, Hakin had built a commanding lead and looked the more dangerous side throughout, combining pace, movement and clinical finishing to put themselves firmly in control.

The strong turnout at the Ogi Bridge Meadow added to the occasion, with a crowd of 719 watching Hakin’s young team deliver on the big stage.

In the end, the Vikings were deserved winners, producing the sort of dominant cup final display that left little doubt over where the silverware was heading.

Image: Hakin United Football Club/Facebook

The team secured a historic victory at the Lacrosse Home Internationals last weekend, lifting the title for the first time in 23 years.

WALES Under-20 women secured a historic victory at the Lacrosse Home Internationals last weekend, lifting the title for the first time in 23 years.

The landmark success came after an impressive three-day tournament at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Newport, England, from Thursday, April 10 to Saturday, April 12, 2026.

Joint captains Maddie Sturt, Ellora Williams and Kaitlin Miller praised the squad’s commitment and team spirit throughout the competition.

They said: “We are incredibly proud of how hard the team worked throughout training. Everyone put in so much work and it clearly showed in our performance over the tournament this weekend.

“Playing for our country is always such an amazing moment and although we are a very new and young team, we all came together in the matches. It was incredible.”

Wales began the tournament with a dramatic clash against England on Friday, narrowly losing 13-12 in the closing minutes. They bounced back on Saturday with a strong 12-9 win over Scotland before sealing the title on Sunday with a superb 15-9 victory over the home side.

Coach Jamie Nicholson said the tournament had given the squad exactly the kind of experience it needed as it builds towards next year’s European Championships.

He said: “Home Internationals were exactly what we needed as a developing squad building toward the European Championships next year.

“We learnt a great deal across three competitive games and came away knowing we have real quality in the group, across all areas of the field.

“Our coaches couldn’t be prouder of how this squad conducted themselves on the pitch and off. They gave everything in every game and showed real character and maturity between games. This is a group of players and staff that genuinely believes in each other and winning the title in their first tournament playing together makes the weekend even more special.”

The success comes at a time of growing global interest in lacrosse, with the sport set to return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles in 2028 for the first time in 120 years.

The Olympic programme will feature the fast-paced “Sixes” format for both men and women, a version designed to make the sport quicker, more accessible and more appealing to new audiences.