Sport
Leahy sends Wizards through

Pennar Robins 1
Merlins Bridge 5

Steve McNabney: Comes away with the ball after his teammate is challenged
MERLINS BRIDGE made it through to the quarter-finals of the Senior Cup as they beat Pennar Robins 5-1 at a wet Bush Camp last Saturday (Dec 10).
Rain lashed down on the pitch throughout the match and led to a number of mistakes, which made for an exciting encounter.
The Wizards almost went ahead after 30 seconds when Steve McNabney played the ball to Joe Leahy, but his shot was deflected wide.
Connor Roberts then came close with a shot for the Robins but his effort was saved by the Bridge keeper.
With 14 minutes gone, the Robins had the best chance of the game when a corner from Craig Asparassa found Sean Meaney, but his header crashed against the bar.
A minute later, the same combination broke down the left hand side and Asparassa squared for Meaney, but his shot was saved when it looked easier to score.
Joe Leahy opened the scoring for the Wizards as a ball into the box wasn’t dealt with properly and it fell to him to strike the ball into the net off the post.
Almost immediately it was 2-0, as Pennar played the ball back, but a loose pass presented the ball to Adam Hawkins who superbly chipped the keeper.
Both sides had chances to score but it remained 2-0 when the half time whistle went.
In the second half, the Wizards increased their lead when the Pennar keeper, who went off injured shortly after, cleared the ball straight at McNabney who slotted the ball into the net.
Leahy then bagged his second five minutes later as he tapped in when a cross wasn’t cleared properly.
Pennar’s Connor Rees then pulled a goal back for the home side when he headed home from a corner but that was just a consolation for the home side.
With the game coming to an end, Leahy completed his hat trick as he chipped the keeper from 20 yards out.
The win earns Merlins Bridge a home quarter final tie against Division Two side Prendergast Villa, with a date for the game to be confirmed.
This Saturday (Dec 17), Merlins Bridge return to league action as they take on Tenby, while Pennar are also in league action at home against Neyland.
Sport
East Williamston maintain lead as Week 20 results confirmed

THE LATEST results from last week’s league fixtures saw Kilgetty secure a 7-3 victory over Llanteg, while Carew dominated Badgers with an 8-2 win. Cosheston delivered a strong performance, beating Lamphey 9-1, and St Twynnells claimed an 8-2 win over St Johns. East Williamston had a bye, while the match between Hundleton and Reynalton was postponed.
Current League Standings (Week 20)
Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | S/D | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Williamston | 17 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 267 | 135 |
Carew | 17 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 104 | 98 |
Cosheston | 17 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 55 | 93 |
St Johns | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 57 | 90 |
Llanteg | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -54 | 84 |
Hundleton | 17 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 57 | 83 |
Reynalton | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 24 | 83 |
Badgers | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | -15 | 75 |
St Twynnells | 17 | 6 | 1 | 10 | -111 | 74 |
Kilgetty | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | -175 | 58 |
Lamphey | 17 | 5 | 0 | 12 | -132 | 57 |
Meanwhile, the weekend’s triples tournament had to be abandoned after the round-robin stage due to an accident involving Nev Ruff of Badgers. The knockout round will be rescheduled, with the league committee extending their best wishes to Nev for a speedy and full recovery.
News
Local MP completes his first Haverfordwest Parkrun

HAVERFORDWEST Parkrun number 312 took place on Saturday (Mar 15) at the Racecourse, with 80 participants crossing the finish line—among them, Henry Tufnell MP, who completed his first parkrun.
The MP recorded a time of 18 minutes and 14 seconds at the free weekly 5k community event. His wife, Poppy, also took part, volunteering for the first time as one of 15 helpers who ensure the event runs smoothly under the parkrun UK umbrella.
The event, which has now seen 24,536 finishers, takes place every Saturday at 9:00am. Organisers expressed gratitude to Haverfordwest Racecourse Public Park Trust for their continued support in hosting the event and to Haverfordwest Cricket Club for providing toilet facilities for participants each week.
News
Future of Wales’ last Greyhound track uncertain amid ban proposal

THE VALLEY Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, the last remaining greyhound racing track in Wales, faces an uncertain future following the Welsh Government’s proposal to outlaw the sport.
Greyhound racing has been a part of Welsh sporting history for nearly a century, with the first races taking place on April 7, 1928. At its peak, the sport drew tens of thousands of spectators, with the Welsh White City Stadium in Cardiff once attracting crowds of 25,000. The Valley Greyhound Stadium itself opened in 1976 and has undergone significant renovations over the years, including the addition of an indoor lounge and licensed bar in 2011. The stadium was granted a licence by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) in August 2023, ensuring compliance with modern animal welfare and racing standards.

Welsh Government pushes for ban
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies announced on February 18, 2025, that the government intends to implement a ban on greyhound racing “as soon as practically possible.” He stated: “I believe that now is the right time to move to ban greyhound racing in Wales. We are proud to be the first nation in the UK to do this.”
The proposed ban follows increasing pressure from animal welfare groups and a government consultation that received 35,000 signatures supporting the end of the sport. Welfare concerns, including the risks of injury and post-racing care for retired dogs, have been key drivers behind the move.
Divided opinions on the proposal
The announcement has sparked widespread debate.
BVA President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux commented: “When it comes to the use of animals in sport, as a society we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the animals involved receive the highest standards of welfare.
“It’s also essential that policy decisions on this issue are led by evidence and BVA’s ‘Animals in Performance Sport’ working group is looking closely at the issue, examining the evidence to ensure a comprehensive and considered view.
“The working group is expected to report later this year.”
However, industry representatives and racing enthusiasts argue that the decision is not grounded in sufficient evidence. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has strongly opposed the move, with Chairman Jeremy Cooper stating: “This decision has been heavily influenced by animal rights activists. Our industry has made significant strides in ensuring the welfare of greyhounds.”
Essex businessman Dave Barclay, who has owned the Valley Greyhound Stadium since November 2021, is understood to be seeking legal advice in light of the government’s plans.
Impact on local economy and sport
If the ban is enacted, Wales would become the first UK nation to outlaw greyhound racing, leaving only 18 tracks operational in the rest of the country following the closure of Crayford Stadium in January. The closure of the Valley Greyhound Stadium is expected to result in the loss of approximately 30 jobs and leave a void in the local sporting community.
Former England and British and Irish Lions rugby player Mike Burton, now a greyhound trainer, expressed disappointment: “I come to Wales because they are good people, they are all grafters and love the sport. This is a huge loss.”
Uncertain future for greyhound racing in Wales
Despite the outcry from the industry, the Welsh Government remains committed to phasing out the sport. The exact timeline for implementation is unclear, but with the next Senedd election set for May 2026, the ban could be in place before then.
As the debate continues, stakeholders on both sides await further details on the government’s plan, including support measures for affected workers and provisions for the welfare of retired racing greyhounds. For now, the final bend looms for Wales’ last greyhound track, and its future remains uncertain.
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