Sport

Youth defeated in friendly

Published

8 years ago

May 19, 2017

Haverfordwest County Youth XI 1

Swansea City XI 5

THIS end-of-season fixture, played in bright sunshine but a stiff breeze, was keenly but fairly contested and gave real pleasure to a large crowd on Saturday (May 12).

An accomplished Swans’ side totally deserved their win, but were pushed to the end by a determined and resilient Blues outfit.

The young Swans’ obvious class showed from the start. Their touch was good and they looked very well drilled.

The Blues dug in very well in defence and were always looking to break, but made little headway in the first half hour. Swans’ striker Brad Gibbons set up the first real chance to either side on the 17th minute when his shot rasped against the bar.

He then slipped in a brace of goals in the 22nd and 25th minutes after latching on to chances and scoring from close range, with keeper Jack Ackerman having no chance with either. Ackerman in fact had a good game, but surprising amount of his workload involved fielding a few back passes forced under pressure and he did this coolly and well.

From the half-hour mark onwards the Blues started to exert a little pressure of their own. Their first corner came in the 36th minute, but Fraser Findlay’s well-flighted in-swinger went just an inch or two over the angle of bar and post.

A neat flick-on by Jack Wilson saw Colin Fawcett caught just offside, and another fine Fawcett – Wilson link saw Jake Merry’s final shot being saved at the foot of the post.

Early in the second half, Fawcett, who was wearing 9 but was lying back in the centre of midfield and breaking from there, went on a 50-yard run from deep in his own half.

But in the next ten minutes the Swans were awarded two penalties, the first for what looked a rather innocuous challenge, with the second looking altogether harder. The first was hammered in by Swans’ keeper Scott Reid, the second by Will Rickard.

The Blues were now pressing really hard to get back into the game. The threat was coming often, but not always, down the right, with Fawcett linking well with sub right winger Dany Raicu.

In the 70th minute, a sweeping move instigated by these two ended with Ewan Payne shooting against the post. Two minutes later a similar move set up Jack Wilson who cracked in the consolation goal.

A neat Swans move sent in Evan Jones for their fifth but it was the Bluebirds (helped admittedly by several substitutions) who seemed to finish the stronger, and who were able to keep pushing their opponents to the final whistle.

County: Jack Ackermann; Jimmy Wilkes, Fraser Findlay, Alaric Jones, Morgan Richards, Matty Delaney, Jack Wilson, Jake Merry, Ben Fawcett, Joe Griffiths, Ewan Payne. Subs: Kieran Allen, Joe Pritchard, Dany Raicu.

Sport

Wales team announced for Six Nations opener against France

Published

2 days ago

January 29, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Adams, Williams, and Jenkins return

WALES head coach Warren Gatland has named his team for the opening match of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations against France at the Stade de France, Paris, on Friday (Jan 31). The game kicks off at 8:15pm GMT and will be broadcast live on ITV and S4C.

Josh Adams, Liam Williams, and Dafydd Jenkins return to the starting XV, with Adams on the wing, Williams at fullback, and Jenkins in the second row.

Jac Morgan leads the side

Captain Jac Morgan starts at openside flanker, joining James Botham at blindside and Aaron Wainwright at No. 8 in the back row. Will Rowlands partners Jenkins in the second row.

In the front row, Evan Lloyd earns his first Test start at hooker, while Henry Thomas is named at tighthead prop for his first start and his first Wales appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Gareth Thomas starts at loosehead.

Ben Thomas makes Six Nations debut

Tomos Williams starts at scrum-half, with Ben Thomas making his Six Nations debut at fly-half. Owen Watkin and Nick Tompkins form the midfield pairing, while Tom Rogers is named on the wing alongside Adams.

Among the replacements, Nicky Smith is set to win his 50th cap, while fly-half Dan Edwards could make his senior Wales debut. Freddie Thomas and Blair Murray are in line for their first Six Nations appearances, having made their senior international debuts in the Autumn Nations Series.

The front-row replacements include Elliot Dee, Keiron Assiratti, and Smith. Tommy Reffell covers the back row, and Rhodri Williams provides scrum-half cover.

Gatland said: “We’re excited for the challenge on Friday. The Six Nations is the best rugby competition in the world. Every game is a big occasion. We want to go out there, embrace that, and start our championship well.”

Wales team to face France

Starting XV:
15. Liam Williams (Saracens) – 92 caps
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets) – 5 caps
13. Nick Tompkins (Saracens) – 38 caps
12. Owen Watkin (Ospreys) – 42 caps
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby) – 59 caps
10. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby) – 7 caps
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby) – 59 caps
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys) – 35 caps
2. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby) – 5 caps
3. Henry Thomas (Scarlets) – 4 caps
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92) – 36 caps
5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs) – 19 caps
6. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby) – 16 caps
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys) – 18 caps (captain)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) – 52 caps

Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) – 51 caps
17. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers) – 49 caps
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby) – 10 caps
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby) – 1 cap
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers) – 23 caps
21. Rhodri Williams (Dragons) – 5 caps
22. Dan Edwards (Ospreys) – uncapped
23. Blair Murray (Scarlets) – 3 caps

This version is more structured, concise, and in line with a professional sports news style. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!

News

Fun free sport sessions for kids in Fishguard

Published

2 days ago

January 29, 2025

Tom Sinclair

YOUNGSTERS can discover new sports to love at a free multi-sports session starting next week.

The sessions for children aged 5-8 will be held every Monday in term time between 4.15pm-5pm at Fishguard Leisure Centre.

The first session is this Monday, February 3rd.

Delivered by Sport Pembrokeshire Active Young People officers and assisted by

Young Ambassadors from Ysgol Bro Gwaun, the event is an opportunity to try fun activities, new sports and develop fundamental movement skills.

All are welcome to come along.

Contact [email protected] for more information or to register your child.

Sport

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association: Week 14 Results

Published

4 days ago

January 27, 2025

Herald Sport

THE SOUTH Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association, also known as “The Friendly League,” has released the results for Week 14 of the competition.

Match Results

Hundleton 8 v Badgers 2
Llanteg 2 v St Johns 8
Reynalton 8 v St Twynnells 2
East Williamston 8 v Carew 2

The match between Cosheston and Kilgetty was postponed, while Lamphey had the bye.

League Table (Week 14)

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	S/D	Points
East Williamston	12	11	0	1	167	92
Carew	12	8	1	3	111	79
Reynalton	12	8	0	4	48	70
Hundleton	13	7	0	6	61	68
St Johns	11	8	0	3	76	66
Cosheston	11	6	0	5	33	54
Llanteg	11	3	1	7	-29	51
St Twynnells	13	3	1	9	-125	48
Badgers	11	3	1	7	6	45
Kilgetty	11	3	0	8	-129	40
Lamphey	11	2	0	9	-142	29