Sport

Ammanford and Neyland in last four

Published

9 years ago

June 9, 2017

Winners: Neyland are through to the third round of the Welsh Cup

IN THE SOUTH-WEST group of the Welsh Cup, South Wales Premier league Ammanford had a walk over into round three as Pembrokeshire’s Haverfordwest, who run four Saturday XI’s were unable to raise a team to travel to Ammanford Park.

In the all Pembrokeshire battle between Kilgetty and Whitland at Kingsmoor last Sunday (Jun 3), the visitors progressed by 66 runs. Batting first Whitland were 14-2 and 52-5 before Jack Bowen and captain Iestyn Scourfield put together a seventh wicket stand of 79.

Bowen fell having it four sixes and six fours in his 65 when he was bowled by Andrew Evans [3-20] who also accounted for Scourfield [24; 1 four] in the same manner one run later. Last man Gethin Benjamin hit three fours in his 21* as Whitland finished on 179ao in the 38th over.

Ross Hardy [2-40] and spinner Kurtis Marsh [3-31] bowled well at the start of the visitors innings and post tea the Kilgetty response revolved around opening batsmen, teenager Marsh.

The Pembroke County senior player scored 59, stroking one six and nine fours before he fell to Scourfield with the score on 91. Jonathan Harris [10], Andrew Evans [10], Levi Hughes [14*] and former Welsh international wicketkeeper, Ian Poole [11] were the only other batsmen in double figures, as paceman Scourfield took 4-18 and spinner Jonathan Thomas [3-20] to dominate the key overs in the game.

The game ended when Poole fell again to a catch by Matthew Thomas in the 35th over off Gethin Benjamin [1-7], with the score on 144.

Another Pembrokeshire side Neyland travelled to Aberaeron with a youthful eleven but it was the experienced Nick Kooman, Patrick Bellerby and Henry Durrant who were the stars as the visitors posted a huge 392-4 off 40 overs.

Opening batsman Kooman fell for 84 [4 sixes; 8 fours] with the score on 173, before Bellerby and Durrant added 162 for the third wicket.

Bellerby was stumped for 176 by David Floyd off Simon Mitchell [2- 66], having hit 13 sixes and 15 fours and Durrant finished with 100* having smashed seven sixes and nine fours as Paul Hughes conceded 118 runs from his eight overs, with the last six overs of the innings being dispatched for 105 runs.

Chris Strange [70; 2 sixes; 10 fours] and wicketkeeper Floyd [31; 7 fours] put together a fifth wicket partnership of 74 before Floyd fell on 115 to the second of three catches from Bellerby.

Strange fell on 141, with opening bowler Mitchell [18] and the last pair of Nick Jones [14*; 2 fours] and Hughes [9*] finishing the game on 187-9.

Skipper Sean Hannon [2-42] used six other bowlers, as youngsters Tom Pritchard [2-15] and Geraint Rees [2-35] bowled well on the artificial surface at Aberaeron School as the Pembrokeshire ‘All Whites’ progressed by 205 runs.

Llangennech made the trip to play South Wales Premier League Pontarddulais and were bundled out for 46 against their South Wales Premier opponents.

Only skipper Matthew Jones with 23 [3 fours] following up his unbeaten 94 the previous day had any answer to ‘the Bont’ attack. Daffydd Davies [3-3] and Tomos Folwer [3-11] backed up opening pair of Dan Lewis Williams [1-14] and William Jones [2-17] to end the visitor’s innings in the 21st over.

Owen Thomas top scored in the reply of 47-2 with four boundaries in his 23, as the game ended in the 16th over.

Round 3 – Games to be played on Sunday (June 25)

• Ammanford v Neyland

• Pontardullais v Whitland

The winners of the fixtures will progress to an open draw in the National Quarter Finals, to be played on Sunday, July 9, with the final to be held at The Gnoll, Neath on Sunday, August 20.

News

Awards celebrate all that is good about Pembrokeshire sport

Published

4 days ago

December 2, 2025

Herald Sport

PEMBROKESHIRE’S sporting community came together on Friday evening as Folly Farm hosted the annual Sport Pembrokeshire Awards – a night dedicated to honouring achievements across every level, age group and discipline.

The awards recognise exceptional performances, inspiring journeys and the volunteers who keep local sport thriving behind the scenes. The ceremony was once again presented by Ceri Coleman-Phillips of BBC Wales Sport, supported by Cris Tomos.

Lifetime honour for Premier League star

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Pembrokeshire’s own Simon Davies.
The former Wales winger enjoyed a distinguished Premier League career with Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

Davies scored in the 2010 Europa League final for Fulham, won fifty-eight caps for Wales – scoring six – and captained his country during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He was named Welsh Footballer of the Year in 2002 and Fulham’s player of the season in 2007–08. After leaving the club in 2013, he returned to his boyhood side Solva AFC, famously paying £3 subs to play against St Ishmaels.

Special recognition for Wales Women’s Street Football Team

Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas introduced the evening’s Special Award, honouring the players of the Wales Women’s Street Football Team for their remarkable run to the quarter-finals of the Homeless World Cup in Oslo.

The squad trains in Haverfordwest and included five outstanding Pembrokeshire players – co-captains Tor Planner and Marie Tilley, alongside Claire Mantripp, Sam Lewtas and Bryony Davies. All have overcome personal challenges, including homelessness, mental health difficulties and social exclusion, yet wore the Welsh jersey with pride on the world stage.

The team was led by manager Jo Price, former Wales and Arsenal goalkeeper.
Support staff included Anji Tinley, Manager of the Garth Youth & Community Project and a Pembrokeshire County Councillor.

Cruising Free honoured after rowing the Atlantic

The Chairman’s Award for 2025 was presented by Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen to ‘Cruising Free’ of Neyland Rowing Club, who achieved one of the world’s toughest endurance feats – rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

Sophie Pierce, Janine Williams, Miyah Periam and Polly Zipperlan completed the gruelling crossing from Lanzarote to Antigua, raising money for cystic fibrosis and the Paul Sartori Foundation.

At 32, Sophie became the first person with cystic fibrosis to row an ocean, while 70-year-old Janine became the oldest woman ever to complete the challenge. The team’s achievement was hailed as a powerful example of determination, unity and courage.

Parkrun pioneers win School Award

The School Award went to the Federation of Tavernspite and Templeton Schools – the first Parkrun School in the UK.

The federation has built a Parkrun curriculum with Parkrun UK, using the weekly event to boost physical activity, support wellbeing, and develop leadership through the Parkrun Ambassador scheme. The schools were praised for exceptional inclusion, providing adapted PE equipment, wheelchair races and strong support for disadvantaged pupils. Estyn has highlighted their work as best practice.

A strong year for Pembrokeshire sport

Summing up the event, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said:
“My congratulations go to everyone who won awards and all those nominated. We are so lucky to have such a strong sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire, and my thanks go to all those who work so hard to ensure people of all ages and abilities can take part in the sports they love. Thanks also to our sponsors Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio for supporting this celebration each year.”

Full list of winners

Girls U16: Ava Tyrie (Brazilian Ju Jitsu – Pembroke MMA)
Boys U16: Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Club of the Year: Milford Haven Hockey Club (MAIN PHOTO)
Junior Disability: Jake Evans (Llangwm RFC)
Young Volunteer: Alannah Heasman (Haverfordwest High School)
Junior Team: Merlin’s Bridge FC Under-14s 2024/25
Unsung Hero: Jenny Lewis (Clarbeston Road AFC)
Senior Team: Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club
Male Achievement: Liam Bradley (Triathlon)
Female Achievement: Sanna Duthie (Running)
Disability Sport: Rachel Bailey (Boccia)
Club Organiser: Silfan Rhys-Jones (Fishguard Table Tennis Club)
Coach of the Year: James North (Kilgetty AFC)
School Award: Tavernspite & Templeton Federation of Schools
Chairman’s Award: Cruising Free (Neyland Rowing Club)
Special Award: Street Football Wales
Lifetime Achievement: Simon Davies (Wales, Spurs, Fulham, Everton & Solva AFC)

Sport

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls: Week ten results

Published

6 days ago

November 30, 2025

Herald Sport

The Friendly League continues as Reynalton close the gap on leaders East Williamston

THE LATEST round of fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League produced another mix of tight contests and emphatic victories.

Kilgetty were beaten 8–2 at home by Hundleton, while Reynalton delivered the standout performance of the week with a 10–0 win over East Williamston. Llanteg also impressed, defeating Carew 8–2.

Elsewhere, St Twynnells claimed a 7–3 win away at the Badgers, and Lamphey ran out 7–3 winners against St Johns. Cosheston had the bye.

League table – Week ten

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	S/D	Points
East Williamston	8	7	0	1	+130	62
Reynalton	8	5	1	2	+64	50
Hundleton	8	4	1	3	+3	42
Llanteg	8	4	0	4	–5	41
Badgers	9	3	1	5	–21	41
St Johns	8	3	1	4	–6	38
St Twynnells	8	4	0	4	–34	37
Lamphey	9	4	0	5	–15	36
Kilgetty	9	4	0	5	–49	36
Cosheston	8	3	0	5	–13	35
Carew	7	3	0	4	–54	32

Reynalton’s dominant win means they move within touching distance of leaders East Williamston, setting up an intriguing second half to the season.

Sport

South Africa run riot as Wales suffer record defeat in Cardiff

Published

7 days ago

November 30, 2025

Herald Sport

Wales 0–73 South Africa
WALES endured one of the heaviest defeats in their history on Saturday as world champions South Africa ran in 11 tries at the Principality Stadium, producing a brutal 73-0 demolition that exposed the gulf between the sides and underlined the scale of the rebuilding task facing Welsh rugby.

The fixture, arranged outside the international window, left Wales without several first-choice players and short on experience. South Africa, by contrast, arrived in Cardiff at full strength and in ruthless form. What followed was a one-sided contest from the opening minutes to the final whistle.

First-half dominance

The Springboks established their authority early, their scrum immediately overpowering the Welsh pack and setting the tone for the afternoon. Tries from Gerhard Steenekamp, Ethan Hooker and Jasper Wiese put the visitors 21-0 ahead, with Wales struggling to exit their own half and repeatedly conceding penalties under pressure.

Wales’ lineout functioned reasonably well and there were brief flashes of ambition from Joe Hawkins, Joe Roberts and Rio Dyer, but every half-chance dissolved through handling errors or South Africa’s suffocating defensive line. A late surge from the Boks saw Morne van den Berg cross just before the break for a 28-0 half-time lead.

Second-half collapse

Any hopes of containment disappeared after the interval. South Africa emptied their bench—bringing on yet more power—and immediately cut through Wales again. Wilco Louw, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (twice), Canan Moodie, Ruan Nortje and Eben Etzebeth all scored in a relentless second half.

Wales’ discipline faltered under the pressure. Taine Plumtree and Aaron Wainwright were both shown yellow cards, with Wainwright’s high tackle sent to the bunker for review. South Africa’s own discipline cracked late on when Etzebeth received a straight red card for making contact with the eye area of Alex Mann—an incident captain Siya Kolisi later claimed was accidental.

Reaction

Player of the match Andre Esterhuizen, who produced a series of thunderous carries and turnovers, said the Springboks “worked really hard” to complete their Autumn clean sweep, praising Wales for “never giving up”.

Kolisi was gracious in victory but said he did not want the Etzebeth incident to overshadow the performance, adding: “The only way a team gets better is by playing the best. Wales will be stronger for facing this.”

Former Wales captain Dan Biggar, working as a pundit, was blunt in his assessment. “There are players there that aren’t at this level now, and may not play this level again,” he said. “I don’t think anyone learned anything from that.”

A difficult day for Welsh rugby

For Wales, the defeat will strengthen scrutiny of the WRU’s scheduling and long-term planning. A young and inexperienced squad battled gamely in patches—Mann, Hawkins and Dyer among those showing fight—but the mismatch was stark.

A crowd of around 50,000, well below capacity, reflected the mood of supporters as another bruising year for Welsh rugby nears its end.

Head coach Warren Gatland will now attempt to piece together the positives from a chastening afternoon, but the bigger questions facing the structure of the game in Wales remain unanswered.