Sport
Dragons deny brave Bluestone in thriller

Bluestone 3 • West Dragons 3 (AET)
West Dragons win 4-2 on penalties
WEST DRAGONS won the inaugural Bluestone Foundation Shield after they beat Bluestone 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after a thrilling ninety minutes of football.
The final was played at the Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest, on Friday, September 1, and a good crowd gathered to show their support.
Bluestone made an excellent start to the match and with only two minutes gone they stunned the Dragons as Bradley Hewett broke free and buried his shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
Dragon’s Tony Evans came close to a response for his side but after he cut inside his shot was saved.
With sixteen minutes on the clock the referee adjudged that Bradley Hewett had been pulled down in the area and pointed to the spot. Captain Ian Darbyshire took the spot kick and buried it into the net to double Bluestone’s lead.
Davies could have added a third just moments later but after he rounded the keeper he was met by the Dragons defence who were able to clear the ball.
Daryl Mansbridge had a chance for the Dragons with a free kick on the edge of the box but his shot went over the bar.
Shortly before half time the Dragons pulled a goal back as Jordan Williams ran into the box before Scott Crawford took over and fired the ball into the net.
Early in the second half, the Dragons came agonisingly close to equalising as Crawford’s fierce strike cannoned back off the crossbar.
Bluestone also had former Swansea City player Lee Trundle in their team and he came on with half an hour to go.
Dylan Davies came close for Bluestone as his run ended with him firing the ball just over the bar.
With twelve minutes to go the Dragons equalised from a corner as Crawford poked the ball home at the back post.

Assist: Lee Trundle came on and set up a goal for Bluestone
However, just five minutes later, Bluestone restored their lead as Trundle controlled the ball well before crossing to the back post for Llew Jones who composed himself after missing his first shot to fire into the roof of the net.
Those celebrations were short lived as Dorian Davies, after seeing his free kick blocked, reacted well to volley the ball into the bottom left corner of the net and make it 3-3.
There was still time for another chance and Trundle showed his trickery before being fouled but his resulting free kick was blocked by the wall.
Referee Paul Rooney called time on a thrilling match meaning penalties would be needed to decide the game.
Both sides scored their first penalties but Ewan Cunningham saw his spot kick saved by Bluestone keeper Chris Lo, only for Darbyshire to see the following kick tipped over the bar by Ben Henton.
Allen scored his next penalty for the Dragons but Henton again saved to give his side the advantage.
After eight penalties the Dragons led 3-2 and it was left to Ashley Prior who buried his effort to seal a first Bluestone Foundation Shield win for West Dragons.
After the match, it was announced that the tournament as a whole had raised over £1000 which will benefit projects within Pembrokeshire.
Bluestone Foundation Chairman Frank Atkins thanked those who attended and everyone who was involved with the tournament, including Ian Darbyshire, who first came up with the idea of the tournament.
For more photos, visit the Herald Sports Facebook page.
Sport
East Williamston maintain dominance in Friendly League

SOUTH PEMBROKESHIRE Short Mat Bowls Association – Week 16 Results
THE LATEST round of matches in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s ‘Friendly League’ saw East Williamston extend their lead at the top with a commanding 10-0 victory over St Twynnells.
Elsewhere, Llanteg edged a tight contest against Badgers 6-4, St Johns secured an 8-2 win over Kilgetty, and Cosheston overcame Carew 7-3. The scheduled match between Reynalton and Lamphey was postponed, while Hundleton had a bye.
A catch-up fixture was also played, with Badgers defeating Llanteg 8-2.
League standings after Week 16:
Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Shot Diff | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Williamston | 14 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 195 | 108 |
St Johns | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 106 | 88 |
Carew | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 110 | 86 |
Hundleton | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 60 | 72 |
Reynalton | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 32 | 70 |
Cosheston | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 34 | 65 |
Badgers | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 63 |
Llanteg | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | -50 | 63 |
St Twynnells | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | -152 | 48 |
Kilgetty | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | -146 | 42 |
Lamphey | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | -118 | 35 |
With just a few rounds remaining, East Williamston look poised to secure the league title, while St Johns and Carew remain in contention for the runner-up spot.
– Steve Cox, League Fixtures Secretary
Sport
Merlins Bridge 11- Herbrandston 1: A whopper win for the wizards!

IN ANOTHER defeat for Herbrandston, Merlins Bridge completely dominated the game, and ball time.
Kick-off was at 2:30pm at the Pembrokeshire Sport Village, on a 4G ground facility.
Within 10 minutes, J. Thomas scored the first goal for Merlins Bridge. At 22 minutes, Merlins Bridge were 3 goals up.
The first, and only, goal for Herbrandston was at 25 minutes into the game by M. Jones.
Another 4 goals were scored after this by Merlins Bridge: J. Thomas, D. Davies, J. Griffiths, N. Evans.
In a turn of events, a yellow card was served to O. Robinson of Herbranston for a bad tackle.
The damage had been done by this yellow card, as the game only got increasingly worse for Herbrandston. In a continued thrashing, 4 more goals were scored by Merlins Bridge by T. G Williams, J. Griffiths, J. Thomas x2.
Next weekend (Sat 15), Merlins Bridge are back against Pennar Robins: currently sitting at 24 (Pennar) and 20 (Merlins) on the League table- it should be a tense match.
Merlins Bridge Line-Up:
D. Pearce, A. Plunkett, L. Hudgell, J. Thomas, F. Nash, D. Davies, J. Thomas, N. Evans, J. Griffiths, H. Dimond, T. G Williams.
Subs: M. D’Ivry, M. Preddy, P. Thomas.
Herbrandston Line-Up:
M. Mcluckie, T. Richardston, O. Robinson, D. John, E. Chalker, S. Findlay, S. Gilepsie, M. Jones, A. Whatling, C. Owens, A. Maccallum.
Subs: C. Hughes, A. Hughes, C. Davenport.
Sport
Pembrokeshire teen and her horse take top honours at UK equestrian finals

A YOUNG Pembrokeshire rider and her horse have made their mark on the equestrian world with a stunning performance at one of the UK’s top shows.
Seventeen-year-old Chloe Owen and her five-year-old horse, Tarr Dauntless – better known as Rodney – took top honours at the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Rising Star finals at London’s Excel.
The pair, the youngest competitors in their class, not only won their category but also claimed the prestigious hunter championship. Their performance was hailed as “sublime” and “faultless” by leading equestrian magazine Horse & Hound.
Chloe, an A-level student at Haverfordwest High, has an unbreakable bond with Rodney, having helped raise him after his mother tragically died when he was a foal.
Rodney was bred by Chloe’s parents, Charles and Charlotte Owen of St Brides. His bloodline traces back to the first Holsteiner imported by the Hunter Improvement Society more than 50 years ago, a lineage carefully maintained by Chloe’s family.

However, Rodney’s early life was fraught with tragedy. His mother was attacked by a badger when he was just a few days old, suffering severe injuries that left her in a full plaster cast for three months before she succumbed to colic.
Charlotte said: “It was horrific. We bottle-fed Rodney, but his mum couldn’t play with him, so Chloe took over. They have such a lovely relationship – he’s a proper softie.”
The pair have had a remarkable debut season in the show ring, winning five out of seven championship titles, including Supreme Horse at the Pembrokeshire County Show.
“The London show in December was the first time Rodney had ever left Wales,” said Charlotte. “The furthest he’d travelled before was the Royal Welsh! But he just took everything in his stride.”
“I’ve never had a horse with a temperament like his—he’s so professional and so special. I knew from when he was a yearling that there was something different about him.”
Proud mum Charlotte added: “There were a lot of happy tears shed that day in London. There’s a very exciting future ahead for Chloe and Rodney—their first year together has been nothing short of extraordinary.”
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