Sport

Otters seal bonus point victory

Published

7 years ago

October 30, 2017

By Jonathan Twigg

A GD Harries sponsored Narberth maintained their second place in the Championship at the Lewis Lloyd Ground on Saturday (October 28) with a bonus point 27-3 victory over bottom side Glynneath.

Head coach Sean Gale was delighted with the result saying his players ‘delivered all I asked of them’.

He added: “We were expecting a gritty performance from Glynneath but we knew we had a strong set piece which would allow us to maintain enough possession to press for victory. We are a developing side with many new faces gelling together and we are in the same position as last year. We could have been more clinical with our execution as we tried to keep the ball in hand but it’s important to remember we took maximum points.”

Defending into a strong breeze the dominant set piece came to the fore from the start as the Otters forwards disrupted their opponents scrum with captain Alex Jenkins and his fellow second row Ryan Banner winning the early line out battle.

Glynneath were robust in their tackling, rowing very close to a line which referee Chris Oliver monitored carefully. Full back Ianto Griffiths pinged over his first penalty attempt for an indiscretion after ten minutes when visiting hooker Craig Tennant was deemed to have committed a high a tackle.

Flanker Pat Roberts alongside props Bradley Davies and Tom Slater made inroads into the visitors’ territory and the pressure of swift hands and a visionary performance from outside half Jack Rogers eventually saw the game’s opening try just beyond the quarter of an hour mark.

Jenkins again won clean line out ball before picking up a pass after his fellow forwards went through several phases of gaining yards close to the halfway line. He made 20 metres before finding wing Liam Hutchings on the outside who drew the final man after a 25 metre blast, putting number 8 Richie Rees clear into the 22 and a 10-0 lead thanks to the trusty left boot of Griffiths extended.

Glynneath got themselves on the scoreboard five minutes later when centre Jack O’Reilly kicked a penalty in front of the posts after the home pack were guilty of putting hands in a ruck after Tennant and flanker James Perry drove the red and blacks back into the game.

Narberth’s game management suited the conditions as they defended a strong breeze, working around scrum half Nick Gales lead with close passing to their surrounding ‘pods’.

This frustrated the visitors with further indiscretions conceded as their passion affected their play and hooker Tennant saw yellow for holding the ball after a tackle ten metres short of his own line, from which Rogers set up an attacking line out.

The ball was moved around the field as the Otters burrowed for a try, which came with a minute of the half remaining.

Glynneath were punished after their scrum disintegrated without Tennant and Gale took a quick penalty to thrust towards the line, Roberts on his shoulder to set up time for Rogers to put a cross field kick into the hands of winger Hutchings to cross wide out, for a 15-3 half time lead.

An expectant home crowd anticipated the blue and blacks to cruise towards victory in the second period although this didn’t materialise as rugged defence accompanying a plethora of stoppages for injuries sustained by Glynneath prevented any continuity.

They failed to take the ball further than the home 22 yard line not allowing much action for the ‘Balcony sponsors’, The Glenn Hotel to watch over as their ‘mine host’ Slater plied his trade below.

For the final fifteen minutes the side who have popular entertainer Max Boyce as their President opted for uncontested scrums which diminished a threat from the back row of Roberts, Rees and flanker Tom Powell playing off the front foot.

Griffiths at full back was playing with a skills set which would fit at a higher level and the introduction of a dynamic replacement scrum half Lewys Gibby asked questions of a tiring side, with Hutchings and centre pairing Paul Davies and Joe Hutchings finding space to run into.

Replacement Ryan Davies finished off a move after man of the match Roberts again did the hard yards for a 20-3 lead and the finale was completed to cement the bonus point victory as the game edged towards its end as the flanker claimed a try of his own. He intercepted the ball as Glynneath ran the ball from deep and coasted in under the posts for Griffiths to convert.

Narberth make the trip to Port Talbot on Saturday (Nov 4) to take on Tata Steel, two places and two points below them.

Related Topics:Championship Glynneath Narberth pembrokeshire Rugby

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Dragons’ defeat to Pau dents their European ambitions

Published

2 days ago

January 16, 2025

Staff Writer

The Dragons’ European ambitions suffered a setback with a home defeat to Pau in Newport. This loss has intensified the pressure on the team as they prepare for a crucial match in South Africa. Having dented their hopes, the team now faces an uphill battle to recover. from it.

Match overview

In the recent game, the Dragons were unable to secure a victory against Pau. Despite a strong start, they couldn’t maintain their performance throughout the match. Pau capitalised on their opportunities, making it difficult for the Dragons to regain control. The team was unable to close out crucial moments of the game, which led to their downfall.

Before the match, the Dragons were given odds of 10/11 while Pau were given even odds. With Rugby Union matches now attracting a lot more online sports betting, according to senior editor Ian Bruce, many new and exciting sites are available to UK punters looking for some rugby betting action. Punters can visit and compare a range of the best sites here, being assured that they are safe and cover a wide array of sports and odds, with some offering added perks like instant payouts.

For punters betting on the Dragons, with this loss, their chances of progressing in the European competition are now uncertain. The Dragons will need to reassess their strategy and tighten up their play in the upcoming fixtures. Their performance was a reminder of how competitive European rugby can be and how small mistakes can lead to significant consequences. The result leaves them with a tough challenge ahead if they are to keep their hopes of advancing alive.

Key moments

Aaron Wainwright, keeping up his form from last year, and Rio Dyer, did their best for the Dragons. Their efforts were commendable, but the team’s overall performance fell short. Wainwright showed his typical work rate, making key tackles and contributing in the forward pack.

Dyer, on the other hand, was dynamic in attack, creating several opportunities. However, their individual brilliance wasn’t enough to lift the team as a whole. Key mistakes at crucial moments, such as turnovers and missed tackles, allowed Pau to exploit gaps in the Dragons’ defence.

In particular, the Dragons struggled in the breakdown area, where Pau won vital turnovers. Despite individual highlights, the team’s overall execution lacked consistency, which cost them the game. This match showcased how even with standout players, team performance is crucial for success at this level of competition.

Looking ahead

The Dragons now face a critical game in South Africa. This match is vital for their European hopes. A win is essential to keep their ambitions alive. They cannot afford another slip-up, especially in a tournament as competitive as the European Champions Cup. The team needs to make adjustments in key areas, particularly their decision-making under pressure and their discipline.

The match will be a true test of their character and ability to bounce back from adversity. The Dragons have shown resilience in the past, but this game will be a significant marker of whether they can push through and stay in the competition. They will need to focus on their strengths, play with intensity, and avoid the mistakes that have hurt them recently.

News

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association results

Published

5 days ago

January 13, 2025

Herald Sport

THE RESULTS of the catch-up games played over the Christmas/New Year period are as follows:

Llanteg 10 – 0 Hundleton
Reynalton 8 – 2 Badgers
Cosheston 10 – 0 St Twynnells

Updated League Table

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	S/D	Points
East Williamston	10	9	0	1	127	74
Carew	10	7	1	2	86	65
Reynalton	11	7	0	4	31	62
Hundleton	11	6	0	5	65	60
St Johns	10	7	0	3	69	58
Cosheston	11	6	0	5	33	54
Llanteg	9	3	0	6	-22	44
St Twynnells	11	3	0	8	-108	41
Badgers	9	3	1	5	36	40
Kilgetty	10	3	0	7	-85	40
Lamphey	10	1	0	9	-155	22

Singles tournament success

A big thank you to everyone who participated in the singles tournament this weekend. After a competitive Round Robin in the morning, players were divided into red and blue streams for the afternoon knockout stages.

Red Stream Winner: Simon Hall (Reynalton)
- Runner-up: Andrew Maclean (East Williamston)
Blue Stream Winner: Margaret Richards (Reynalton)
- Runner-up: Chris Clarkson (Lamphey)

Upcoming event

The next tournament will be the Doubles, held at Heatherton on Saturday, 15th February. Entry forms will be distributed shortly once details are finalized.

Sport

Pembrokeshire Second Division Match Report – January 11, 2025

Published

5 days ago

January 13, 2025

Herald Sport

A THILLING weekend of football in Pembrokeshire’s Second Division delivered key results that tightened the race for promotion and intensified the relegation battle.

Narberth 2-0 Hakin United II

Narberth bolstered their title aspirations with a commanding 2-0 victory over league leaders Hakin United II. Brychan David broke the deadlock with a clinical finish, and Jordan Williams secured the win with a second goal. The result leaves Narberth just two points behind Hakin in a hotly contested title race.

Merlins Bridge II 0-2 Fishguard Sports

Fishguard Sports continued their march towards a top-three finish, claiming a vital 2-0 win away at Merlins Bridge II. Ieuan Llewellyn coolly converted a penalty to give Fishguard the lead, while Luke Thomas added a second to seal the victory. With games in hand, Fishguard remain firmly in contention at the top end of the table.

Lawrenny 1-2 Neyland

Neyland edged a close contest against Lawrenny with a 2-1 win that keeps their top-half ambitions alive. Thomas Cole scored for the home side, but goals from Aidan Rees and Jack John secured all three points for Neyland in a hard-fought encounter.

Monkton Swifts II 1-7 Johnston

Johnston produced a dominant performance, thrashing Monkton Swifts II 7-1. Ryan Doyle netted twice, with further goals from Steve Allen, James Larsen, Marcus Allen, Callum Rees, and Joey George. The emphatic victory consolidates Johnston’s strong campaign, while Monkton Swifts II remain perilously close to the relegation zone.

Carew II 3-3 Solva

Carew II and Solva played out a dramatic 3-3 draw in a match filled with excitement. George Davies scored twice for Carew, with Charlie Perkins also on target. Solva responded with two goals from Josh Bland and an own goal that levelled the match. Both sides remain stuck in mid-table, with the result doing little to ease their relegation concerns.