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Sport

Heart & Soul: A fans view of the Scarlets’ victory against the Cardiff Blues

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By Jonathan Twigg

PARC Y Scarlets was the venue on Saturday (Oct 28) evening for the second ‘Welsh Derby’ as the Scarlets eventually defeated the Cardiff Blues 30-17 to remain top of the Guinness Pro 14 Conference B table.

Leading 18-3 at half time  through tries from man of the match Hadleigh Parkes and hooker Ryan Elias a buoyant home side were pegged back to 18-17 after an hour as the visitors scored tries from New Zealand born winger Willis Halaholo and replacement scrum half Lloyd Williams to go with conversions from former ‘man of Hendy’ Stephen Shingler.

At this stage the fire under the saucepan needed rekindling and the ‘hwyl’ found its voice from the Hydro North stand, be it water or something stronger to inspire replacement full back to fly over and score with his first touch, thanks to winger Steff Evans grubber kick following a flowing home sides move through the hands of their back division.

A bonus point victory was secured ten minutes from the end as Evans crossed to complete the scoring with Leigh Halfpenny striking a conversion and two penalties and Rhys Patchel a conversion.

Playing in deepest West Wales has often been revered as playing in heaven and the support given from the home faithful is legendry across the globe.  Be it the folk song Sospan Fach synonymous to Stradey Park and now Parc Y Scarlets or a rendition of Calon Lan the close knit community spirit associated to this Welsh Region is special.

Have you wondered how a person goes from being a supporter, to being a fan to becoming a fanatic?  Stationed in the Hydro North stand, which was inspirational after an hour of the game to push the Scarlets to victory, it was a question answered by Mick Haltam, a former three quarter with Haverfordwest and Llangwm, who hails from the Midlands, but is now firmly ensconced in the local sporting scene.

“As a child I grew up in the 70’s when Welsh rugby was such a joy to watch. Even as an Englishman I used to marvel at the skills of Phil Bennett, JJ Williams, Delme Thomas and Ray Gravell who used to play for this magical team way out west that I could not pronounce. Players like these and the romance of games, like beating the ‘All Blacks’ made me an admirer of Llanelli RFC from afar.”

Mick arrived in Pembrokeshire when he was posted to Cawdor Barracks, in 1996 and he fulfilled his dream of living the magic at Stradey Park. “I would be an irregular visitor to Stradey as I was still playing the game” said Mike.  With partner Joanne Phelps equally smitten from the pull of ‘Johnnie Bach’ it took little persuasion for them to take their son Olly when the Club introduced the ‘supporters’ village’ in 2010.  Hooked immediately with the family match day experience, that first against Leinster, when Olly was just three years old was the start of a love story.

Now season ticket holders, the family are committed to the pilgrimage from their home in Narberth by car or train, depending on the kick off time.  Mick recalled when he went from being a fan to a fanatic, after the 24-15 Heinekein Cup quarter final victory over Munster in 2007.

He has been to every Pro 12 ground, with the exception of Treviso and now with the introduction of South African sides the Southern Kings and Cheetahs, plans are already in place to finance the those memory making trips. “European games have also allowed us to get to all the English Premier clubs, except Newcastle, plus Perpignan, Brive, Clermont and Toulon in France.”

At the end of the 2013 season when the Scarlets made the play-off semi final away to Ulster, Olly was a mascot and savoured the atmosphere at Ravenhill for the first time holding Rob McCusker’s hand.  As proud as they were, it was surpassed last season with the Pro12 Final mauling of Munster as it rekindled the ‘magic’ which first drew Mick’s attention in a bygone era.

Mick recalls with delight that ‘Priestland’ try v Perpignan in 2010 as readily as any victory over the Ospreys, including last spring, alongside European victories at Northampton and Harlequins whilst Glasgow is undoubtedly a family favourite destination.  A definition of fanatical can be summed up with Micks explanation of how he and Olly had planned a ‘dads and lads’ visit to the last scheduled away game of last season in Connacht.

“Olly and I took my motorbike via the Fishguard ferry and rode to Galway, experiencing a fantastic away trip. Of course, winning this game meant we’d qualified for the play-offs and pitched us away to Leinster two weeks later. A family weekend followed, flying from Bristol to Dublin before a third Irish away trip in four weeks hit the wallet hard [but it was worth every penny], as we left Pembroke on the 3am ferry and drove to Dublin for the European Final.”

In true partnership Mick and Joanne shared the driving; Mick taking the wheel on the journey into Dublin from their hotel half an hour outside the City, with Joanne driving back! Not even Steve Martin could have perceived Micks voyage of discovery in supporting the Scarlets; through ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’, plus bikes and ferries, experiencing first hand the Heart and Soul of Scarlet Fever.

“We are all part of the Scarlets family” said Joanne, “including the staff and players; we always find time for each other. Today we’ve had a day out, firstly the obligatory shopping experience at Trostre before a family meal and the early arrival at the ground.”  A chuckling Mick, who himself is now coach of Narberth Under 11s after representing the Army with aplomb as far afield as Romania, summed up the victory over the Cardiff Blues with a splattering of ‘Calon Lan’ from his still notable Midlands cadence, alongside friends Steve Barnett and Tom George.

Rest assured there is more fever to come from the Scarlets family; Mick, Joanne and Olly will undoubtedly reminisce for time and memorial.

Sport

Local brothers ride in Grand National showdown

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Bowen family pride as Sean and James compete at Aintree

TWO Pembrokeshire brothers – Sean and James Bowen – lined up in Saturday’s (Apr 5) Grand National, continuing their family’s deep-rooted legacy in British horse racing.

Sean, 27, and James, 22, are the sons of veteran Letterston trainer Peter Bowen, a well-known figure in Welsh racing circles. Both jockeys have made names for themselves on the national stage, and their participation in the world’s most famous steeplechase marked a proud moment for the local community.

Sean Bowen rode Three Card Brag for Gordon Elliott and finished a respectable 11th. Remarkably, Sean has achieved racing success despite being allergic to horses – a condition that causes sneezing and watery eyes whenever he’s in the saddle for too long. In an interview with The Telegraph, he explained: “It’s just something I’ve had to get on with… If I have a long day in the saddle I’ll feel it.”

Sean’s grit and determination have paid off. He notched his 1,000th career win earlier this year and was crowned 2023-24 Champion Jockey, despite an injury scare in January. He’s no stranger to big days either, having won the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in 2019.

His younger brother James Bowen rode Chantry House and came in 16th. James, a rising star in his own right, recently rode two winners at Warwick in a single day and is known for his calm tactical riding style. The brothers have often credited their father Peter for instilling in them a strong work ethic and passion for the sport from a young age.

Saturday’s race was a historic one, as trainer Willie Mullins secured a 1-2-3 finish. The 2025 Grand National winner was Nick Rockett, ridden by Patrick Mullins at odds of 33/1. Defending champion I Am Maximus came second, and Grangeclare West finished third.

The top five finishers were:

  1. Nick Rockett (33/1)
  2. I Am Maximus (7/1)
  3. Grangeclare West (33/1)
  4. Iroko (13/2)
  5. Meetingofthewaters (20/1)

While victory eluded the Bowen brothers this time, their presence at Aintree reinforces Pembrokeshire’s strong connection to the racing world – and the enduring legacy of the Bowen name in the sport.

Cover image: Sean with his brother, James, who came in 16th on board Chantry House in the National (Credit: PA/David Davies)

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News

Pembroke Dock boy walks out with Spurs captain at Stamford Bridge

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AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD boy from Pembroke Dock had the experience of a lifetime on Thursday night (Apr 4), when he was selected as the official mascot for Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Joey Williams, a pupil at Pembroke Dock Community School, walked out onto the pitch hand-in-hand with Spurs’ team captain, Son Heung-min, in front of a packed stadium and millions of viewers watching around the world.

The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was part of Tottenham Hotspur’s official mascot programme. Joey, who recently turned eight, travelled to London with his family to take part in the unforgettable event.

His proud mum, KatieJane Solomon, told The Herald: “My son lives in Pembroke Dock and was chosen to be mascot for the Chelsea vs Tottenham game tonight. He walked out with Son Heung-min!”

“He’s a very big Spurs fan so we signed him up to be a member on there website about a year ago and he was very lucky selected at random last month.”

The Premier League clash ended in high drama, but for Joey, the biggest highlight was walking out alongside his football heroes.

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Sport

Narberth and Crymych suffer humbling defeats

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Heavy losses dealt to both Pembrokeshire sides

PEMBROKESHIRE rugby teams Narberth and Crymych endured punishing defeats on Saturday (Mar 29) as both clubs came up against dominant opposition in their respective leagues.

Welsh Premiership: Merthyr 78–17 Narberth

In the top tier of Welsh club rugby, The Otters were overwhelmed by a clinical Merthyr side who ran in 12 tries. Despite the heavy defeat, Narberth showed flashes of resilience, with second-row Will Blackburn scoring twice and fly-half Jonathan Rogers adding a conversion.

There was a sliver of consolation for Narberth as fellow relegation rivals Bonymaen also lost, though the Swansea-based club managed to secure a valuable bonus point.

Championship West: Llanelli Wanderers 68–12 Crymych

Crymych’s afternoon was equally difficult as they were soundly beaten by Llanelli Wanderers. The home side dominated from the outset, racking up a 32–0 lead by half-time. Despite tries from flanker Tom Taylor and hooker Lee Griffiths in the second half, Crymych were unable to mount a serious comeback.

Adding to their woes, relegation rivals Gowerton produced a big win over Maesteg Quins, piling further pressure on Crymych as the battle for survival intensifies.

Both Pembrokeshire clubs now face uphill tasks in the final weeks of the season as they fight to maintain their league status.

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