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Holders through as Lawrenny beat Kilgetty in goal-fest

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By Jonathan Twigg

FIVE Second Division Cup ties took place on Saturday (Nov 18), with Saundersfoot Sports home match at the King George V field against current table toppers, Hakin United Reserves postponed as the bottom corner was deemed waterlogged by referee Charles Davies.

The winners of that tie will then travel to meet Solva at Glan Hafran in the Quarter Finals early next year as they were already through to the last eight stages as one of two Clubs to receive a bye.

Prendergast Villa were the second club to progress courtesy of a bye and they will welcome Lawrenny to the School Field after the bottom of the table side upturned the form book to overcame last season’s Division 3 champions and current promotion favourites Kilgetty 7-6.

Trailing on their own sports field 4-0 after 20 minutes and missing a plethora of players due to Adam Jenkins stag weekend, the Lawrenny side dug deep in appalling ground conditions and driving rain.

They battled themselves back to reduce the deficit to 4-2 at half time, with goals from centre midfielder Matt Lewis wide midfielder Joe Kidney. Centre forward Henry Lawrence scored the second visiting goal after his side had taken the lead through a deflected goal attempt, before Tom Baker and Lawrence opened a 4-0 lead.

The yellow and blue Kingsmore outfit then went 5-2 ahead with a strike from Brett Evans before the sides exchanged goals through home centre forward Jamie Phillips and Lawrence completed his hat trick.

The village side are made of stern stuff and they rolled up their black and gold sleeves to score three goals in five eventful minutes to set up a grandstand finish for the last ten minutes.

Playing away from their Clubhouse the ground was a tad better which allowed Phillips to net his second of the game, experienced Steve Campbell to level the scores and a minute later young winger Sam Davies to put them ahead for the first time in the keenly contested yet sporting local derby.

Kilgetty failed to square the game before referee Sean O’Connor blew for full time in the game sponsored by Morgan Construction, thanks to some heroic defending coupled with the quagmire in their own goal area and veteran goalkeeper Danny Harries being in top form.

St Clears hammered visitors Letterson 14-0 at the Leisure Centre ground having been set on their way by chirpy attacking midfielder Nathan Evans strike after 40 seconds.

The JRV Taxis sponsored game was over quickly as a contest as the Boars front three scored at will against a side who remained in Division 2 this season by default with Tenby withdrawing from Division 1 before a ball had been kicked in anger this season. Josh James led the way when he went nap for the claret and whites as Steve Thomas helped himself to four goals and the well-travelled Sean Seymour Davies bagged a hat trick alongside a visitor’s own goal.

Such was the one sided nature of the game skipper Martyn Thomas was a distant observer from centre back and his defence marshalled the opposition so well they only had fleeting forays into the danger zone.

Jonathan Sealy also had his spot kick well saved in the bottom left corner by veteran David Lawrence who was responsible for keeping the score to 14-0 with some excellent saves, although home manager Scott Page saw his side waste numerous opportunities.

Reward for the St Clears win will see them travel to the Racecourse to take on current Cup holders Merlin’s Bridge Reserves, buoyed by the return to the Carmarthenshire town of defender Dorian Davies from West Dragons.

Hundleton: Pictured before their Senior Cup game, were beaten by Merlins Bridge on Saturday

The Glenn Hotel sponsored Bridge overcame Hundleton 4-3 at the Village playing field in a scrappy encounter with veteran front man Aaron Devine opening the scoring for the Wizards before Kai Roberts on the right wing put them 2-0 ahead. Jack Phillips pulled one back for the Pembroke village side before half time and the introduction of stoic centre midfielder Lloyd Wilson set the scene for a titanic second half encounter.

With six players under the age of 18 in their starting 11 the Bridge thrived in the battle and sixteen year old left winger Ben Davies extended the lead to 3-1 after 52 minutes.

Another sixteen year old, Josh Thomas made it 4-1 after an hour of play when he struck from his position playing behind Devine and Curtis Hicks grew in stature as the game progressed. Playing in the centre of midfield Hicks dominated in the air and sprayed passes which belied the underfoot conditions in a man of the match performance.

With 10 minutes remaining winger Joe Buckle reduced the score to 4-2 and striker Dylan Davies scored to make the final few minutes a tense affair for the inexperienced visitors who were thankful for the composure to 51 year old goalkeeper Aaron Riley.

Riley made a string of fine saves to roll back the years as his experience as a Welsh league player with Haverfordwest County, albeit as a winger came to the fore, before referee Kevin Millich blew for full time.

St Ishmaels travelled to Pill Parks to take on a Llangwm side who progressed to Division 2 following three promotions in four years, but bowed out 2-0 in their first foray into the cup competition refereed by Karl Davies.

Tish scored a goal in each half with player manager Andrew Howells tapping in at the far post after nearly 30 minutes of the first half thanks to some excellent work wide out from Ieuan Hawkins. Home goalkeeper Ashley Bevans, standing between the sticks for his twin brother Anthony who was away training with the Royal Navy did well behind a back four led by veteran left back Gary Reynolds.

Glen Hewer, Dan Thomas and Martin John supported Reynolds in keeping the attacks at bay as the visiting midfield got the upper hand in the difficult conditions. In a game of few clear cut opportunities the tie was put to bed by Hawkins who capitalised on good wing play from Joseph Bates as in the first half to find space at the far post to score.

St Ishmaels will welcome Fishguard Sports to the Recreation ground, after they overcame Johnston 4-1 at Tregroes Park. The Sports were always in control of the game and led the ‘Tigers’ 2-0 thanks to strikes from former Goodwick midfielder Lewis Banks and Ryan Howells just before the half time whistle from referee Keith Amos.

Stand-in goalkeeper Lewis Boswell was blameless for the goals as the home side dominated possession against a side which lifted the West Wales Intermediate Cup just four seasons ago and they had a chance through striker Ryan Doyle just after the break when he should have pulled the score back to 2-1 when he was one on one with goal keeper.

The game went 4-0 to the Sports through defensive mistakes by centre back Jack Bevans, who lost his footing allowing Banks to score his second of the game before he was robbed close to his own 18 yard box and Matt Harries walked the ball into the net.

Doyle pulled a consolation back with a sumptuous strike before the end for Johnston who will now concentrate on pulling themselves away from second bottom of the league and the ignominy of successive relegations.

Sport

This weekend’s Division 4 West rugby roundup

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THE latest fixtures in Division 4 West delivered intense clashes, narrow escapes, and exhilarating victories as teams showcased their determination and skill. Here’s a breakdown of the matches and standout moments.

Dreigiau Emlyn 7-10 St Davids

St Davids claimed a narrow 10-7 win over Dreigiau Emlyn in a hard-fought match. Celt Davies put Dreigiau Emlyn on the scoreboard with a try, converted by Llew Morgan. St Davids responded with tries from Ethan Griffiths and Dan Murphy, with Bob Froy converting one. Despite Dreigiau Emlyn’s strong defensive stand, St Davids held on for a slim victory.

Llangwm 23-21 Pembroke Dock

In a thrilling contest, Llangwm edged out Pembroke Dock by just two points, finishing 23-21. George James led Llangwm’s scoring with a try, two conversions, and three penalties. Gethin Thomas added a try, pushing Llangwm into a narrow lead. Pembroke Dock fought back with tries from Harry Owen, Danny Wilkes, and Morgan Rogers, all converted by Ben Hathaway. However, Llangwm’s precise penalty kicks clinched the close contest.

Llanybydder 24-31 Pembroke

Pembroke emerged victorious in a high-scoring 31-24 match against Llanybydder. Llanybydder displayed resilience with tries from Arwel Williams, Matthew Rollings, Ifan Mason-Evans, and Griff Morgans, two of which were converted by Rollings. Pembroke’s offense proved too strong, with tries from Robin Badham, Jack Oliver, Fraser James, Dai Rogers, and Toby Edwards, alongside three conversions by Josh Greenwood. Pembroke’s offensive depth secured the win in this lively encounter.

Neyland 20-23 Narberth Athletic

Narberth Athletic pulled off a close 23-20 victory over Neyland, with Shane Rossiter at the heart of the action, scoring all of Narberth’s points through three tries, two penalties, and a conversion. Neyland responded admirably, with tries from Luke Griffiths-Dawes (2) and Josh Watts, while Oli Rothero added a conversion and a penalty. Rossiter’s consistent performance under pressure proved decisive, securing Narberth Athletic’s hard-earned win.

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Sport

WRU to apologise over contract dispute but denies sexism claims

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THE WELSH RUGBY UNION has announced it will apologise for its handling of contract negotiations with the senior women’s team but refutes recent allegations of sexism.

WRU Chair Richard Collier-Keywood and Chief Executive Abi Tierney acknowledged significant failings in the process, admitting that it is “absolutely clear” the governing body owes an apology to the players.

WRU Chair Richard Collier-Keywood acknowledged ‘failings’ (Pic: BBC)

The BBC reported this week that a leaked email showed players were threatened with exclusion from both WXV2 and next year’s World Cup as talks deteriorated. On August 2, players were given a “final offer” ultimatum with a strict three-hour deadline. If they didn’t sign, matches against New Zealand, Scotland, and Australia were set to be cancelled, and contracts withdrawn.

This episode surfaces amid recent claims of sexism and inequality, less than a year after an independent review condemned the WRU’s internal culture following a BBC Wales investigation.

“This is not a good day for us; we totally accept that. We should have done better and didn’t, but we’ve learned our lessons and will keep trying to improve,” said Collier-Keywood.

The WRU is expected to publish recommendations from a review of the negotiation process later this month, which has been fast-tracked following a Telegraph report on Thursday.

Key findings of the report

The WRU has disclosed early findings, which include:

  • A failure to recognise the growth and change in the women’s professional game.
  • An error in issuing the three-hour signing deadline.
  • Strong differences on how to develop women’s rugby in Wales.
  • Players were inexperienced in negotiations and left isolated.
  • Players considered striking before a match against Scotland on September 6.
  • Poor communication and lack of transparency escalated tensions, worsened by inappropriate behaviour at various stages.

The report states that sexism was not a factor behind the failings.

“There are sweeping criticisms in the report along with clear recommendations for change,” Collier-Keywood said, emphasizing the need for an apology and further engagement with the national team.

‘Sexism not apparent’

Independent board members Alison Thorne and Claire Donovan, who conducted the review, stated that while inappropriate behaviour was noted, sexism was not evident.

“After more than 50 hours of discussions with everyone involved, I did not sense that sexism was part of the issue,” said Donovan. Reflecting on her own 15-year rugby career, she acknowledged the past prevalence of sexism but said the grievances in this case appeared to stem from “a lack of respect and understanding of power dynamics.”

The WRU has also committed an additional £6 million toward women’s and girls’ rugby over the next five years, raising the total investment to £26 million.

Accusations of ‘blackmail’

Despite the WRU awarding 37 full-time contracts, Jess Kavanagh, a former Wales wing, criticised the WRU, suggesting the contract process bordered on “blackmail.” She questioned if the WRU had genuinely learned from past mistakes.

“We’ve heard apologies for years about various issues in the WRU, but apologies mean nothing until we see real change,” Kavanagh said. “Being forced to sign a contract under threat – that’s blackmail. In 2024, that should not happen in any workplace.”

Performance impact

Wales’ performance has suffered during the dispute, with the team finishing at the bottom of the 2024 Women’s Six Nations, managing only one win against Italy. Collier-Keywood acknowledged that the tension surrounding contracts may have contributed to the poor performance.

“There was unnecessary stress, which I believe affected performance. People were distracted, and that’s on us,” he stated.

The contracts were eventually signed just before Wales traveled to South Africa for WXV2 in September, although they lost their opening two matches.

The Welsh government, previously critical of the WRU over a misogyny scandal last year, expressed concern over these latest issues, calling for an urgent meeting with the WRU.

A spokesperson added: “We expect our national sporting bodies to lead by example.”

Government response

On Monday (Nov 5) Jack Sargeant, Minister for Culture, Skills & Social Partnership made a statement in The Senedd. He said: “Today, I met with the Chair of the Welsh Rugby Union, Richard Collier-Keywood, Chief Executive Officer, Abi Tierney, and Nigel Walker, Executive Director of Rugby. This meeting was arranged urgently following media focus over the weekend regarding allegations of sexism faced by the women’s national team in their contract negotiations.

“I expressed my disappointment that Welsh rugby was in the headlines for the wrong reasons, especially in the context of recent history. The aim of the meeting was to seek clarity around the circumstances that have taken place in relation to contract negotiations for women’s players and how improvements to existing process can be taken forward more positively in future.

“The WRU is in the process of concluding an internal review and has already accepted some failings of process and areas for improvement have been identified. I have not yet seen a draft of the review, but a summary has been published by the WRU. The WRU will be looking to meet with the players shortly to issue an apology for those aspects of the process that fell below the standards we would all expect.

“Over coming days, I will be seeking to understand various perspectives on this process and to satisfy myself that lessons are being learned. I am offering to meet with the players to understand directly from them the nature of their concerns and see how we can help all parties move forward constructively. I will also be seeking a meeting with the review’s authors.

“I want to see Welsh rugby, at all levels, grow and thrive. I am committed to working closely with the WRU and the players to deliver a successful sustainable game in Wales which provides better outcomes for everyone.

“I will keep members updated as we make progress matters over the coming weeks.”

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Sport

Swansea sign free-agent defender Cyrus Christie

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SWANSEA CITY have bolstered their defence with the signing of 32-year-old Cyrus Christie on a contract until the end of the season.

The former Hull City defender, who has been a free agent since his departure at the close of last season, has been training with Swansea since early October. Head coach Luke Williams views Christie as a versatile addition, capable of covering any position across the backline.

Christie returns to Swansea for a second stint, having previously impressed during a loan spell in the second half of the 2021-22 season. During that period, he made 23 appearances and scored three goals after joining from Fulham. While former Swansea boss Russell Martin had shown interest in making Christie’s move permanent, the Republic of Ireland international ultimately opted to sign with Hull City.

“He is experienced at this level, a powerful athlete who can both defend and attack, so I am really happy,” Williams commented. “We lack some Championship experience, and Christie provides a physical presence that’s especially valuable in the absence of players like Ben Cabango and Harry Darling.”

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