Sport
Seasiders earn third win

By Jonathan Twigg
THE Tenby Tourers sponsored Tenby United won their third game of their Division 1 West season when they beat Gorseinon on Saturday (Nov 18) at Heywood Lane 13-6 in a match sponsored by Sion Brace Construction.
The ‘Seasiders’ have found life in the division higher difficult at times this season but they played with accuracy, pace and an uncompromising attitude, attributes required to compete against teams plying their trade at this level.
Gorseinon, home club of Wales and Scarlets full back Leigh halfpenny arrived on an unbeaten six game run stretching back to the middle of September which included an away victory at the then unbeaten league leaders Dunvant progressing to the third round of the National Plate.
The Tenby side included three players on permit, all former ‘red and blacks, where Dan Colley from Pembroke came in on the wing, Pat Roberts, normally a flanker with championship side Narberth in the centre and Narberth team mate Jonathon Rogers at outside half.
Rogers brought to the table something perhaps the home side have missed on occasions in that he kept the ball going forward ensuring the game was played in the opposition areas, which was a huge motivation to his peers, especially the forwards who rose from the coal face with energy when they saw their efforts were rewarded.

Tenby’s Jonathan Rogers with the ball in hand
During the second half such was the dominance and game management applied from Tenby, Gorseinon struggled to get out of their own half for long periods. The Tenby forwards to a man were committed to the cause and took the slippery ball with confidence into the lion’s den and have the skill level to set the play or execute an off load to keep the ball alive.
Man of the match Jack Clancy would have devoured the steaks he received for his performance from Heywoods Butchers in Saundersfoot, as he made many crashing inroads to the heart of the Gorseinon defence, carrying for vital yards whilst also being like a fourth back row forward in hunting down the ball and pressurising the opposition into mistakes.
Tenby have a solid back row unit now Roy Osborne has returned from Carmarthen to dove tail in with Andrew Cooke and Barry Parsons, whose work rate was on par with Clancy.
This game was going to be won or lost on how the Tenby pack faced up to the bigger visiting forwards and alarm bells would have been ringing for coach Chris James early on as his side were nudged backwards in the scrums and needed to up their game to gain parity.
Respect came with the work off the ball in defence where props Lewis Davies and Rob Clarke were heavily involved, with young hooker Kyle Hamer who was also a key component in the offensive work of his side.
Hamer peeled off a line out on halfway to set play in motion for the opening score with Rogers left boot put Tenby in the danger zone.
Winger Moritz Neuman found Cooke on his shoulder as play went with speed into the Gorseinon 22 for centre Jack Guerrio to finish off a forty metre move under the gaze of gateman Des Brace for a 5-0 lead.
Gorseinon had an attacking flair, led by full back Andrew Steel who sought out space and wanted the ball in hand as often as he could. He found willing allies in scrum half Jack Gronow and winger Liam Cross who set the play in the Tenby half and skipper Sean Haycock had little hesitation in taking a scrum set piece when they were awarded a penalty.
Outside half Nick Popham and his centre Richard Rees couldn’t make the break through before Gronow slotted a straight forward penalty after second row Luke Dedman was caught offside to reduce the deficit to 5-3 after a quarter of an hour.
Tenby have an exciting backline who were able to exploit some missed tackles with skipper Johnnie Morgan not needing a second offering to run deep into the Gorseinon half, only to be called back for a miniscule foot in touch.
Clancy stole the line out where Parsons and Neuman stretched the home side across the field, where prop Davies and Cooke set up space for Roger to put a cross kick into the hands of Morgan on the opposite side, with space to canter across in the corner after twenty five minutes.
Referee Rob Hale who travelled from Ebbw Vale for the noon kick off took the opportunity to speak to captains about the back chat he was receiving from players who hadn’t heeded many penalties where they were marched back 10 meters and he identified issues with scrum halves Gronow and Matthew Morgans crooked feeds!
Rogers missed his second conversion attempt but Gronow added a second penalty just before half time where the indiscipline of the Tenby side would be an area of concern for coach James and his number 2 Andrew Morgan during the half time team talk.
The weather deteriorated during the second half, but it seemed to galvanise Tenby further, with Clancy, Davies and the back especially relishing the impact side of the game, which saw visiting prop Callum Steele leave the feel with a shoulder injury.
Knowing Rogers was bringing a calm acuity behind them with decision making the Tenby forwards needed no second invitation to do the hard yards, keeping the ball hemmed deep in the Gorseinon half for long periods.
Rogers missed a long range penalty although his ‘up and under’ were a cause of confusion which Cooke and Neuman capitalised on.
The game plan saw Osborne, Davies and Hamer play well with the ball in hand as did Haycock who set up one last thrust from the visitors to get an equalising score after Rogers extended the lead to 13-6 after centre Tim Payne strayed offside with five minutes to play.
With Hale playing through added time Popham had twice punted the ball into touch after the home forwards were penalised and play was set for a line out from 5 metres, which Nick Southgate secured, and his forwards got momentum.
Replacement hooker Joe Poole smuggled himself into the contact area for Tenby and the Swansea University undergraduate managed to wrestle the ball into his hands and emerge to the undoubted delight of his comrades who engulfed him when Hale blew for full time.
Coach Chris James shared that delight as he said: “It builds our campaign; it’s the first game in a sequence where we are aiming to go into 2018 close to the top of the division. We have come unstuck this year in games where we have made mistakes at crucial times and in impact areas which have cost us points but today we were magnificent in all areas.”
Having witnessed his side spend time in the opposition territory but not convert the pressure into points, James was philosophical in stating “we managed the game well, with Jonathon (Rogers) on permit from Narberth playing the game in the right areas and making calls which enabled us to be on the front foot all match. Credit to Gorseinon for the challenge they presented as Clancy, Lewis Davies, Kyle Hamer and the back row continually drove at them.”
Such was the intensity of the home play Gorseinon lost Callum Steel with a shoulder dislocation and second row Nick Southgate with an AC ligament injury as they made over seventy tackles in the second half. The Tenby backline “is purring” said James, “where the work Andrew (Morgan) puts in with handling at practice coming to fruition today and our defensive pattern and discipline restricted the opportunities we offered for Gorseinon, which ultimately led us to victory.”
Next up for Tenby will be a Pembrokeshire Cup Quarter final at Milford on Saturday (Dec 2) with a noon kick off again before they travel to Tycroes and Llanelli Wanderers in the lead up to Christmas, returning to Heywood Lane on Saturday (Dec 30) when Kidwelly will be the visitors.
Sport
Travel advice for Wales vs Ireland on February 22 in Cardiff

WALES will be taking on Ireland on Saturday 22 February at Principality Stadium.
With the kick-off taking place at 2.15pm – there will be a full city centre road closure from 10.15am until 5.45pm to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely.
The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy due to this rugby match – so please plan ahead – and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the park & ride at the former Toy’s R Us site car park in the Sports Village – CF11 0JS.
For up to date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go to the Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook.
Gates open at 12.15pm, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to plan their journey and get in early. Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at principalitystadium.wales, in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city.
Road closures
From 7am, Scott Road and Park Street will be closed because of the need to prepare Gate 5 and protect queuing fans.
The following roads will be closed as part of the full city centre road closure which will take place at 10.15am until 5.45pm.
- Kingsway from its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street.
- Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street.
- Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted via Fitzhammon Embankment).
- Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted).
- The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street, Castle St, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.
- Station Terrace and Guildford Street from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way will be access for buses only during the times of the road closures. This is to ensure that there is reliable access for buses to the satellite points in Churchill Way.
- Additionally, Penarth Road will be closed 30 minutes before the game finishes and up to hour after the final whistle on safety grounds for train passengers arriving and departing from the train station.
Additions:
Civic Centre: Access to part of the Civic Centre will be controlled throughout the day, with access allowed only for event parking, limited commuter parking, loading and access to private car parks.
Roads affected include King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.
Transport for Wales (TFW) will be providing additional capacity where possible on routes in/out of Cardiff on Saturday 22 February but trains are expected to be very busy, so please allow plenty of time for your journey.
Post-event queues for mainline rail services will be on Central Square and queues for Valleys services will be to the rear of the station. Cardiff Queen Street will close at 3.30pm except for accessible access and passengers that wish to travel to Cardiff Bay.
Pre and post-event revenue checks will be taking place at Cardiff Central so please ensure you have purchased your rail ticket before entering a queuing system.
Great Western Railway (GWR) will run additional services to help customers get home from the Wales-Ireland fixture. Extra trains will operate from Cardiff Central to Swansea, Newport, Bristol and London; with plenty of parking available at station car parks.
Trains are, however, expected to be very busy immediately after the match and a queueing system will be in place outside the station to help people board trains safely.
Those travelling from further afield should check connecting services at www.gwr.com/check.
Park & Ride facilities
The event park & ride facilities will be at Toy’s R Us in the Sports Village, Cardiff Bay – CF11 0JS.
The drop of point in the city centre is Callaghan Square.
The park & ride site will open at 8.45am, with the first bus leaving at 9am. The last bus from the city centre will be at 6pm with the site closing at 6.30pm.
Civic Centre Event Day Parking (Cars and Coaches)
Getting there: Exit Junction 32 of the M4, head south on the A470 towards the city centre and follow signage to the civic centre.
Cost: £20 payable on the day for cars and £30 for coaches – card payments are also now available.
Parking time: The car park will open at 8am and closes at 12 Midnight.
Event Day Parking at Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens (cars)
(Approximately, 0.5 mile walk to the Principality Stadium, Gate 2).
Sophia Gardens Event Day Parking
Getting there: Exit junction 32 off the M4
Cost: £20 for cars and £30 for coaches – card payments are now available.
Parking time: Car park opens at 8.00am and closes at 12 midnight.
Please note: Sophia Gardens car park will be staffed until 7.00pm all vehicles are left on site at the owner’s risk. Cardiff Council will not be held responsible for any theft or damage to motor vehicles or personal possessions. Any vehicles left in the car park after closing time will be fined.
Bus
Local buses:
Bus services will be diverted while the city centre road closures are in place
Please visit the relevant bus operator’s website for more information about your specific bus routes.
For Stagecoach services, please visit: Welcome to Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)
For Cardiff Bus services, please visit: https://www.cardiffbus.com/principality-stadium
For NAT services, please visit: https://www.natgroup.co.uk/
National Express:
National Express coaches will use Sophia Gardens as usual.
Can you cycle or walk?
The cycleways and the pop-up cycleways within the road closure area will remain open for cyclists to use during the event, but due to the number of people expected to attend the rugby match, we ask all cyclists to take due care and attention.
The road closures apply to all motor vehicles of any kind, but not to bicycles with pedals.
Those who live locally in Cardiff may want to travel by bicycle or walk. Research shows us that 52% of car trips made in the Welsh capital are less than 5km. This is a distance that can be comfortably cycled in 20 minutes.
We also know that 28% of Cardiff residents who currently do not cycle would like to do so.
When the roads are congested this makes cycling an even more attractive option as travel by bicycle would be quicker than a car during rush hours or during big events.
Shopping Parking
City centre car parks are also available: North Road Car Parks, St David’s Shopping Centre, John Lewis, Capitol Shopping Centre, and NCP (Adam Street, Dumfries Place and Greyfriars Road.)
Disabled parking
Disabled drivers are advised to use Sophia Gardens. Disabled parking is also available at various private car parks.
Please check individual websites for availability.
Taxis
St Mary Street taxi rank will close at 10.15am and will re-open at 5.45pm.
Sport
Local cricket clubs praised in Welsh Parliament

CRICKET-MAD local MS Sam Kurtz raised the efforts of two local cricket clubs to give something back to their communities and improve their facilities in the Senedd on Tuesday, February 11.
Mr Kurtz, who plays for Fishguard CC, is well-known – possibly notorious – in local sporting circles for being a keen participant in whichever sport he turns his hand to.
On Tuesday, he asked for a Welsh Government statement from the Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership on the support available to grassroots cricket clubs in Wales.
While doing so, he raised the example of Pembroke Dock Cricket Club, which is currently fundraising for new changing rooms for men, women and juniors at its ground at Imble Lane.
Sam Kurtz said: “I’ve enjoyed many a tough game against the Dock, who’ve done amazing charity work over the years, raising some £45,000 for local charities. Now it’s time that support is given to them so that they can continue to grow. They are working with the local authority and the Enhancing Pembrokeshire grant, but further support is needed.”
Sam Kurtz continued: “Neighbouring Pembroke Cricket Club has also worked tirelessly since the pandemic, improving their facilities at Treleet, including new nets, covers for the wicket and refreshing the pavilion. They’ve even been able to introduce a third senior side into the Pembrokeshire league, which shows the growth of the game in the county of Pembrokeshire.”
Mr Kurtz concluded by asking for a statement from the Minister about how he is working with Sport Wales, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Glamorgan Cricket to offer support for grassroots cricket clubs so that one of the world’s leading sports can continue to grow across our country.
The Welsh Government’s business manager, Jane Hutt MS, is notorious for not wanting Welsh Government Ministers to give statements on anything that isn’t on their news grid. Every week, MSs ask for statements on issues important to their constituents or of national importance, and Jane Hutt finds new ways to say “no.”
Mr Kurtz was probably optimistic about asking for a minister to make a statement about funding grassroots sport, a subject in which hundreds of thousands across Wales are interested but in which the Welsh Government has minimal interest.
Sure enough, Jane Hutt responded: “Now, this is something where Sport Wales is very engaged on with the grant funding scheme, and also, I have to say, I’ve been able to fund through the community facilities programme some of the improvements that are needed and refurbishments that are often needed in these often voluntary-owned community clubs. So, I hope that you will also look to the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, which has a funding portal because there are many trusts and sources of community funding. But certainly, it’s important that you’ve brought this to the attention of the Chamber, and we can celebrate that vibrancy of cricket and enjoy the season as it starts, especially Glamorgan, which I’d say is a bit biased.”
In short: “No, I won’t ask the Minister to make a statement. I’ll patronise you and the cricket clubs by telling you how to suck eggs. And, by the way, Glammy-Glammy-Glammy-Glammy Glamorgan.”
Highlighting the importance of grassroots sport and the need to support it raised its profile and focused attention on two of Pembrokeshire’s sports clubs who are doing the most to feed back into their community and provide more opportunities for participation. While Mr Kurtz didn’t get his statement, he managed to get Senedd time to shine a light on those clubs and their efforts.
Sport
St Clears and Letterston shine as Neyland struggles in Division 3

THE PEMBROKESHIRE Third Division delivered another thrilling weekend of football, with key results shaping the league standings.
Clarbeston Road II capitalises on Neyland errors
Clarbeston Road II secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Neyland Reserves, with Robert Reed-Griffiths and Henry Lucas both getting on the scoresheet. Neyland’s woes were compounded by two own goals, further adding to their struggles. Mason Morgans-Hurley netted Neyland’s only goal, but it was not enough to prevent yet another defeat.
Pendine and Kilgetty II battle to a draw
Pendine and Kilgetty II played out a 2-2 draw in a hard-fought contest. Carl Gwyther and Andrew Evans (penalty) found the net for Kilgetty, while Julian Blewitt and Kyran Lewis (penalty) ensured Pendine earned a share of the points. The result keeps Pendine in the promotion race, while Kilgetty II continues their push to climb the table.
St Clears see off Haverfordwest Cricket Club
A hat-trick from Nick Squire powered St Clears to a 4-2 away victory over Haverfordwest Cricket Club. Scott Page also found the net for the visitors. Despite Liam Sheehan scoring twice for the hosts, they were unable to contain St Clears, who now edge closer to the top four.
Letterston cruise past St Florence United
Letterston produced a dominant display, claiming a 4-0 win over St Florence United. Simon Jones bagged a brace, while Gareth Mathias and Gary Delaney added to the tally. The victory cements Letterston’s place in the top half of the table.
New Hedges Saundersfoot United march on
New Hedges Saundersfoot United continued their strong form with a 4-1 triumph over Pembroke Borough. Adam Davidson and Harvey Drummond both struck twice to secure a convincing win. Sonny Price managed to pull one back for Pembroke Borough, but they were no match for the high-flying contenders.
League standings update
Goodwick United Reserves remain at the summit with 51 points, while New Hedges Saundersfoot United continue their charge in second place with 38 points, holding games in hand. Pendine and Pembroke Borough remain tightly matched on 35 points, while St Clears’ latest victory sees them move to 30 points in the top five. At the bottom, Neyland Reserves remain rooted with just six points, unable to turn their season around.
As the season enters its final stretch, every point is crucial in the race for promotion and survival in Pembrokeshire Division 3.
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