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Sport

‘Dancing in the rain’ which the Gale brings

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By Jonathan Twigg

SINCE the turn of the new Millennium, Narberth RFC has been one of the premier club sides in South West Wales.

They currently sit in second place behind Pontypool in the WRU Championship table, a division in which they have remained since the WRU national leagues inception in the mid 1990’s.

The coaching guru in charge of the current Otters side is Sean Gale, a former Scarlet’s player whose commitment is recognised by all associated to the Pembrokeshire club. Commitment is part of Sean’s DNA, where any former work colleagues at the West Wales Fire Brigade testify.

The Fire Brigade have a long association to rugby in the West Wales area, with many players with Scarlet’s and its predecessor Llanelli RFC finding themselves on a career pathway with the ‘Brigade’.  Gale served for 32 years in the noble profession after Ronnie King opened the door of opportunity and is unsurprising that the ‘vow of allegiance’ he showed to his career, has been visible at the Lewis Lloyd Ground for a decade.

A man of few words whose compassionate tone rings clearly and when heard instantly captures the attention of those present. Never a raised intonation and the positives not the negatives proffered; a blueprint which fellow coaches Liam Gadd and Lloyd Phillips follow.

Sean was a graduate from Graig comprehensive school in the heart of Llanelli and had an instantly recognisable name to live up to. His dad Norman, revered in the Town as a front row hard man, captain of both his home town club and Country where he won 25 caps in a period when Wales were a team to mix it with the best.

Sean has recently crept quietly beyond the half century in terms of age, still living in Llanelli and committing to travelling three times a week to Narberth for training and games from his home in Swiss Valley. Married to Elizabeth for over 25 years he recognized her unstinting support of his rugby journey, alongside his mother Ann. Norman passed away in 2005 and it’s now his son Nick who shares his dad’s rugby memories alongside daughter Hannah.

Returning to the squad after a six month injury Nick plays under his dad’s stewardship, being a strike runner from the back three as opposed to his dad’s likeness for packing down in the front three.

“Living and breathing rugby is something I’m used to” Nick warmly stated with a beaming smile.  “Dad, never had a hair out of place and no stone unturned. He wants the best for me as a son and as a player with Narberth. I’ve come to understand when I need to listen and occasionally speak on a rugby matters! Dad cares; about his family, friends and colleagues, including the players in the squad and this is repaid tenfold from those of us lucky enough to be in the inner sanctum.”

The front row is not a place for the faint hearted where camaraderie exists well beyond the 80 minutes of battle. “I enjoyed my tussles with Mike Griffiths immensely” chuckled Sean.

Mike, the Cardiff prop, formally with Bridgend won 35 Welsh caps but Sean added: “I had the utmost respect for him. He was a tough person to scrummage against, but he did it fairly and without prejudice. I also played alongside the icons of Welsh rugby, current National assistant coach Rob Howley and British Lion winger Ieuan Evans before I hung up my boots for the final time in Llanelli colours in1999. That final game was against Romania, twelve years after my debut against Pontardulais.”

Memories are important and Sean recounted with pride when he played against the All Blacks in 1997, a game lost by over 80 points; he narrated his efforts of scoring two tries against Namibia highlighting such achievements come only from hard work. Sean was always seen as a good trainer, where his rugged stature came to the fore in games as a strong ball carrying prop; a try scorer!

“I managed 10 tries in one season for Bridgend which is a record for a prop” and one which he still shares with Whitland born prop Meredydd James.

Sean won seven secondary schools caps as a second row, with a stand out victory in 1985 when an unbeaten All Blacks schools side toured the Principality under Graham Henry.

He also played for the Wales Under 20’s and Under 21’s and made the ‘A’ team squad but never had the opportunity to run out on the pitch.

He clocked up 209 appearances for Llanelli with the final three years as a professional player whilst maintaining his service record with the Brigade, before chalking up 90 games in Bridgend colours and enjoying a ‘final season’ at Heywood Lane, playing for Tenby United in 2002-03.

Sean has qualities which any respected person, let alone a coach would hope to have associated to him.

He is honest and hardworking whilst continuing to maintain a drive to achieve more.  His family heritage is a cornerstone of his life and this shines through in his commitment to rugby.

Now a level 3 coach he worked with the Scarlet’s Academy for three seasons after starting out with Tumble where he was a player/coach before becoming forwards coach with Llanelli, Swalec champions in 2005.

He joined Narberth in 2006 following an invitation from then Director of Rugby Jonathan Dodds after they worked together at the Scarlets Academy and with the Wales amateur side.

Coaching was always something he strove to do following a lifetimes involvement nurtured in the early days from the family pub, a stone’s throw from Stradey Park. Frequenting the hostelry on a regular basis were Llanelli greats like Stuart Gallacher and Ray Gravell.

“Dad coached the Scarlets, so it was a natural progression for me to stay in the game as a coach once I finished playing because it means so much to me; it’s in my heart and soul” said Nick.

Sean’s mantra as a coach is to build his teams around a strong forward platform, never taking a backward step to an opponent, before then trying to play an expansive style.

He remains ambitious for Narberth as he fondly recounts: “I was impressed by the warmth of the welcome I received; it’s a very friendly club but importantly for me one which remains driven to be successful.”

He is focused in his approach and philosophy, determined to keep Narberth in the top two of the National Championship.

Doing so will be no mean feat as it is increasingly difficult with Premiership clubs able to cherry pick the best players, which is part of the player pathway in the Scarlet’s region.

Sean said he would be interested in developing his coaching career and with a raised eyebrow and a killer grin Sean recalled the time he was ‘hoodwinked’ into believing the then Llanelli maestro Gareth Jenkins was offering him a role back with the Scarlets. “I enjoyed setting the training programme after that faux pas by Adrian Killa”, he said.

Sean remains committed to Narberth as he explained his eagerness for the national leagues to remain as the current structure is under review by the WRU.

“One thing that frustrates me as a coach is the imposed Autumn break which happens for the international period in November.

“I find this hard because we go a month without competitive fixtures to keep my players at their top of the game. I have had memories which are significant in my life story and I hope those under my wing today build their own storyboard, which they can do if we all work together to get the right environment.”

Narberth as a club are equally as ambitious and are watching the debate on the restructuring of the national leagues with the same interest as Sean.

“We want to finish as high as possible every season; the result in every game is important, but not as important as the enjoyment the game brings” pointed out Rob ‘Basher’ Lewis, the clubs hardworking administrator. “Narberth have the right man in Sean at present and we can see the professionalism and passion he brings being embedded in the Club.”

Narberth hope the winds of change doesn’t occur, yet Sean’s strengths include his man-management of players and the rapport he has with the committee and supporters.

“He is currently irreplaceable as that skill set is difficult to replicate. As a club we need a figurehead to ensure our development plan is delivered” said Rob. Narberth have the foresight to hopefully enhance the playing facilities with a 4G surface and build on the senior team’s success so it emanates through the youth and junior sections.

They have a trademark association with brand names in the County and are in discussions with new partners to help them build their dreams.

Clearly Narberth can manage the ‘here and now’ as they have a structure off the field to accommodate a match day experience to rival a professional club.

There are no Otters burying their heads underground as they strive to improve each year, sharpening their teeth ready for the next challenge whilst, fully embracing the ‘gale’ in which they find themselves.

“We are not waiting for the gale to pass us by” said Basher “but we are dancing in the rain he brings.”

Sport

Cricket roundup: Centuries, collapses and dominant displays in Week 13

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Carew crush Llangwm as Hicks and Davies shine; Cresselly extend Division 1 lead

CAREW produced the standout performance of the weekend as they demolished LLANGWM by 225 runs in a one-sided affair. TIM HICKS smashed 108 and NOAH DAVIES struck a superb 100 not out before destroying the Llangwm batting with 6-5.

CRESSELLY retained top spot in Division 1 with a 117-run win at LAWRENNY, with KYLE QUARTERMAINE hitting 81 and TOM ARTHUR claiming 4-27. Meanwhile, HERBRANDSTON defeated HAVERFORDWEST by 114 runs in a low-scoring contest, where DEAN JOHN and NATHAN BANNER starred with both bat and ball.

BURTON edged past NEYLAND by 3 wickets in a close finish, and WHITLAND chased 254 to beat SAUNDERSFOOT in a high-scoring thriller, thanks to an unbeaten 108 from GERAINT JONES.


DIVISION 1 RESULTS (Saturday, July 19):

  • LAWRENNY 131 all out lost to CRESSELLY 248-8 by 117 runs
  • HAVERFORDWEST 91 all out lost to HERBRANDSTON 205 all out by 114 runs
  • CAREW 289-8 beat LLANGWM 64 all out by 225 runs
  • BURTON 201-7 beat NEYLAND 197-8 by 3 wickets
  • WHITLAND 259-5 beat SAUNDERSFOOT 253-4 by 5 wickets

LEAGUE TABLES

Division 1 Table

TeamPWLBatBowlPts
Cresselly131214756231
Carew131125162226
Herbrandston13854454182
Saundersfoot13764950176
Neyland13764452168
Lawrenny13763954165
Burton13584547142
Whitland13584536135
Haverfordwest133103942113
Llangwm13013242650

Division 2 Table

TeamPWLBatBowlPts
St Ishmaels131125361227
Narberth12935555220
Hook131035850211
Pembroke13946353206
Llechryd13765247172
Cresselly II13674937150
Johnston13584950149
Carew II133104843124
Llanrhian133105526111
Burton II12111312263

Division 3 Table

TeamPWLBatBowlPts
Pembroke Dock121024054221
Fishguard131124550215
Lamphey13854848178
Haverfordwest II13665247164
Hundleton13674241147
Stackpole12574536134
Laugharne12564335134
Kilgetty12474727134
Neyland II13211392887
Hook II1137341983

Division 4 Table

TeamPWLBatBowlPts
Pembroke II131215755236
Saundersfoot II131025152203
St Ishmaels II13945850198
Crymych13845244176
Lawrenny II13754647164
Haverfordwest III13565039159
Carew III13464830118
Llangwm II132115627103
Llanrhian II13110442498
Narberth II13211422487

Division 5 Table

TeamPWLBatBowlPts
Herbrandston II131125058228
Llechryd II13935350206
Pembroke Dock II13935449197
Whitland II11644229153
Cresselly III12474936127
Hundleton II12474127112
Haverfordwest IV12384526111
Neyland III12012401453

Division 6 Table

TeamPWLBatBowlPts
Pembroke III12913645180
Llechryd III9623233145
H’West/Cresselly11372434114
Lamphey II12453625104
Kilgetty II1228242468
Whitland III10341724
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Sport

Double podium finish for local rally driver

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A 20-HOUR round trip to Machrihanish Airbase in Campbeltown, Scotland, proved more than worthwhile for 17-year-old rally driver Henri Cynwyl, who returned to Wales with two podium finishes.

Henri, from Ponthirwaun, claimed third place on both days of competition in the British Junior Championship and the 1000cc Ecosse Challenge, strengthening his lead in the F1000 British Junior Championship.

The two-day Mach1 Stages Rally was organised by Dunfermline Car Club, with 31 F1000 members taking to the fast tarmac stages of the airbase, cheered on by a warm Scottish welcome.

“I’m really pleased,” said Henri, who was co-driven by Geraint Evans from Bala. “The stages were long, and I much prefer long stages to short ones as I get into a flow. The fast tarmac really suited my car.”

Now in his second and final year in the championship, Henri is backed by a number of local businesses from the Cardigan area.

“I’m so grateful to all of my sponsors and team,” he said. “The car is prepared by Castle Motors in Newcastle Emlyn, and we’ve just welcomed Pembrokeshire College as one of my new sponsors for 2025.”

Henri is currently undertaking an apprenticeship as an electrician with both Pembrokeshire College and DJ Hoyland.

The next round of the F1000 Championship will take place at Wheaton Barracks in Blackpool at the start of August.

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Sport

Kilgetty AFC Women score new Lucozade kit thanks to Tenby Post Office Stores

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Local nomination supports grassroots football in Pembrokeshire

KILGETTY AFC Women’s Team has received a brand-new Lucozade Sport Kit, thanks to a nomination by Tenby Post Office Stores and local supporter Fiona Malone.

The donation includes reusable drinks bottles, bibs, a football carrier bag, a kit bag, and bottles of Lucozade Sport – part of a UK-wide initiative that saw only ten teams selected to receive the sports kits.

‘A natural choice’

Fiona Malone, who nominated the team, said: “We were really happy to nominate Kilgetty AFC Women’s football team when we were asked by Lucozade. My son plays for Kilgetty Under-13s, and the whole club is incredibly inclusive, so when Lucozade asked, we immediately thought of the women’s team.”

The kit was officially handed over on Sunday (July 13) during the club’s Chwarae FOR HER Wales v England watch party at Kilgetty AFC Football Club, Kingsmoor Sports Club.

Team thanks local backers

A spokesperson for Kilgetty AFC Women said: “We are very grateful to receive all of the items from Tenby Post Office Stores and Lucozade. We particularly appreciate the reusable drinks bottles and Lucozade Sport drinks – we’ve been bringing our own, or using the men’s bottles. The bibs are great, and the new bags will be really useful. Thank you!”

Backed by the community

The women’s team continues to grow as part of the wider female football movement in Wales, supported by local businesses and groups. Ongoing kit sponsorship for the girls’ teams has come from Ty Francis and New York Welsh, while Tesco Stronger Starts funding and FAW grants have supported equipment and coach education.

The women’s team has also received training kit sponsorship from Kilgetty WI, and playing kit and volunteer support from Saundersfoot Rotary.

Each of these donations, including the new Lucozade kit, is helping transform grassroots football – building players’ skills, boosting confidence, and creating a stronger sense of belonging through sport.

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