Sport

Swans have the scent for survival

Published

7 years ago

February 12, 2018

By Jonathan Twigg

SATURDAY (Feb 10) saw the Liberty Stadium in Swansea witness a ‘turf war’, won by the commemorative, Chinese New Year shirt wearing home side 1-0.

Visitors Burnley continued their miserable winless run which started on December 12, whilst Carlos Carvalhal’s side are now nine games unbeaten, lifting themselves clear of the relegation zone.

“You don’t have to see it; you smell it” can be attributed to an egocentric player who patrolled the left wing for both clubs four decades, Leighton James.

Saturday’s contest was fractious with neither side gaining ascendency, requiring the input of a mercurial talent like James, winner of 54 Welsh caps after his international in October 1971 against Czechoslovakia in Prague.

How former Swan, Jack Cork would have liked a smudging of the influence imposed by James in scoring 124 goals from 645 games to rub off on him, whilst the home faithful welcomed Andre Ayew to the bench, following his £16 million return from West Ham.

Brother Jordan was leading the line and loan signing Andy King also warming the splinters because the Premier Leagues newest ‘Tinkerman’ has taken his side from the depths of the Ocean to now have their heads above water.

This Portuguese man of war is wary of the sharks around him but can see the coastline of the promised land and knows how to get there, with James’ analogy from bygone years, ringing true.

James made his league debut for the Turf Moor outfit in November 1970 against Nottingham Forest, returning twice to the North West in a career which saw him transfer for a mammoth £310,000 to Derby in 1975.

He left Burnley for a second time in 1978 when they were relegated to the third division and signed for Swansea City helping them from the third division to the first division in the heady days of the John Toshack era. He had spells with Sunderland, Bury and Newport County before he retired in 1989 when at Burnley, to explore more avenues.

James, in his punditry role would have vilified Olsson for diving which brought a yellow card before half time, alongside Ayew, Clucas and Ki Sung Yeung’s efforts to hit the target.

They needed to watch the matchday mascot in the half time break as Neyland Pirate Ethan Blockwell gave goalkeeper ‘Cyril the Swan’ a lesson in finishing.

The East stand corner were drumming the beat as everything remained black and white; Johann Gudmundsson forcing a save from Lucas Fabianski, before Andre Ayew made his entrance to replace Olsson after Jeff Hendrick snagged a yellow card for stopping brother Jordan’s charge.

The side needed new life; brothers in arms, possibly ‘Kolo or Yaya’ were joined by Tammy Abraham, the Tinkerman’s batteries now recharged with a ‘Triple A’ strike force taking the game to Burnley.

Referee Marriner received queries over his parentage as Pope made a wonder save to deny Abraham, Jordan Ayew and Kyle Naughton smashed shots goalward, before the breakthrough came with six minutes remaining.

Ki hammered home the winner from the edge of the box after Naughton and Jordan Ayew’s silky build up play invoked the loudest rendition of ‘Land of my Fathers’ west of Twickenham.

Ethan Blockwell: The Neyland Pirate was a match day mascot as Swansea beat Burnley 1-0

Sean Dyche’s side were reduced to humping long balls which drew no change from Alfie Mawson and skipper Frederico Fernandez and when the new King ‘of Wales’ came across the drawbridge for his debut to replace ‘Prince Jordan’, a crescendo of choral voices greeted the signal of four additional minutes without fear.

James tried his hand at management in the League of Wales with Llanelli, taking in spells also at Garden Village and Haverfordwest but he didn’t enjoy the success Carvalhal has kindled way down by the sea.

An echo from the beach portrays the words of Martha and the Muffins from 1979, James surely remembering the wish for the sun not to go down. He didn’t need to see the ball; he could smell it and Carvalhal has the scent of survival from the sea as he approaches a return to his previous Club Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (Feb 17).

The Swans travel to Hillsborough in search of a place in the FA Cup quarter final for the first time since 1964, where they eventually lost to Preston North End 2-1 in the semi-final at Villa Park, with the backing of the Jack Army who are enjoying the fruits of the BBQ served by Carvalhal.

Up Next

Mardle magic entertains the crowd

Don't Miss

Scintillating win sends sales soaring

Sport

East Williamston maintain dominance in Friendly League

Published

2 days ago

February 10, 2025

Herald Sport

SOUTH PEMBROKESHIRE Short Mat Bowls Association – Week 16 Results

THE LATEST round of matches in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s ‘Friendly League’ saw East Williamston extend their lead at the top with a commanding 10-0 victory over St Twynnells.

Elsewhere, Llanteg edged a tight contest against Badgers 6-4, St Johns secured an 8-2 win over Kilgetty, and Cosheston overcame Carew 7-3. The scheduled match between Reynalton and Lamphey was postponed, while Hundleton had a bye.

A catch-up fixture was also played, with Badgers defeating Llanteg 8-2.

League standings after Week 16:

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Shot Diff	Points
East Williamston	14	13	0	1	195	108
St Johns	14	10	0	4	106	88
Carew	14	9	1	4	110	86
Hundleton	14	7	0	7	60	72
Reynalton	13	8	0	5	32	70
Cosheston	13	7	0	6	34	65
Badgers	14	5	1	8	6	63
Llanteg	14	4	1	9	-50	63
St Twynnells	14	3	1	10	-152	48
Kilgetty	12	3	0	9	-146	42
Lamphey	12	3	0	9	-118	35

With just a few rounds remaining, East Williamston look poised to secure the league title, while St Johns and Carew remain in contention for the runner-up spot.

– Steve Cox, League Fixtures Secretary

Sport

Merlins Bridge 11- Herbrandston 1: A whopper win for the wizards!

Published

2 days ago

February 10, 2025

Herald Sport

IN ANOTHER defeat for Herbrandston, Merlins Bridge completely dominated the game, and ball time.

Kick-off was at 2:30pm at the Pembrokeshire Sport Village, on a 4G ground facility.

Within 10 minutes, J. Thomas scored the first goal for Merlins Bridge. At 22 minutes, Merlins Bridge were 3 goals up.

The first, and only, goal for Herbrandston was at 25 minutes into the game by M. Jones.

Another 4 goals were scored after this by Merlins Bridge: J. Thomas, D. Davies, J. Griffiths, N. Evans.

In a turn of events, a yellow card was served to O. Robinson of Herbranston for a bad tackle.

The damage had been done by this yellow card, as the game only got increasingly worse for Herbrandston. In a continued thrashing, 4 more goals were scored by Merlins Bridge by T. G Williams, J. Griffiths, J. Thomas x2.

Next weekend (Sat 15), Merlins Bridge are back against Pennar Robins: currently sitting at 24 (Pennar) and 20 (Merlins) on the League table- it should be a tense match.

Merlins Bridge Line-Up:

D. Pearce, A. Plunkett, L. Hudgell, J. Thomas, F. Nash, D. Davies, J. Thomas, N. Evans, J. Griffiths, H. Dimond, T. G Williams.

Subs: M. D’Ivry, M. Preddy, P. Thomas.

Herbrandston Line-Up:

M. Mcluckie, T. Richardston, O. Robinson, D. John, E. Chalker, S. Findlay, S. Gilepsie, M. Jones, A. Whatling, C. Owens, A. Maccallum.

Subs: C. Hughes, A. Hughes, C. Davenport.

Sport

Pembrokeshire teen and her horse take top honours at UK equestrian finals

Published

4 days ago

February 8, 2025

Herald Sport

A YOUNG Pembrokeshire rider and her horse have made their mark on the equestrian world with a stunning performance at one of the UK’s top shows.

Seventeen-year-old Chloe Owen and her five-year-old horse, Tarr Dauntless – better known as Rodney – took top honours at the British Show Horse Association (BSHA) Rising Star finals at London’s Excel.

The pair, the youngest competitors in their class, not only won their category but also claimed the prestigious hunter championship. Their performance was hailed as “sublime” and “faultless” by leading equestrian magazine Horse & Hound.

Chloe, an A-level student at Haverfordwest High, has an unbreakable bond with Rodney, having helped raise him after his mother tragically died when he was a foal.

Rodney was bred by Chloe’s parents, Charles and Charlotte Owen of St Brides. His bloodline traces back to the first Holsteiner imported by the Hunter Improvement Society more than 50 years ago, a lineage carefully maintained by Chloe’s family.

However, Rodney’s early life was fraught with tragedy. His mother was attacked by a badger when he was just a few days old, suffering severe injuries that left her in a full plaster cast for three months before she succumbed to colic.

Charlotte said: “It was horrific. We bottle-fed Rodney, but his mum couldn’t play with him, so Chloe took over. They have such a lovely relationship – he’s a proper softie.”

The pair have had a remarkable debut season in the show ring, winning five out of seven championship titles, including Supreme Horse at the Pembrokeshire County Show.

“The London show in December was the first time Rodney had ever left Wales,” said Charlotte. “The furthest he’d travelled before was the Royal Welsh! But he just took everything in his stride.”

“I’ve never had a horse with a temperament like his—he’s so professional and so special. I knew from when he was a yearling that there was something different about him.”

Proud mum Charlotte added: “There were a lot of happy tears shed that day in London. There’s a very exciting future ahead for Chloe and Rodney—their first year together has been nothing short of extraordinary.”