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Sport

Hendy set up tense title run in with victory over Whitland

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By Jonathan Twigg

HENDY emerged from their battle of the champions with Whitland on Wednesday (May 2) winning 22-17 on a tranquil evening at Hendy Park.

Recognised by opponents throughout the division as the two teams who deserved to be playing at a higher level they produced an encounter not short on skill, passion and drama to which both camps can take acclaim from the spectacle provided in front of an appreciative crowd.

Amateur sportsmen and clubs thrive on games where their season hangs on the outcome, those long evenings during a rain soaked winter when their respective coaching teams planned like professionals, the next step in their quest for promotion.

In their 125th anniversary year, the Centreframe sponsored ‘green and red army’ showed their cards early, turning back a straight forward penalty attempt taking a scrum in front of the posts and outside half Rhydian Morris all but squirmed over the try line, Barry based referee Tom Spurrier ruling it out as he wasn’t convinced of the touchdown.

Morris did open the scoring with a well struck penalty, the work rate in the tight areas from lock Rhodri Hughes, flanker Richard Kinnear and number 8 Gavin Thomas, drawing visiting second row Dai Ebsworth over the ball, where both sides were ‘up for the game’.

Whitland settled and hassled scrum half Gruffyd Jones into a loose pass over Morris head in the goal area, setting a scrum which drew a penalty and outside half Nico Setaro set a line out five metres out.

Ebsworth took clean ball, the well drilled ‘green machine’ running in pods to roll around before number 8 Jack Mason was driven low over the line, Setaro landing the conversion, the credentials set for a game that had no parallels in terms of league rugby this season.

Players maybe be ‘categorised’ into Division 2 but their aptitude to absorb from their coaches and peers is without precedent, epitomised by scrum half Jones whose early loose pass was his only blemish in a high intensity game.

Home coaches Dorian Jones and Chris Morgan can call upon the expertise of the Shingler brothers, Aaron, a flying Welsh back row forward with the Scarlets and his brother, Cardiff Blues pivot Steven.  No pretence in the warm up; solid counsel, knowledgeable of what their charges can engross and the little details that turn games, fine-tuned.

Whitland didn’t arrive to be bridesmaids, their intention to run the ball evident with the calibre of inform winger Sean Coles lurking.  Scarlets academy player Scott Lloyd and Aaron Ebsworth on the wing were defensively strong, their efforts a principle of osmosis for their team mates, Hendy momentum nullified and skipper Marc Jones the catalyst to move forward with back row colleagues Ryan Morgan and Dan Evans.

Setaro, Lloyd and centre Gino Setaro brought full back Josh Thomas into the line, where he was direct, opening gaps and creating space with the visiting front five in support.

Props Aaron Mayne and Mike Ryan are not just anchors for a scrum with the experienced Raff Williams bedding down alongside an equally venerable Ebsworth, not that short of his own half century of birthdays, but still plying his trade alongside his nephew on the wing. Setaro took control, hoisting an up and under cross field, young Ebsworth winning the battle with his opposite number Tom Havard and the ball fell into the hands of Coles, looping off his wing to score a converted try.

14-3 wasn’t a fair reflection.  The home charges had chances, not taken where the pressure, even at this level showed. “Not clinical in the key areas” said Coach Chris Morgan post-match, the ball spilled at significant times, centres Iwan Mayze and Josh Davies alongside full back Jake Neuman dangerous with ball in hand. Neuman found space combining well with winger Dyfan Williams, their second wind evident, flanker Lloyd Morris strong in carrying the ball as was second row Ashley Banfield alongside Kinnear.

“We talked about territory” Morgan went on to explain about the half time huddle.  “We needed to make them play where it mattered and force mistakes, squeezing the game and then back our skill levels to capitalise.”  Never have truer words echoed around the village as Hendy came out with purpose in the second half.

Whitland were forced deeper into their own half and ‘the squeeze’ applied onto the key protagonists, forcing choices which the ‘green machine’ may not have had to make all season.  Touch kicks went awry, handling errors occurred, the ball lost at the central turnover area.  With a sniff of victory in the air the Hendy pack were on song, tight in the scrum as the front three, props Ben Bachup and Shaun Williams alongside hooker Chris Bowen came to the fore.

Whitland were wilting, unable to play their expansive game, firefighting the advancing throng, their tackle count mounting to stop ‘men of the match’ second row Hughes and centre Davies.

Momentum with Hendy, Morris missed a penalty awarded by the Championship graded referee.  Spurrier was a key player in the game, being ‘seen but not heard’, emphatic in his control but empathetic to the occasion, calling misdemeanours, although Morris was unable to transfer them into points. Neuman nearly crossed wide out as the home crowd vocal presence could be heard along the M4 corridor driving Hendy on, motivation if ever their heroes needed it.

Hughes once again claimed the ball off the top at a line out, seeing it set by the marauding home forwards, Morris releasing Neuman once more on a canter, the full back freeing Havard in space and fellow winger Williams touched down wide out for 14-10.

Gareth Bennett and Dan Mason, the Whitland gurus sensed the warning signals, making changes to stem the tide and revitalise their mantra.  Not shrinking violets, the duo like their counterparts Jones and Morgan are years ahead of the game, innovative but humble of their contribution to local rugby. “A bitter pill to swallow tonight” stated Bennett, “but we go again on Saturday.  Credit to Hendy, they won the game, did their homework on us and we congratulate them on their victory.  The title is still there for us, two wins from our final fixtures will see to that and we have a collective team spirit which drives us on.”

Their changes did force play from end to end, Whitland having opportunities whilst Hendy were not rewarded with penalty goal attempts, needing their cargo to step forward. Baccup and Hughes were ploughing an unrivalled furrow, hooker Bowen taking a pop pass back from the line out to put his side into the lead 15-14, now a true reflection of the game.

Hendy, in their quest for the title knew they needed a bonus point to go with the victory which was there for the taking. Williams, standing tall out wide and number 8 Thomas now a terrier to equal Whitland skipper Jones around the Park.

It was Thomas tenacity which set the play for Neuman to cross the whitewash as the game entered its final ten minutes, calmness personified as the full back powered over, Morris getting his name on the scoresheet with the conversion.

Whitland replacement centre Josh Thomas had an impact down the inside channel but his side had let slip their efforts during a fine first half display.  One more try would see the home side take a bonus point victory and leave Whitland with nothing for their performance, something the ‘eyes up rugby’ pushed by Bennet and Mason required.

Setaro, taking in the drama that had unfolded, quiet by his standards all evening had the opportunity to glean a point, the final kick of the game sailing through the uprights to reduce the deficit to five points, taking a point for his side which could turn out to be vital come the final whistle in ten days’ time.

Hendy take on Loughor on Wednesday (May 9) knowing they need a bonus point victory and hope Whitland slip up in their final two fixtures if they harbour any aspirations of lifting silverware. The Borderers travel to Fishguard on Saturday (May 5) before hosting Mumbles at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn the following Saturday.

Victory on the Moors against the Seagulls ensures the destiny of the title lies with them still, although the only other side to lower their colours besides Hendy this season were the team from the ‘Gateway to the Gower’.

Expect the GD Harries sponsored grandstand to be overflowing for the blockbuster, the ‘green machine’ putting behind any mental fatigue from recent games. League title opportunities are few and far between, the opportunity to be the bride and not the bridesmaid one to savour; an occasion befitting of an epic division 2 season out west.

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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Sport

Goodwick United seal third consecutive league title

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Goodwick United 2 – Pennar Robins 0

GOODWICK United have been crowned league champions for the third season in a row, following a composed 2-0 victory over Pennar Robins.

Manager Chris O’Sullivan praised his side for getting “over the line” and is now urging them to complete the season unbeaten. Should they win their final two matches, Goodwick will have lost just once in three league campaigns—an extraordinary run that underlines their dominance in Pembrokeshire football.

After a tightly contested first half, the deadlock was broken three minutes after the restart. Will Haworth delivered a pinpoint cross that was met with a superb 12-yard volley from Matthew Delaney. The lead was doubled in the 68th minute when midfielder Rhys Jones curled a trademark free-kick into the bottom corner, sparking early title celebrations.

Goodwick’s dominance in recent seasons has been nothing short of remarkable. With just one league defeat in three years, they are now pushing to go down as one of the county’s all-time great sides.


Merlins Bridge cruise as Milford United turn attention to Cup

Merlins Bridge 4 – Milford United 1

MERLINS Bridge made light work of struggling Milford United, sealing a comfortable win at the Pembrokeshire Sports Village to claim their eighth league victory of the season.

The Wizards took control late in the first half, with Jason Griffiths smashing in a volley from Nathan Evans’ cross before Jordan Thomas added a second moments later, glancing in a Hayden Dimond free-kick.

Milford showed some resilience after the break and pulled one back on 63 minutes when Scott Reid slotted home following a clever assist from Joey Jones. But the hosts hit back almost immediately, with Nathan Evans finishing from close range. Substitute Ben Davies, returning from injury, completed the scoring in stoppage time after an unselfish square ball from Dimond.

Although league survival appears unlikely for The Robins, their attention now turns to the Senior Cup Final, where they face fierce rivals Hakin United in a bid to salvage their season with silverware.


Devonald’s late equaliser lifts St Ishmaels in relegation scrap

St Ishmaels 2 – Kilgetty 2

A LAST-GASP strike from captain Brennan Devonald kept St Ishmaels’ survival hopes alive, as they clawed back a vital point after trailing Kilgetty by two goals.

Teenager Mason Abbott looked to have secured all three points for the visitors with a goal in each half, putting Kilgetty firmly in control. But Tish weren’t done. They reduced the deficit when Kyle Marsh scored past his brother—Kilgetty goalkeeper Kurtis Marsh—in a family twist to the relegation drama.

Then, deep into stoppage time, Devonald pounced on a loose ball to fire home a dramatic equaliser, sparking jubilant scenes and securing what could be a crucial point in their battle for safety.

St Ishmaels are now three points clear of the drop zone, but must await other results to confirm their survival.


Leahy double pushes Carew closer to danger

Tenby 3 – Carew 1

TENBY delivered a commanding second-half performance to defeat local rivals Carew, who now sit just two points above the relegation places.

Shaun Whitfield set up Jonty Bennett to open the scoring for the hosts in the 17th minute, but Carew responded swiftly. Former Tenby man Curtis Hurlow levelled matters after good work from Jerome Williams.

The second half, however, belonged to Joe Leahy. The Tenby striker struck in the 57th and 81st minutes with two composed finishes, sealing all three points for The Seasiders and leaving Carew looking nervously over their shoulders.


Relegation picture: Advantage Tish as Milford target cup glory

St Ishmaels’ dramatic draw leaves them in a stronger position in the fight for survival, three points clear of the relegation zone with just one game remaining. While their fate isn’t yet sealed, the late equaliser could prove decisive.

Milford United, meanwhile, face near-certain relegation, but their attention is now firmly fixed on the Senior Cup Final. A win over Hakin United would offer a welcome silver lining to a difficult season and the chance to lift silverware against their greatest rivals.

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Sport

Llanybydder edge past Llangwm in spirited clash

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Llangwm 17 – Llanybydder 19

IN A fiercely contested battle at Pill Parks, Llanybydder secured their second win of the season, narrowly overcoming Llangwm in a match that showcased the grit and determination of two sides rooted near the bottom of Division Four (West) A.

Despite difficult campaigns for both clubs—this season and in recent years—their continued commitment to the game is a testament to the enduring spirit of Welsh grassroots rugby. These are the clubs where many begin their journey, and their dedication week in, week out deserves recognition.

Although Llangwm outscored their opponents three tries to two, it was Llanybydder who emerged victorious, capitalising on key moments and punishing their hosts’ ill-discipline.

Llanybydder, who had already beaten The Wasps 24-20 earlier in the season, took a 13-5 lead into the break thanks to tries from Mathew Rollins and Osian Roberts, with Roberts also adding a penalty. Their defence, bolstered by several permit players, stood firm under pressure, with captain Jack Evans once again leading from the front.

Llangwm responded through Ethan Edwards, playing on permit from Amman United, who crossed for an unconverted try in the first half.

The Wasps looked brighter after the restart, scoring twice through Dan Richards—finishing a fine team move—and Josh Griffiths. One of the tries was converted by Breig Matthews. However, their inability to convert early pressure into points ultimately cost them. Dominating the first quarter, they camped on Llanybydder’s line but came away empty-handed—a factor that loomed large in the final outcome.

Two second-half penalties from Osian Roberts proved decisive, sealing a hard-earned 19-17 win for the visitors.

Llanybydder will now avoid finishing bottom of the table, while both teams can take pride in their performances in what has been a testing season.

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