Sport
Otters continue winning run
AFTER a week of wet and stormy days, and a wet start last Saturday (Dec 8), it was surprising that the game at Newbridge was still on and was one of only two games played in the Championship due to the state of the grounds.
Newbridge kicked off with the strong wind blowing diagonally across the pitch, for the first five minutes both teams persisted with a kicking dual before the Otters set up a promising movement passing the ball wide only to end with a forward pass.
After six minutes the Otters won a penalty, Nick Gale came forward to attempt a 40 metre kick which was just off target.
Initially, the Otters appeared to be penalised frequently at the breakdowns giving Newbridge opportunities to attack. From their line out Bridge moved the ball smartly with centre Mathew McGovern making a diagonal break only to be stopped in his tracks by the strong Otters defence.
At the breakdown Bridge offended enabling Jonathan Rogers to gain touch on the halfway line. From the lineout the ball moved across the threes to Ianto Griffiths who kicked for the corner only for the wind to hold it up and for Newbridge to call a mark. Their kick was gathered and returned, Newbridge again kicked and the Otters receiving the ball attacked but were stopped and at the breakdown the referee awarded the Otters a penalty just outside the 22 line.
Again Nick Gale came forward and at the last moment the wind moved the ball to the right of the posts. Newbridge kicked out, Ryan Bean gathered and made ground with Jack Price alongside, the ball was moved away from the stand side only for the slippery ball to be knocked on.
It became clear that the Otters pack had control of the tight with Newbridge being penalised and Jonathan Rogers attempting to find touch, Newbridge returned the kick, Ianto Griffiths gathered and raced forward, at the breakdown, the Otters retrieved the ball and moving right towards the stand passed to Nick Gale who raced forward and when tackled passed to Ryan Bean, he moved left and unfortunately the ball was adjudged to have been passed forward.
At the scrum Newbridge heeled and kicked the ball into touch. At this point Tom Kaijack had to leave the field, Bradley Davies came off the bench which resulted in Dan Jacobs moving over to tight head prop.
The game continued to see both teams attempting to gain ground, with both defences strong and when the movements made ground the slippery ball made handling more difficult and errors occurred. Penalties were occurring against both teams as the rucks became more intense.
Then on the half hour, Newbridge were again penalised enabling Jonathan Rogers to place the ball into touch on the stand side. At the lineout, Andrew Cooke caught the ball at the end of the lineout, feeding Rhys Lane who passed out only for Newbridge to halt the move and get penalised at the breakdown.
Again Nick Gale failed to find the target with his penalty kick. Conditions worsened as a very heavy shower descended on the proceedings. The Otters continued to attempt to make progress before the referee blew for half time with the game tied at 0 – 0.
Fly half Jonathan Rogers restarted the second half and immediately the Otters gained possession and advanced close to the line before Newbridge offend at the ruck. This time with a penalty kick in front of the posts Nick Gale easily kicked the ball through for a 0-3 lead.
Newbridge kicked off, again the Otters attacked but at the breakdowns the game was becoming a muddy scramble. This led to a further kicking dual which failed to create an opportunity for either side. Newbridge began to see a little more of the ball but were being repelled by the Otters.
On 60 minutes the Otters withdrew Andrew Cooke from the back row to be replaced by Steffan Phillps. At the lineout Alex Jenkins again proved his worth gaining good possession and occasionally winning the ball on the Newbridge throw.
The first scrum after the change in the back row saw the Otters push Newbridge back some 10 metres with the referee awarding them a penalty. From this kick, Jonathan Rogers put the Otters to within 5 metres of the try line. For an offence at the lineout Christian Francis the Newbridge number 8 received a yellow card and sent to the sin bin. The resultant penalty saw Jonathan Rogers place the ball into touch on the 5 metre line.
Alex Jenkins made a clean jump and take and immediately formed a maul which despite Newbridge efforts enabled the pack to cross the try line for Rhodri Owen to touch down. Nick Gale safely converted to give the Otters a 10-0 lead.
Sam Withers restarted the game and quickly gained possession. As they attacked the Otters were penalised for standing offside in defence. Withers kicked the penalty into touch on the far side near the 5 metre line.
From the lineout they set up a rolling maul, as the Otters attempted to hold the move, Newbridge threw in a few threequarters and crossed the line for centre Mathew McGovern to score, Sam Withers converted to bring the score to 7-10.
From the restart the Otters attacked in midfield only for Newbridge to wrench the ball as the players were going to ground and passed to McGovern who made an effective break only for the ball to end in touch. Newbridge showed determination to get ahead and the contact between players became quite intense with play just outside the Otters 22.
Newbridge’s yellow card returned, but at a scrum, the Otters heeled and on receiving the ball Jonathan Rogers made ground with his kick out of hand downfield. Newbridge offended and a scrum reset before the referee awarded the Otters a penalty as they over powered the Newbridge eight.
This time Nick Gale was successful with his penalty kick bringing the score to 7-13 on 75 minutes. Following this, Newbridge changed their front row and as a result the scrums became uncontested.
However the Otters controlled most of the remaining minutes of the game, playing safe and using Alex Jenkin superiority at the lineout. There was relief all round when the referee blew for full time.
TENBY Sailing Club was left becalmed last week, with scheduled races abandoned due to a complete lack of wind.
Both the Tuesday (Apr 8) and Saturday (Apr 12) dinghy races had to be called off. Despite the slow start, members are hopeful for more favourable weather when the National Redwing series gets underway on May 15.
Cruiser racing is set to begin on Sunday (May 4) at 11:30am, marking the start of a packed sailing calendar.
Meanwhile, two familiar vessels have now departed the club’s fleet. Cocoa, formerly owned by Frank Miller, has been sold and relocated to Aberdovey. Heather, once skippered by Denny Young, has been retired after reaching the end of her sailing days.
Looking ahead, a passage race from Pembroke Haven to Tenby on Saturday (Jun 14) promises to be a major event, bolstered by sponsorship offering £500 in prize money.
That same day, Swansea Sailing Club plans to cruise to Tenby, which could result in a large and impressive flotilla anchoring in North Bay. To assist visiting crews, Tenby Sailing Club will run a Rhib shuttle to shore.
In the junior section, 26 young sailors have enrolled in this season’s training sessions. From Wednesday (Apr 16) at 5:30pm, they’ll be out on the water in three newly acquired RS Teras, expanding the club’s training fleet to six boats.
The new dinghies were secured through funding from the Sport Wales Be Active Wales Fund. Senior instructor Harrison Richards welcomed the additions, which were delivered to the club by Jon Nuttall.
WELSH rugby fans have something extra to cheer about this year, as the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) launches its 2025 Autumn Nations Series ticket sales with exclusive discounts for clubs, students, and young supporters.
In a first for the Union, tickets purchased through WRU Member Clubs will benefit from a £5 discount across all categories for every match in the series. The move is aimed at strengthening grassroots engagement and rewarding those who support their local clubs.
The senior men’s side will face a blockbuster line-up at Principality Stadium this November, taking on Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and reigning world champions South Africa in what promises to be an unforgettable month of Test rugby.
WRU CEO Abi Tierney said the initiative is about keeping international rugby accessible and supporting the clubs at the heart of Welsh communities.
Tickets went on sale today (April 15) for debenture holders and premium members. From May 20, WRU Member Clubs will be able to offer tickets to their communities at the new discounted rates. Public sale will follow shortly after.
“It’s incredibly important that international rugby in Wales remains accessible to a wide audience,” said Tierney.
“We want to encourage fans to purchase tickets from their clubs. Clubs are the beating heart of Welsh rugby, and rewarding early purchasers with a discount just made sense.
“We’re also excited to introduce student pricing for the first time, after a successful trial last year. Alongside our existing 50% concession for under-18s, students will now also benefit from half-price tickets — even on the discounted club prices.”
The series kicks off against Argentina on Sunday, November 9 — Los Pumas’ 13th visit to the Welsh capital — followed by Japan on Saturday, November 15, in their first Cardiff clash since 2016.
Wales then take on the All Blacks on Saturday, November 22, before concluding the series with a heavyweight showdown against South Africa on Saturday, November 29.
Hospitality packages for all matches are also available from £270 + VAT via WRU.WALES/VIP, while general tickets can be purchased from WRU.WALES/TICKETS.
Autumn Nations Series 2025 – Fixtures and Prices
WALES v ARGENTINA
3:10pm, Sunday 9 November, Principality Stadium
Priority sale:
- CAT A: £40 / £20 concession
- CAT B: £30 / £15 concession
- CAT C: £20 / £10 concession
- AFZ: £20 / £10 concession
Public sale: - CAT A: £45 / £22.50 concession
- CAT B: £35 / £17.50 concession
- CAT C: £25 / £12.50 concession
- AFZ: £25 / £12.50 concession
WALES v JAPAN
5:40pm, Saturday 15 November, Principality Stadium
Priority sale:
- CAT A: £40 / £20 concession
- CAT B: £30 / £15 concession
- CAT C: £20 / £10 concession
- AFZ: £20 / £10 concession
Public sale: - CAT A: £45 / £22.50 concession
- CAT B: £35 / £17.50 concession
- CAT C: £25 / £12.50 concession
- AFZ: £25 / £12.50 concession
WALES v NEW ZEALAND
3:10pm, Saturday 22 November, Principality Stadium
Priority sale:
- CAT A: £100 / £50 concession
- CAT B: £75 / £37.50 concession
- CAT C: £55 / £27.50 concession
- AFZ: £55 / £27.50 concession
Public sale: - CAT A: £105 / £52.50 concession
- CAT B: £80 / £40 concession
- CAT C: £60 / £30 concession
- AFZ: £60 / £30 concession
WALES v SOUTH AFRICA
3:10pm, Saturday 29 November, Principality Stadium
Priority sale:
- CAT A: £85 / £42.50 concession
- CAT B: £65 / £32.50 concession
- CAT C: £45 / £22.50 concession
- AFZ: £45 / £22.50 concession
Public sale: - CAT A: £90 / £45 concession
- CAT B: £70 / £35 concession
- CAT C: £50 / £25 concession
- AFZ: £50 / £25 concession
Anyone who has sailed with a yacht crew will know just how bonding that experience can be.
From the moment the boat is launched, the crew hauls away as one cohesive body, resulting in one of the strongest team ethics imaginable.
But if you’re female, then a degree of ‘gender division’ may rear its dampening head, quashing your confidence, your ability and your downright enjoyment of being at sea.
But now, thanks to the foresight of local vet Charlotte Hamilton and her iconic pink boat, ladies of all ages and all sailing abilities are being introduced to the joys of sailing whilst supporting two of the UK’s foremost breast cancer charities – Breast Cancer Now and Metup UK.
Two years ago Charlotte lost one of her closest friends to breast cancer, following a ten-year battle after she was diagnosed with the disease when she was just 23. In 2022, Charlotte’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer; thankfully has made a complete recovery.
“Because of what I’ve witnessed, with my mother and with Connie, who was my best friend from college, breast cancer is something that’s very close to me,” Charlotte told The Pembrokeshire Herald from her home in Neyland.
“Connie was only 23 when she was diagnosed, but by then, the cancer had gone to her liver as they initially thought it was hormonal. She fought it for ten years and always wanted to visit Pembrokeshire, but sadly she died two weeks before she was due to come and visit.”
As a result, the pink boat is being sailed in memory of Connie, while the women who are learning to sail her are called ‘The Pink Puffins’.
Charlotte, who is a vet with the Fenton Vets practise in Haverfordwest, was given the boat some 18 months ago by her husband, Lloyd.
“Lloyd is a keen sailor who regularly races on the Cleddau, but I’d never really taken part,” she explains. “So the idea was for me to start building my sailing confidence. Last summer I took the boat out with two other women and we enjoyed it so much it got us thinking about starting to race. If the men can do it, so can we.”
The boat is an Achilles 24 cruise-racer, capable of reaching decent speeds and covering good distances.
“She’s capable of crossing the Atlantic, although The Pink Puffins are perfectly content to stick with the Cleddau for the time being,” laughed Charlotte.
“Since launching her a few weeks ago, we now have around 40 women who are starting to sail her,. We train every Sunday at Neyland and we took part in our very first race last Wednesday.
“Ok, we didn’t win, but being able to take part was fantastic and that’s the whole purpose of The Pink Puffins. It’s about having fun, and the women taking part can do as much or as little as they like. A lot of women have never set foot on a sailing boat before, and because it tends to be such a male-orientated thing, the thought of learning to sail can be a bit intimidating. So if somebody wants to come out with us just to watch, that’s perfectly fine. And if they want to get involved with sailing her a little later on, then that’s great.”
The interest that is already being shown and the rise in numbers means that additional racing sessions will be introduced later this season on Sundays.
Everyone attending the training sessions and the races is asked to make a donation which will be shared between Breast Cancer Now and Metup UK, however individuals can give as much or as little as they choose. If anyone is interested in finding out more about The Pink Puffins can email Charlotte on sailpinkpuffins@hotmail.com
Festival pulls appearance by ex-MP despite acclaim for honest memoir
A PLANNED appearance by former Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards at this year’s Llandeilo Lit Fest has been...
Easter holiday help for families – Kids eat free or for a pound at these local eateries
WITH the cost of living still putting pressure on many Pembrokeshire families, it’s good to see some local businesses stepping...
Cyclist airlifted after serious crash near Hundleton
A WOMAN was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries following a cycling accident in south Pembrokeshire. The incident occurred on...
Teen denies knife threat but admits damaging mum’s property
A HAVERFORDWEST teenager has denied threatening a man with a kitchen knife and carrying the weapon in public—but admitted damaging...
Former Welsh Secretary awarded peerage in Sunak’s resignation honours
Carmarthenshire politician among those elevated to House of Lords FORMER Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart has been...
‘Bitter disappointment’: Wales left out of UK steel rescue
Emergency bill to save Scunthorpe reignites anger over Port Talbot closure WELSH politicians from across the political spectrum have accused...
Tenby mobile signal branded ‘worse than the 1990s’ as coverage complaints grow
TENBY residents and traders are once again raising the alarm about poor mobile phone coverage, as the town enters another...
Haverfordwest opticians celebrate 100 years of long service
WALES’ LARGEST Specsavers store is celebrating a series of individual long service milestones, with nine team members collectively marking a...
Appeal launched as Welsh teenagers missing for nearly a week
POLICE have launched an appeal after two teenagers from Wales went missing almost a week ago. Isobel and Daniel, both...
Newcastle Emlyn man admits to attempted murder of baby
A MAN from Cwm Cou, Newcastle Emlyn has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a baby. Rhydian Jamieson, aged...
-
Crime6 days ago
Newcastle Emlyn man admits to attempted murder of baby
-
Crime6 days agoBroad Haven man admits stalking and bail breaches, denies criminal damage
-
Education7 days agoTeaching assistant forced to act after child left in locked toilet cubicle for hours
-
News5 days ago
A40 closed after serious crash near Wolfscastle
-
Health2 days agoPembrokeshire ‘Pink Puffins’ race the Cleddau thanks to local vet’s vision
-
Business2 days agoMilford Haven and Pembroke Dock among top towns in Wales for sex toy sales
-
News7 days agoPort issues urgent statement following Milford Haven laser incident
-
Crime6 days agoDock man given suspended sentence for assaults and drunken behaviour