Sport
Wales Women confident ahead of Six Nations
WALES Women captain Carys Phillips believes her side are in the best shape yet to face their Six Nations challenges
“This year’s build-up feels different following a new regional training and playing programme leading into a successful autumn series,” said the 42-times capped front row forward.
“Following that and a Six Nations preparation period including a useful warm-up game against Ireland, I believe we will more competitive than you’ve seen in recent years.
“We have a lot of youngsters in our side. Our backrow has an average age of 19 and they aren’t daunted by the challenges facing them, they just see them as any other game.
“We have France and Italy first up as back to back away games which is a new experience for us. It’s a cliché but we really are just focussing on France to start with ad taking each game one by one. They are an excellent outfit as current champions, and we are expecting a huge crowd in Montpellier. It was a similar scenario two years’ ago in France – it will be a tough challenge away from home but you couldn’t ask for a better experience to kick off the tournament.
“You have to concentrate on playing rugby but you also have to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy it.
“France are a physical side that also like to kick the ball and play a wide game but we’re in a confident place and it’s games like this we need to make further progress as a team.”
Wales’ home games will once again be played at Cardiff Arms Park.
“We are really looking forward to coming back to the Arms Park for Round Three and a huge clash against England.
“Cardiff Arms Park is an excellent place to play, the crowd really got behind us in the autumn which means so much to us as a team.”
Tickets for Wales Women v England (Sunday, Feb 24, 12.30pm) and Ireland (Sunday, March 17, 1.30pm) are on sale now from Cardiff Blues box office online and to personal callers.
On a more disappointing note, Wales Women No 8 Sioned Harries suffered an ankle injury in the side’s Six Nations warm-up against Ireland and after further assessment will undergo an operation ruling her out of the forthcoming tournament.
Head coach Rowland Phillips is not currently planning to replace Harries in the Six Nations squad. He said: “It is obviously a disappointing blow for Sioned and for us as a squad. However, we are a tight knit group with a fair amount of strength in depth, especially in the second and back row. In particular we have a number of very young players who are set to gain a huge amount of international experience and exposure throughout this tournament.”
Bethan Davies and Gwenllian Pyrs were recently involved in a road traffic incident and are recovering from the effects of that before returning to rugby training.
Sport
Seasiders dominate in 5-2 win over Swifts
TENBY earned a commanding 5-2 victory against visitors Monkton Swifts at The Clicketts on Saturday (Nov 9). Jerome Williams opened the scoring just ten minutes in, following a well-placed setup from veteran Joe Leahy. Skipper Dan Evans doubled the lead nine minutes later with a stunning 35-yard drive, expertly placing a right-footed shot beyond Monkton’s keeper, Taylor Gullam, who was frequently called into action during a shaky defensive showing by the Swifts.
Williams struck again to put Tenby 3-0 up midway through the first half, but both he and fellow forward Scott Fearney found themselves in the sin bin for ten minutes shortly after. Despite being down to nine men, Tenby maintained control, adjusting their tactics to retain possession. Leahy then scored a spectacular fourth goal, launching a 50-yard chip from just inside the Swifts’ half over the head of a retreating Gullam after receiving a clearance from man of the match Curtis Hurlow.
Monkton struggled to find their rhythm, though central midfielder Gareth Finnegan led a determined push that eventually paid off with a goal eight minutes before halftime. However, Swifts’ efforts were marred by a booking for winger Josh Clarke just before the break for a late challenge.
Fearney added Tenby’s fifth goal ten minutes into the second half, effectively sealing the win. Monkton’s Ryan Hughes managed to pull one back from a scrambled corner with 15 minutes left, bringing the score to 5-2. Both managers, Gareth Noot (Tenby) and Stuart James (Monkton), rotated their squads with substitutions in the closing stages.
Tenby’s centre-half Charlie Gregory was cautioned for a late tackle, and Swifts’ skipper Ben Steele saw time in the sin bin in the final minute. Third-placed Tenby now look forward to hosting Kilgetty next weekend, while the Swifts prepare to welcome title-chasers Hakin United to Monkton Lane.
Sport
Latest Pembrokeshire Second Division football reports
THE latest round of Pembrokeshire Second Division fixtures delivered a series of high-scoring, action-packed matches, with several players seizing the spotlight through remarkable individual performances. Here’s a rundown of the results.
Merlins Bridge II 3-3 Monkton Swifts II
In a hard-fought clash, Merlins Bridge II and Monkton Swifts II ended level at 3-3 in a game that saw both sides push relentlessly for the win. Monkton’s Dyllan Bowen was in formidable form, netting all three of his team’s goals to complete a hat-trick and keep his side in contention. Merlins Bridge II responded with goals from Daniel Pearce, Jack Ashman, and Tom Mezzetta, sharing the scoring duties and ensuring they came away with a well-earned point. Both teams showed resilience and attacking flair, setting a high bar for the rest of the league.
Solva 3-6 Narberth
In another goal-heavy encounter, Narberth came out on top against Solva, winning 6-3. Steffan Williams led the charge for Narberth, recording a brilliant hat-trick to dominate Solva’s defense. His teammate Jordan Williams was close behind, adding a brace to extend Narberth’s lead, while Lewis Bansal contributed with a goal of his own. Solva managed three goals courtesy of Monti Lavin, Josh Bland, and Danny Thomas, but despite their efforts, they struggled to contain Narberth’s relentless attacking unit.
Lawrenny 2-11 Camrose
Camrose produced a clinical display against Lawrenny, storming to an overwhelming 11-2 victory. Jordan Raymond was the standout player, scoring four times and dismantling the Lawrenny defense almost single-handedly. Scott Chalmers added three more, securing his own hat-trick, while Martyn Tweedie contributed with a brace. Joe Haworth also got on the scoresheet, and an own goal added to Lawrenny’s woes. Sam Davies and Owen James managed to score for Lawrenny, but their efforts were only a small consolation in a lopsided match.
Broad Haven 0-7 Hakin United II
Hakin United II showed their class with a dominant 7-0 victory over Broad Haven. Evan Rutherford led the scoring with a hat-trick, tormenting Broad Haven’s defense throughout the match. Corey Riley added two goals, while Tyler Williams and Tom Edmonds each found the net once to cap off a comprehensive team performance. Broad Haven couldn’t find an answer to Hakin’s well-organized attack, leaving them looking for answers after a tough outing.
Sport
This weekend’s Division 4 West rugby roundup
THE latest fixtures in Division 4 West delivered intense clashes, narrow escapes, and exhilarating victories as teams showcased their determination and skill. Here’s a breakdown of the matches and standout moments.
Dreigiau Emlyn 7-10 St Davids
St Davids claimed a narrow 10-7 win over Dreigiau Emlyn in a hard-fought match. Celt Davies put Dreigiau Emlyn on the scoreboard with a try, converted by Llew Morgan. St Davids responded with tries from Ethan Griffiths and Dan Murphy, with Bob Froy converting one. Despite Dreigiau Emlyn’s strong defensive stand, St Davids held on for a slim victory.
Llangwm 23-21 Pembroke Dock
In a thrilling contest, Llangwm edged out Pembroke Dock by just two points, finishing 23-21. George James led Llangwm’s scoring with a try, two conversions, and three penalties. Gethin Thomas added a try, pushing Llangwm into a narrow lead. Pembroke Dock fought back with tries from Harry Owen, Danny Wilkes, and Morgan Rogers, all converted by Ben Hathaway. However, Llangwm’s precise penalty kicks clinched the close contest.
Llanybydder 24-31 Pembroke
Pembroke emerged victorious in a high-scoring 31-24 match against Llanybydder. Llanybydder displayed resilience with tries from Arwel Williams, Matthew Rollings, Ifan Mason-Evans, and Griff Morgans, two of which were converted by Rollings. Pembroke’s offense proved too strong, with tries from Robin Badham, Jack Oliver, Fraser James, Dai Rogers, and Toby Edwards, alongside three conversions by Josh Greenwood. Pembroke’s offensive depth secured the win in this lively encounter.
Neyland 20-23 Narberth Athletic
Narberth Athletic pulled off a close 23-20 victory over Neyland, with Shane Rossiter at the heart of the action, scoring all of Narberth’s points through three tries, two penalties, and a conversion. Neyland responded admirably, with tries from Luke Griffiths-Dawes (2) and Josh Watts, while Oli Rothero added a conversion and a penalty. Rossiter’s consistent performance under pressure proved decisive, securing Narberth Athletic’s hard-earned win.
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