Sport

Wales thump Ireland to seal Grand Slam

Published

3 years ago

March 18, 2019

WALES secured a historic Grand Slam on Saturday (Mar 16), as they thumped Ireland 25-7 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Going into the game they knew that a win would see them crowned Six Nations Champions and that anything but would have opened the door for the Irish or England to snatch the title.

However, Wales were in no mood to let their Grand Slam hopes fade away and scored with just over a minute on the clock gone, and they never looked back.

It was the perfect start for Warren Gatland’s men as Ken Owens’ throw found its way to Gareth Anscombe who beautifully chipped over for Hadleigh Parkes to catch and touch down. Anscombe then added the extras.

It meant that Jonathan Sexton’s first act of the game was to restart it but they very nearly scored moments after, only for an excellent tackle.

Jacob Stockdale picked the ball up and looked as if he would run to the try line but Parkes made a try-saving tackle and Wales were able to win the ball back.

Wales increased their lead with a penalty on 18 minutes with a 49-metre penalty from Anscombe and they continued to push forward, not wanting to sit on their lead.

Two minutes later they had a penalty advantage but when the ball was kicked ahead, Gareth Davies’ over-eagerness saw him tackle the Irish player after the whistle had gone, much to the displeasure of the four Irishmen around him. The penalty was reversed.

Irish errors continued to be punished though and with five minutes of the first half remaining, Anscombe sent another penalty through the posts to make it 13-0.

On the stroke of half time, Ireland were guilty of collapsing the scrum and Anscombe again scored a penalty to give Wales a 16-0 lead at the break.

The first score in the second half would prove crucial, a Wales score would deflate Ireland while an Ireland score would give them hope.

After both sides traded penalties it was the home team who got the first points as Anscombe again punished Ireland with a 33-metre penalty which sailed just inside the posts to make it 19-0.

The Grand Slam was within Wales’ grasp and when Sexton’s restart went out of play, you got the sense that an Irish comeback seemed unlikely.

Another penalty from Anscombe made it 22-0 with just under half an hour to play but Ireland came back looking for a way into the game. However, try as they might they passed the ball out of play.

Connor Murray then came close to scoring but was held up and some excellent defending saw Wales turn the ball over.

With just over ten minutes to go Anscombe scored his sixth penalty to continue his perfect record and it was only a matter of time before Wales were crowned champions.

There was still time for Ireland to attack though and came close as Wales were penalised for being offside on three occasions but a knock on allowed Wales to clear the ball.

As the clock ticked over the 80 minutes, Wales knew they had done enough to secure the Grand Slam and a fourteenth win in a row but Ireland were not going down without a fight.

Stockdale was again halted but the ball was recycled to Jordan Larmour who dived over for a consolation try. Jack Carty added the extras but the celebrations for Wales had already begun.

It was a third Six Nations title for Warren Gatland in his final tournament, his second Grand Slam, proving that Wales were the one team to beat.

They will now look forward to preparing for the World Cup in Japan which starts in September.

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Sport

Harrison Allen: Herbie see off Llanrhian to go through

Published

16 hours ago

May 25, 2022

James Hemingray

HERBRANDSTON continued their good early season form as they booked their place in the quarter finals of the Harrison Allen Bowl on Tuesday night (May 24).

They beat Llanrhian by four wickets having bowled them out for just 92.

Charlie Malloy made the breakthrough for Herbie before Dean John bowled Jack Jones on a score of 10.

Nigel Delaney was then bowled by Malloy and Llanrhian were reduced to 34-3.

Jon Strawbridge and Iwan James then shared 35 runs for the fourth wicket as they looked to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

However, James was bowled by Kristian Bennett on a score of 18 and soon after Strawbridge was caught by Ben Aldred off the bowling of Harry Nicholas on a score of 16.

More wickets followed for Bennett who finished with excellent figures of 5-13.

Herbie lost a wicket early in reply but a second wicket stand of 49 between Jack and Harry Nicholas got their side moving.

Jack scored 36 but he was then trapped leg before by Gwynant Watson and soon after he also Harry caught on a score of 16.

Dean John was bowled by Tom Clarke before Kristian Bennett’s score of 15 took Herbie to within touching distance of their target.

Jonathan Bennett fell for a first ball duck to Clarke but Charlie Malloy finished unbeaten on 9 to see Herbie over the line.

Sport

Carew book place in Harrison Allen quarter finals

Published

17 hours ago

May 25, 2022

James Hemingray

CAREW booked their place in the quarter finals of the Harrison Allen Bowl on Tuesday night (May 24) as they beat Saundersfoot by 22 runs.

Two of Division 1’s form teams met and they didn’t disappoint with over 350 runs scored on the night.

Carew won the toss and batted first and they were able to reach 187-8 off their 22 overs.

Tim Hicks and Nick Davies got their side off to a fine start with a first wicket stand of 98 runs.

Hicks his six fours and two sixes in his score of 53 but he was then caught by Scott Helmich off the bowling of Neil Powling.

Davies hit three fours and four sixes as he scored 54 but he saw himself caught by Yannic Parker off the bowling of Nav Kawale.

Luke Hicks did not last long in the middle as he was bowled by Powling as Carew were reduced to 122-3.

Rhys Davies and Ian Sefton then shared 49 runs for the fourth wicket as they took Carew’s score towards 200.

Saundersfoot began to hit back though as they had Davies out for a score of 23 before Sefton was caught by Tom Mansbridge off the bowling of John Mansbridge on a score of 22.

Mansbridge also bowled Simon Wood and Jack Franklin bowled James Hinchliffe.

That meant that Saundersfoot would need 188 to win the game and having chased down 198 against Cresselly at the weekend they would have been confident of doing so.

Tom Mansbridge and Scott Helmich opened up for the visitors and they shared 67 runs for the first wicket.

Shaun Whitfield made the breakthrough as he trapped Mansbridge leg before on a score of 42.

Soon after, Simon Wood bowled Helmich on a score of 24 and he then did the same to Sam Franklin.

Whitfield also claimed the wickets of John Mansbridge (19) and Jack Franklin (7) as Saundersfoot slipped to 108-5.

Wood then also bowled Dom Green to make it 115-6 but Yannic Parker and Danny Brace began to offer some resistance.

Parker was out to Wood on a score of 13 before Nav Kawale, who had hit a quick fire 17 was caught and bowled by James Hinchliffe.

Sam Harts bowled Tudor Hurle and Brace was run out on a score of 21 as Carew sealed victory.

Sport

Kilgetty through to Harrison Allen quarter finals

Published

1 day ago

May 24, 2022

James Hemingray

KILGETTY booked their place in the quarter finals of the Harrison Allen Bowl on Tuesday (May 24) as they beat Pembroke Dock by five wickets.

Kilgetty won the toss and chose to field and they were able to bowl the Dock out for 129 with three balls of their innings to spare.

The home side lost Scott Griffiths and Tom Grimwood early on, both on scores of 5 and both bowled by Richard Cope.

Jake Davies made a score of 19 but he was bowled by Anthony Bevan as the Dock slipped to 40-3.

Billy Wood and Archie Hillier-Wood then shared 45 runs for the fourth wicket.

Wood hit two fours and a six in his score of 26 but he was then bowled by Levi Hughes.

The wickets continued to fall as Hughes then had Jamie White caught by Ollie Gamble before Geoff Marsh stumped Rhys Daley to give Jack Tucker his first wicket of the night.

That left the Dock on 113-6 and it soon became 118-7 as Hillier-Wood, who had hit two fours in his score of 36, was bowled by Hughes.

Hughes and Josh Bevan then ran out Euan McDonald and Nick Daley respectively before Hughes claimed his fourth wicket of the night to finish with figures of 4-22.

Kilgetty celebrate another of their wickets

Toby Poole started well for the visitors as he hit five fours in a score of 23 from 13 balls.

He had seen fellow opener Tom Lewis depart after being caught off the bowling of Billy Wood before being bowled by Wood.

Jack Parkinson and Richard Cope took over and they shared 59 runs for the third wicket.

Cope hit three fours and a six in his score of 31 but he was then caught by Connor Carroll off the bowling of Nick Daley.

Jack Tucker was bowled by Euan McDonald for a duck and the same bowler then had Parkinson, who had hit four fours in a score of 38, caught by Scott Griffiths.

That left Kilgetty on 103-5 and they still needed to get 27 runs in the final three overs.

Josh Bevan and Ollie Gamble held their nerve as they three fours and two sixes between them to help their side into the last eight of the competition.

Bevan finished unbeaten on 16 from 12 balls (1 four, 1 six) while Gamble was not out on 14 from 6 balls (two fours, 1 six).