Sport
Rooks stand tall over Giants

CAREW ensured there would be a first all Pembrokeshire West Wales Cup Final on Wednesday night (Mar 27) as they beat Giants Grave 4-2 at Garden Village.
They will now play Merlins Bridge in the final at the Liberty Stadium on Tuesday, May 7, days after the two sides also meet in the Senior Cup Final.
The Rooks beat Giants Grave 5-2 on their way to the semi-finals in last years competition but were expecting it to be much tougher this time around.
However, the Pembrokeshire side blew their Neath opponents away in the first half, coming from behind to lead 4-1 at the break and that was enough to seal their passage to the final.
Giants Grave struck first as they were awarded penalty after only seven minutes when Iwan Izzard was penalised for a handball. Richard Evans slotted the penalty home.
The Rooks looked to get back into it and they eventually levelled just before the half hour mark when Sam Christopher scored after being played in by Alex Bayley.
Three minutes later Carew were ahead as Lloyd Hughes’ shot was fumbled in by Grave keeper Keiron Hyde.
They were not done there and four minutes after Christopher scored his second to make it 3-1.
Three minutes before half time Carew had their fourth as Hughes rounded the keeper to score his second of the night.
It was an excellent period for the Rooks and one that all but secured their place in the final.
However, they knew they would face a strong fight back from the Grave and they seemed determined to get back into it.
Eight minutes into the second half they did pull a goal back when Richard Evans scored a free kick from 20 yards to make it 4-2.
Try as they might the Grave were unable to add to their scoring and Carew saw the game out.
Speaking to the Herald after the game, assistant coach Jeremy Griffiths said: “It’s a bit surreal, a strange feeling but we are elated. We’ve been building for the last two-three years and we’ve finally got there.
“It’s a great honour for the club, it was our third time in the semi-finals so it was third time lucky for us and we look forward to taking on Merlins Bridge at the Liberty.
“We knew Giants Grave would come at us in the first quarter and they took the lead but they had a little wobble and we took full advantage and we scored some good goals.”
Carew: Tom Davies, Shaun Whitfield, Jack Christopher, Max Brindley, Zak Rowell, Iwan Izzard, Ian Darbyshire, Lloyd Hughes (James Hinchliffe 83), Alex Bayley, Jordan Richards (Tom Grover 86), Sam Christopher.
Subs not used: Ben Evans, Scott Richards, Haydn Shapcott.
Giants Grave: Keiron Hyde, Dan Williams, Simon Hanford, Ross Hobson, Chris Mahoney, Ross Davies (Josh Davies 65), Dean Evans, Luke Pearson, Tim Stephens, Richard Barness (Rob Canny 59), Richard Evans.
Subs not used: Jack Surman, Adam Llewellyn, Anthony Price.
Sport
Cup semi-finals and more league action this weekend

THERE are two Divisional cup semi-finals this weekend as well as the usual league action across Pembrokeshire.
The first of those semis is in the Division 3 Cup. Letterston will take on Lawrenny at Carew with that game kicking off at 2pm.
Letterston beat holders Clarbeston Road seconds on penalties in the last round while Lawrenny beat St Florence.
The other semi-final sees Haverfordwest CC taking on Camrose with that game taking place next weekend, March 11.
There is also one semi-final in the Division 5 Cup this weekend and it sees Cosheston seconds taking on Milford Athletic seconds with that game being played at Pembroke Boro and also kicking off at 2pm.
Cosheston beat Pembroke Boro seconds 5-1 in the quarter finals while Milford Athletic beat Broad Haven seconds 4-3.
There is a game in the Division 2 cup too as Herbrandston host Solva, with that game again kicking off at 2pm.
In Division 1, leaders Goodwick United host Kilgetty in what will be a good game between two in-form teams. Goodwick earned a 2-0 win over Kilgetty in their last meeting. Both sides go into this game on three-game unbeaten runs (in all competitions) and it promises to be a close encounter.
Second placed Merlins Bridge have suffered three straight defeats in all competitions and they will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Fishguard.
Clarbeston Road take on Neyland and the league’s bottom two also meet as St Clears travel to St Ishmaels.
Monkton Swifts are on a four game unbeaten run and they face local rivals Pennar Robins who themselves have won their last two games.
All Division 1 games will be kicking off at 2:30pm.
In Division 2, second placed Milford United host fifth placed Johnston. Milford were beaten last week by Tenby and they will be keen to get back to winning ways.
Johnston are unbeaten in three games and they will be looking for another win to close the gap on the top four.
Narberth have won their last three games and they take on Carew seconds. A win for the Bluebirds will take them closer to their opponents in the table.
Tenby will be bouyed by their win over Milford last week and they host Broad Haven on Saturday.
Pennar Robins seconds earned their first win of the season last weekend and they now host rivals Monkton Swifts seconds.
In Division 3, Cosheston host Camrose, Haverfordwest Cricket Club host Goodwick United seconds. Milford Athletic host Pendine and Pembroke Boro visit St Florence.
Fixtures for Division 4:
Angle v Newport Tigers
Camrose II v Tenby II
Carew III v Prendergast Villa
Kilgetty II v St Ishmaels II
Neyland II v Herbrandston II
Fixtures for Division 5:
Broad Haven II v Pembroke Boro II
Johnston II v N Hedges & Saundersfoot
Lawrenny II v Letterston II
St Clears II v Monkton Swifts III
Sport
Bluebirds beaten on the road

HAVERFODWEST County suffered defeat on Saturday (Feb 25) as their hopes of finishing seventh took a blow.
The Bluebirds had beaten Flint Town United last time out and were hoping to pick up another win but they came up against a Pontypridd side bouyed by their late show against Aberystwyth in their last game which saw them earn a 3-3 draw.
There was a chance for Ben Fawcett early on as he latched on to a long ball but his shot from the edge of the area went just wide.
In the 24th minute, Jordan Davies crossed the ball to the back post for Jazz Richards whose header back towards proved too hot for the Ponty keeper to handle who palmed the ball into the net.
However, nine minutes later the home side were back level as Kieran Lewis’ corner was headed in by Jarrad Wright.
The game remained 1-1 at the break with both sides keen to make a good start to the second half.
For the Bluebirds, it was anything but. Four minutes in, Oscar Borg was sent off for pulling down Ponty’s Ben Ahmun, giving the home side a free kick on the edge of the box.
Lewis stepped up and curled a brilliant effort into the net to put the home side ahead.
Ponty nearly added a third late on as the ball was sent through for Danny Williams but he could not beat Bluebirds keeper Zac Jones. The rebound fell to Owain Jones but he sent his effort over the bar.
The win for Ponty moves them back out of the bottom two and they now sit three points behind the Bluebirds.
The sides now have a two-week break before their next league game.
On Saturday, March 11, Haverfordwest travel to Aberystwyth Town while Pontypridd host Caernarfon Town.
Sport
Division 2: Johnston, Tenby and Hakin seconds earn victories

THERE were wins for Johnston, Tenby and Hakin United seconds on Saturday (Feb 25) as the race for promotion to Division 1 hots up.
Hakin United seconds remain top of the table after they beat Monkton Swifts seconds 2-0.
Leon Davies scored after half an hour and James Trueman added a second with twenty minutes to go as the Vikings earned their thirteenth win of the season.
Their gap to second placed Milford United increased to four points as the Robins were beaten 4-0 by Tenby.
After a goalless first half, Dan Storer put Tenby ahead before Scott Ferney added a second. Jerome Mansbridge added a third before Ferney put the result beyond doubt with an 82nd minute penalty.

Herbrandston missed the chance to close the gap to Milford after they were beaten 2-0 by Johnston.
Craig Bendall scored a 17th minute penalty and Joey George added a second ten minutes before the break. There were no more goals and Johnston held on for the win which moves them five points behind Herbie.
Narberth earned their third league win in a row on Saturday as they came from behind to beat Merlins Bridge seconds 2-1.
Rhys Corney put the Wizards ahead but two quick goals from Jordan Williams and Morgan Preece gave Narberth victory.
Broad Haven earned their sixth win of the season on Saturday as they beat Solva 6-1.
Jack Thornton put Solva ahead in the thirteenth minute but Thomas Lawrence equalised a minute later.
Spencer Le-Petit then scored either side of half time to make it 3-1. Ian Harvey added a fourth before scoring a further two goals in the space of four minutes to seal a comfortable win.
Pennar Robins seconds earned their first win of the season on Saturday as they beat Carew seconds 1-0. It had looked as if the game was heading for a 0-0 draw but a late goal from Bobby Jones earned Pennar a welcome win.
Fixtures for Saturday, March 4:
Second Division Cup
Herbrandston v Solva
Division 2
Milford United v Johnston
Narberth v Carew seconds
Pennar Robins seconds v Monkton Swifts seconds
Tenby v Broad Haven
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