Sport

Otters return to second

Published

5 years ago

April 10, 2019

NARBERTH returned to second place in the Championship on Saturday (Apr 6), as they beat Maesteg Quins 16-11 at the Lewis Lloyd Ground.

It was the final home game of the season for the Otters and with so many of their players injured they had several permit players in the squad.

The Otters kicked off facing up field, and within three minutes were awarded a penalty for a high tackle which full back Ianto Griffiths kicked safely for a three point lead.

The visitors restarted the game and the Otters looked determined in their attacks but faltered through errors. From one of their attacking efforts Maesteg Quins were awarded a penalty which fly half Tadgh McGuckin safely kicked to bring the score level at 3-3.

Their scrum half during one of their forays actually crossed over the try line but dropped the ball as he attempted to touch down. The referee awarded a five-metre scrum which the Otters eight safely heeled for number eight Richie Rees to break clear up field before being laid low in a tackle at a ruck. After treatment he was able to continue.

A further scrum was set outside the five metre line and Maesteg Quins were able to slip the ball to left wing Alex Griffiths who evaded several tackles to touch down for an unconverted try which gave the visitors a 3-8 lead.

At a lineout a yellow card was issued to a Quins player at 26 minutes. Rogers placed the ball into touch again and the Otters pack gained clean ball and formed a rolling maul. They released the ball quickly to Rogers who kicked towards the corner. Wing Yannick Parker gathered the ball and quickly crossed the line to touch down. The referee indicated an opponent’s hand had foiled the touch down and then issued a yellow card which it is assumed was for taking down the rolling maul.

Taking advantage of the resulting penalty Rogers kicked towards the corner. Roy Osborne caught the throw cleanly and another rolling maul formed.

This was stopped by Maesteg Quins by taking down one of the Otters along with their player causing the maul to collapse. The visitors gained the ball and put in a relieving kick to touch. From the lineout, the Otters advanced and at the breakdown Maesteg Quins were penalised for interfering.

Griffiths came forward and placed his 30 meter kick between the posts bringing the score on 34 minutes to 6-8.

From the kick off the Otters advanced back into the opponents half with a series of pick and drives until the Maesteg Quins again were penalised for aggressive incidents.

The referee had a long talk with their captain before awarding the penalty which Griffiths safely placed through the middle of the posts putting the Otters back in the lead at 9-8.

From the restart the Otters gathered the ball then fed Rogers who again produced a long, high kick which was fumbled by the receiver and followed by obstruction by Maesteg Quins.

This time the penalty kick hit the post, Maesteg collected the ball and placed it in touch for the referee to blow for half time.

Clearly at half time, the Otters were given some home truths by the coaches for on return to the game they scored a converted try within four minutes.

The try was well executed, on the opponents forty metre line, the ball reached Jack Price who put pressure on the Quins defence with his forceful running.

Outside him was flanker Tom Powell who quickly sped forward before releasing winger Gethin Gibby who, when challenged, passed inside to the supporting Tom Powell and in turn when challenged fed Gibby who sped like a stag down the far touch line to cross over for a great try. Griffiths made sure with his conversion giving the Otters a 16-8 lead.

Maesteg came back strongly but the game remained tight with both defences holding firm. A potential Otters try was lost when from a scrum Rhys Lane fed Rogers who found Price with his long passing and for Price to spot a gap and made a break down field only to spoil his initiative with a forward pass.

Maesteg attempted to break out of their half only for Gibby, attempting to intercept the pass, to knock on. The referee decided it was worth a yellow card.

In the following ten minutes, in one of the Otters movements, Rhys Lane made a fine break before passing to the supporting Richie Rees who was tackled and for the opposition to be penalised.

Rogers placed the ball onto the twenty two. The Otters in numbers followed through but lost the ball in a strong tackle. This time the Otters were penalised.

With the ball ending in touch, at the lineout the opposition set up a series of pick and charge phases with the ball eventually reaching wing Alex Griffiths who crossed the try line, only for the referee to bring him back having received a forward pass. The Otters srummaged on the five metres line and were able to gain relief to their twenty two.

The Otters proceeded further down field but Maesteg regained the ball and set up a move when the referee awarded them a penalty with the Otters going offside. Fly half Tadgh McGuckin kicked from 40 metres to add three points.

The game ended shortly afterwards with Rogers in his twenty two putting the ball out of play in the knowledge that full time had been reached.

Whilst the Otters have played their final home game they will travel in three weeks time on Saturday, April 27, to Maesteg to play the Quins again in their final game of the season.

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Residents reminded of IRONMAN Wales road restrictions

Published

2 days ago

September 13, 2024

Tom Sinclair

IRONMAN Wales returns to Pembrokeshire in just over a week and there will be full and partial road closures in and around the south of the County.

IRONMAN Wales will be held on Sunday, 22^nd September with thousands of athletes from all over the world taking part in a 2.3mile swim, followed by a 112mile bike ride before finishing with a 26.2mile run.

The swim starts at 7.30am and the predicted last finisher time is around 1am the following morning.

Full information outlining road closures and alternative routes available across the course is available on the IRONMAN website (opens in new window) to help residents plan their travel ahead of the event.

The A40 and A477 will remain open and are unaffected to facilitate access east-west throughout the event.

Emergency services will maintain full access.

Due to the road closure it will not be possible for the 387/8 (Coastal Cruiser) bus service to operate on Sunday 22^nd September. The service will operate as normal on Saturday 21^st and Monday 23^rd September.

The bike course closure map (opens in new window) and run course closure map can also be downloaded from ironman.com

There will also be restrictions in Tenby town centre on Saturday 21^st when IRONKIDS from across the county take part in their running races.

A park and ride shuttle bus will be running on Saturday and Sunday from Carew Airfield and Saundersfoot.

If you have any IRONMAN Wales access questions, please contact [email protected] or call 03330 11 66 00 and provide the following details:

Name
Telephone Number
Journey Start Postcode
Journey End Postcode
Time of Departure
Details of Enquiry

Please note the e-mail address will not be monitored on the event weekend so please plan ahead.

Sport

Thrills, spills, and big wins: Pembrokeshire Division Two heats up

Published

3 days ago

September 12, 2024

Herald Sport

LAST weekend’s action in Pembrokeshire Division Two delivered an exhilarating mix of high-scoring encounters, closely fought draws, and dominant displays, as the league standings begin to take shape.

Merlin’s Bridge Reserves 3-3 Camrose

The highly anticipated local derby between Merlin’s Bridge Reserves and league leaders Camrose did not disappoint, ending in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Camrose, still unbeaten at the top, looked set to secure the win after a brace from James Williams and a strike from Lewis Watts. But Merlin’s Bridge, determined to salvage a point, fought back through captain Morgan Richards. His two-goal performance, capped by a dramatic last-minute equaliser, ensured the Wizards shared the spoils in this action-packed affair.

Fishguard Sports 2-2 Hakin United Reserves

At Tregroes, Fishguard Sports and Hakin United Reserves played out a hard-fought 2-2 stalemate. Both sides remain unbeaten in a game where neither could find the breakthrough to secure all three points. Hakin’s youthful squad showed resilience, earning a commendable point against the more seasoned Fishguard team. Phil Jones’ men now sit fourth in the standings, while Hakin leapfrog to second.

Narberth 9-0 Lawrenny

Narberth delivered the weekend’s most emphatic result, thrashing newly promoted Lawrenny 9-0 at Jesse Road. Jordan Williams and Steff Williams each netted twice, while substitute Jacob Layfield came off the bench to bag a brace of his own. This devastating performance lifts Narberth to third, while Lawrenny, still without a point, languish at the foot of the table, enduring a tough baptism in Division Two.

Neyland 3-1 Johnston

Neyland secured a solid 3-1 home victory over Johnston, with the visitors still struggling to adapt to life in Division Two following their recent relegation. Johnston, with just one win from four matches, found themselves unable to match Neyland’s composure and quality. The result leaves them in the lower half of the table, while Neyland continue to build momentum.

Solva 6-2 Broad Haven

Solva’s impressive start to the season continued with a commanding 6-2 win over Broad Haven. Following their promotion, Solva have emerged as early dark horses, their strong performances keeping them within touching distance of the top spots. For an in-depth report on this feature match, head to our sports section.

Carew Reserves 3-0 Monkton Swifts Reserves

Carew Reserves finally notched their first win of the season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over an out-of-sorts Monkton Swifts Reserves. Last season’s league champions, Monkton, seem a shadow of their former selves, managing just one win from four outings as they continue to struggle to rediscover last year’s form.

With Camrose setting the early pace and several sides showing potential, Pembrokeshire’s Division Two is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive contest this season. Stay tuned for more twists and turns as the battle for promotion heats up.

Sport

Goals galore and dominant displays in Pembrokeshire’s Division One

Published

4 days ago

September 11, 2024

Herald Sport

THE latest round of Pembrokeshire Division One action saw some thrilling performances, with high-scoring victories and crucial wins that are already shaping the season’s outlook. Here’s a breakdown of all the key moments from the weekend’s fixtures.

Hakin United Make a Statement with 8-0 Win Over Clarbeston Road

Hakin United delivered an emphatic message to the rest of the league as they dismantled last year’s Senior Cup winners, Clarbeston Road, with a staggering 8-0 victory at the Obs. The Vikings were in full control from the first whistle, and their offensive firepower was on full display.

Alfie Stotter was the standout performer, grabbing a hat-trick and establishing himself as a key player for Hakin this season. His clinical finishing and sharp movement were too much for the Clarby defense, who struggled to contain the relentless pressure. This dominant win signals Hakin’s clear intent to challenge for the title this year, as they continue to set the pace at the top.

Carew edge past Merlins Bridge for first win

Carew claimed their first victory of the season with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Merlins Bridge. It was a tightly contested affair, with both sides creating chances, but it was Leon Davies who made the difference for the visitors. His goal proved decisive as Carew held on to secure three valuable points, leaving Merlins Bridge frustrated after failing to find an equalizer.

Milford United cruise past Kilgetty

Milford United secured their second win of the campaign, overcoming Kilgetty 2-0 at Marble Hall. It was a solid performance from the home side, with goals from Parr and Sam Davies sealing the win. Milford looked composed throughout and managed the game well, ensuring Kilgetty left without any reward. The result boosts Milford’s position in the table, as they aim to build momentum early in the season.

Monkton Swifts add to St Ishmaels’ woes

Monkton Swifts piled more misery on a struggling St Ishmaels side, cruising to a 4-1 victory. The win leaves St Ishmaels rooted to the bottom of the table, still without a point this season. Monkton were dominant from the outset and showed no mercy as they took control of the game early on. St Ishmaels will need to find answers quickly if they are to avoid a relegation battle.

Goodwick United secure 2-0 win over Pennar Robins

Goodwick United continued their steady start to the season with a solid 2-0 win over Pennar Robins at Bush Camp, which was our feature match this week. Goodwick looked in control for most of the game and managed to break through the Pennar defense with two well-taken goals. Be sure to check out the full match report on our sports page for a detailed look at how the game unfolded.

Tenby maintain perfect start with 5-0 victory over Herbie

Tenby maintained their perfect start to the season with a commanding 5-0 win over Herbie at the Clicketts. Spencer Williams led the charge with a brace, while Hipkiss and Leahy also got on the scoresheet. Tenby were in full flow, showcasing their attacking prowess and leaving Herbie with no answers. The result leaves Herbie at the bottom of the table without a point, while Tenby sit joint top with a perfect record.