Sport
Seagulls earn comeback victory
Specsavers National League
Division 2 West
Pontyberem 10 – Fishguard & Goodwick 31
ANYONE leaving Pontyberem’s Recreation Park after 15 minutes couldn’t be blamed for thinking a Pontyberem victory would be the end result. However, rugby matches last 80 minutes.
Straight from the start, Pontyberem put the Seagulls on the back foot and played with control and flair.
Fishguard rapidly slipped to a ten-point deficit through a Sion Nicholas try and a further five points from the boot of the home team’s skipper, centre Mike Sauro.
The tide turned when Pontyberem were hit with a pair of yellow cards, which allowed the Seagulls to turn the game’s momentum around. Fishguard managed to turn the screw with their advantage, crossing for
During the opening section of the game the Bont played with control and quite a bit of flair, resulting in them hitting Fishguard with a ten-point onslaught, through a Sion Nicholas try, and a further five points from the boot of centre and skipper Mike Sauro. However, with two yellow cards being awarded against Pontyberem, the tide turned.
And Fishguard took full advantage by turning the screw, crossing for 2 tries of their own.
The first came as visitors’ skipper Chris Shousha took a quick tap penalty and steamed over for an unconverted try. Outside half Mick Jones slotted over a penalty to pull the Seagulls within two points before rounding off a sweeping movement which started inside his own half with a fine score.
Although Pontyberem were strong in scrum and effective in the lineout, they were unable to convert good first-phase possession into any meaningful threat. Their failure was largely down to excellent work by Fishguard’s back row and former Pontyberem player Nick Setaro’s kicking game.
The Whitland player, on loan to Fishguard, pinned Pontyberem back with some smart tactical kicking and showed Pontyberem how to turn field position into points by scoring a brace of drop goals.
As the game wore on, Fishguard capitalised on errors by the home team to build a dominant position.
Despite sterling work in the tight, Pontyberem continued to be undone by their own mistakes, excellent jackalling work by Fishguard’s loose forwards, and opportunism.
Skipper Shousha scored his second try after good handling released him in space down the right flank. Mick Jones obliged with the extras to give the Seagulls a comfortable cushion entering the final quarter of the game.
Pontyberem seemed to run out of ideas and Fishguard managed to get that all-important bonus-point score when a clever cross-kick by Setaro found Daf Ridgeway in space. The Seagulls’ winger made no mistake and scored the game’s final try to take Fishguard to a 31-10 lead, which stayed the final score of the match.
This Saturday (Nov 23), Pontyberem make the journey down to Milford Haven and will want to ensure they turn up for the full eighty minutes. Meanwhile, Fishguard have the chance to add further momentum to their season, welcoming basement team Loughor to the Moors.
Sport
The stage is set – Senior Cup Final
It’s the time of the year again, Saturday see’s Bridge Meadow host the senior cup final. The sun has been shining and both teams will be dying to get on the pitch. This year the final will be contested by Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road.
League champions Goodwick will go into the final as favourites, and most around the county expect a Goodwick win. It has been an outstanding season for Goodwick however cup success has evaded them so far. Clarbeston Road have impressed everyone this season and really deserve their place in this years final.
Neill Crawshaw will referee the game, with Tudor Walters and Stefan Jenkins running the line.
There will be a unique contest on the pitch as brothers Will Haworth and Laurie Haworth come face to face on opposing teams. Adrian their father was a great player in the county, and played in many cup finals himself.
The stage is set, Clarby will feel less pressure than Goodwick and will be a threat with Haworth, John and Davies in attack. Meanwhile Goodwick are also blessed with quality players in every department, there is no weak link in O’Sullivans team. Cup football and finals in particular never go as people predict. On paper Goodwick are firm favourites, Clarbeston Road will be happy the game will be played on grass though and not paper, anything can happen! Hopefully it’ll be a good crowd down at the Meadow for the show piece of Pembrokeshire football.
News
70 Pembrokeshire clubs benefit from Sport Wales funding
SEVENTY Pembrokeshire clubs have been successful in receiving grants from the Be Active Wales Fund over the last financial year.
In total the clubs received more than £407,800 from the grants scheme from Sport Wales in 2023/24.
The fund backed 25 different sports, ranging from archery, basketball and cricket to sailing, short mat bowls and weightlifting and everything in between.
The Be Active Wales Fund is open to applications from not for profit community clubs and groups to help develop and sustain their activities.
Grants range from a minimum of £300 up to a maximum of £50,000.
The scheme will support coach education courses, the purchase of essential items of equipment right up to larger projects such as floodlighting and boats for sailing clubs.
For advice and support with your application contact Alan Jones or Lois Hilling at Pembrokeshire County Council’s Sports Development department, Sport Pembrokeshire on [email protected]
The Be Active Wales Fund is always open for applications.
More information is available on the Sport Wales website.
Sport
Clarby stand in the way of Goodwick double
Two thrilling semi finals last weekend has meant Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road will meet in the senior cup final this coming Saturday.
Goodwick faced Pennar Robins in their semi final who pushed the champions very hard. Carl Vincent will be disappointed but proud of the Robins as they gave a great account of themselves. However in the end Goodwick’s quality and experience just was too much for Vincent’s team.
The other semi was an absolute thriller, and after a nail biting game Matthew Fox’ Clarby progressed to the final. A offside call has sparked a lot of debate around the county. However it seems that linesman Jenkins made an absolute perfect call so credit to him for that.
Both teams would have wanted a nice week of preparation for the final, maybe without any games to play. Unfortunately this hasn’t been possible due to the fixture backlog and both outfits have played already this week.
Goodwick will be favourites of course, however if anyone can upset the apple cart Saturday it’s this Clarbeston Road team. Fox’ outfit have impressed over and over this season. Without too much pressure on them, they are in a good place going into the final.
The double at one staged looked like the minimum Goodwick would be aiming for this season. However losses in other cup competitions, means its Senior Cup success or just the league title for the outstanding team of the season. Oddly becoming champions with no cup success maybe seen as a huge disappointment considering their dominance this season. A unique pressure. However if anyone can handle that pressure it’s O’Sullivans outfit.
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