Sport
Scarlets slay Dragons
Tries from man-of-the-match Sione Kalamafoni and replacement Sam Costelow, combined with the boot of Dan Jones ensured Glenn Delaney’s side made it a festive double to move them up to second in Conference B of the Guinness PRO14 standings.
The Scarlets weren’t at their free-flowing best and will be frustrated by the amount of handling errors and ill-discipline in their performance, but the winning run continues ahead of next week’s clash with Cardiff Blues in the Welsh capital.
Despite a rare dry night in Llanelli, the opening 40 minutes was littered with errors from both sides and it meant the game had little flow.
The Scarlets enjoyed plenty of possession and territory, but too often passes failed to go to hand.
It was the Dragons who were first on the scoreboard thanks to a penalty from the boot of ex-Scarlet Josh Lewis.
Wales lock Jake Ball limped off moments later with a knee injury to be replaced by Tevita Ratuva, while Wyn Jones, on his 100th appearance, also left the field for a head assessment.
The outstanding Kalamafoni made a powerful surge up the middle of the field to put the Scarlets on the offensive, but again a promising move broke down.
Dan Jones levelled matters on 29 minutes, then added another penalty on the stroke of half-time after a quick tap from Kieran Hardy.
The Scarlets continued to enjoy the better of play in the second period, but had to wait until 57 minutes for the game’s first try.
More pressure led to Gareth Davies being taken out off the ball and Dragons lock Matthew Screech being shown yellow by referee Nigel Owens.
Scarlets went for the corner instead of the shot at goal and a well-worked training move saw Kalamafoni charge across the whitewash for his first try in Scarlets colours, a score converted by Jones.
With former Scarlet Rhodri Williams adding a spark, Dragons looked for an immediate response, but a brilliant turnover from Ratuva snuffed out the threat.
Then in the final play, replacement Sam Costelow picked up a loose ball, sped through the gap and around the final defender for a superb solo score, with the Wales U20s fly-half adding the conversion for good measure.
After the hard-fought win, Scarlets coach Glenn Delaney said: “I suppose it was a compelling contest of a different nature. You saw a lot of kicking battles going on, neither team wanted to give the other counter-attacking opportunities.
“I thought defensively we were very resolute, I never felt we were in danger on our goal-line, it was a bit stop-start with a couple of drop balls, but I am delighted to get the win and we did create a bit more in the second half.
“With these derby games, I am learning every time we play one, they all seem to be pretty much like this and perhaps bring out the best and worst in us because of the individual competition and contest.
“We would have liked to have done a bit more with the ball and the attacking breakdown with us was poor, the Dragons turned over a bit of ball there so we need to be better in that area and make sure when we make the breaks we are able to capitalise.”
Hakin United secure hard-fought win over Carew
Hakin United 3-1 Carew
HAKIN UNITED overcame a determined Carew side at the Obs, with two late goals securing the victory.
Ryan Wilson opened the scoring in the 16th minute, volleying home from a Jack Britton corner. Carew responded before halftime when Marcus Griffiths won and converted a penalty after being brought down by Mark Jones.
Jones made amends in the second half, setting up Shane Walsh to restore Hakin’s lead in the 77th minute. In stoppage time, Britton played in Alfie Stotter, who sealed the win with a delicate chip.
Goodwick United close in on league title
Goodwick United 5-0 Kilgetty
Goodwick United moved one step closer to retaining their league title with a commanding win over 10-man Kilgetty.
Will Haworth opened the scoring just before halftime with an overhead kick, and moments later, Nathan Greene doubled the lead with a powerful header from a Jonny Horgan corner.
Kilgetty’s hopes faded further in the second half when Kyle Marsh was sent off for a second booking. Goodwick capitalised, adding goals through Rhys Jones, substitute Kieran Blundell, and a second for Haworth to complete the rout.
They now need just one more win from their final three games to secure the championship.
Pennar Robins run riot as Herbrandston’s season ends in heavy defeat
Herbrandston 0-15 Pennar Robins
Relegated Herbrandston endured a crushing defeat in their final game, as Pennar Robins ran rampant with 15 unanswered goals.
Ben Adams led the charge with five, while Jack Jones netted four. Cameron Brunton added a hat-trick, with Noah Davison, Nick Willis, and Liam Williams also on the scoresheet.
Despite a difficult season, credit must go to Herbrandston and their leadership, with the club now looking ahead to a fresh start in August.
Milford United 2-1 Clarbeston Road
MILFORD UNITED booked their place in the Senior Cup final with a spirited and fearless performance, overcoming defending champions Clarbeston Road in a dramatic semi-final at Bridge Meadow.
With both sides having beaten each other in the league, a competitive encounter was expected, and The Robins wasted no time in making their mark. Young Jack Dyer fired them into the lead in the fourth minute with a superb volley, setting the tone for an intense battle.
Milford had a golden chance to double their advantage just before the half-hour mark, but Clarby held firm, ensuring the deficit remained at one goal heading into the break.
Half-time: Milford United 1-0 Clarbeston Road
Clarby came out strongly in the second half, piling on the pressure from the restart. Milford goalkeeper Charlie Malloy produced a series of crucial saves, but in the 62nd minute, Clarby found the breakthrough, levelling the game at 1-1.
Moments later, Milford were dealt a major blow when captain Scott Griffiths was shown a straight red card, leaving them to battle the remainder of the match with ten men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, The Robins showed incredible resolve, and in the 82nd minute, Scott Reid fired home from close range to restore Milford’s lead—sparking wild celebrations among their supporters.
Milford saw out the closing stages with a determined defensive effort, securing a hard-fought victory that showcased their grit and resilience.
They will now face old rivals Hakin United in the final at Bridge Meadow on Saturday, April 12, with momentum firmly on their side.
HAVERFORDWEST 13-52 TENBY UNITED
TENBY UNITED asserted their dominance in a knockout cup clash against Haverfordwest, securing a commanding 52-13 victory on Saturday.
The Seasiders entered the match as strong favourites given the gulf between the two sides in league standings. Despite a determined effort from Haverfordwest, they trailed by 18 points at halftime and conceded another 21 in the second half without adding to their tally.
Jack Broadhurst opened the scoring for Tenby before Haverfordwest responded with a well-worked try from Guy Barrons, converted by Jack Codd. However, Tenby quickly regained control. Hywel Baker powered over, Kyle Rossiter finished a forward drive, and Tom Edmonds crossed after a break from Dai Jones. Lloyd Thomas added the extras before No. 8 Jack Brown crashed over just before the break to extend the lead.
The Blues had promising spells and earned two penalties, both converted by Codd, but failed to capitalise on further opportunities. In the second half, Tenby’s dominance continued. Gwion Jones, Lloyd Thomas, and Ryan Bolton all added tries, with Thomas finishing the match with 17 points in a one-sided contest.
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