CLARBESTON ROAD staged a remarkable comeback to edge out Pennar Robins in a breathless Division One contest that delivered nine goals, wild swings of momentum and a hat-trick that ultimately counted for nothing.

Despite falling behind on three separate occasions, Clarby showed resilience and attacking intent to secure a 5–4 victory, sealed late on by Emyr Griffiths after the hosts had earlier trailed 3–1 in the first half.

For Pennar, the result was a bitter one. Jack Jones struck three times and the Robins led at 1–0, 3–1 and 4–3, but each advantage slipped away as Clarby refused to lie down.

The opening exchanges hinted at little of what was to come. Ben ‘Rocky’ John tested Pennar goalkeeper Ryeley Clark early on, while Tom Davies dragged an effort wide at the other end. The game burst into life after nine minutes when Pennar opened the scoring following a slick team move. Nicholas Willis drove forward down the right, combined neatly with Kieran Smith and Noah Davison, and was tripped inside the box. Jack Jones made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Clarby responded almost immediately. Player-manager Matthew Ellis, keen to atone for conceding the penalty, rose to head home Travis Jones’ corner at the near post just two minutes later.

Pennar regained control midway through the half. Tom Grimwood’s curling corner was met by Jones, who nodded in at the back post, and moments later the same duo combined again as Jones completed his hat-trick, finishing from close range after Grimwood beat his marker and cut the ball back.

Crucially, Clarby struck back before the break. Matthew Bowen delivered an inviting cross from the left and John powered a header past Clark to give the hosts renewed belief heading into half-time.

With the wind at their backs, Clarby came out flying after the restart. John levelled matters by cutting inside and firing low into the corner, before sustained pressure saw Matthew Davies have a goal ruled out for offside and substitute Josh Woods flash a shot across goal.

Against the run of play, Pennar edged back in front on 69 minutes when substitutes combined — Adam Phillips delivering a cross that Conner Phillips met unmarked to head home.

Once again, Clarby refused to fold. Jack Ashman drove forward from the edge of the area and thundered a high finish into the net to make it 4–4, before the decisive moment arrived 12 minutes from time. Griffiths broke through the Pennar back line and showed composure to lift the ball beyond Clark, completing a stunning turnaround.

Clarby managed the closing stages well to see out a vital win ahead of the Christmas break.

Man of the match: Jack Jones
Despite ending on the losing side, Jones’ clinical finishing and constant threat were impossible to ignore. Kieran Smith and Noah Davison were also influential in Pennar’s first-half dominance, while Ben John was central to Clarby’s revival before limping off with a knee issue.

Clarby player-manager Matthew Ellis said: “It’s a huge three points. After nine goals your head’s spinning a bit, but you’ll take it when you’re on the right side of the result. Pennar caused us problems early on, but we really turned it around after the break.”

Pennar manager Craig Butland said: “The second half wasn’t good enough. Individual errors are hurting us and conceding just before half-time changed the momentum. We’ve got to see games out better.”

Clarbeston Road: Rhys Mansell, Matthew Bowen, Greg Brown, Matthew Griffiths, Samuel Hurton, Jack Ashman, Emyr Griffiths, Matthew Davies (capt), Matthew Ellis, Ben John (Jake Wesley 62), Travis Jones. Sub not used: Joseph Jones.

Pennar Robins: Ryeley Clark, Nick Willis (Ryan Walters 80), Alex Wheeler (Adam Phillips 53), Ethan Ball, Bobby Jones (Conner Willis 53), Connor Roberts, Tom Grimwood, Kieran Smith (capt), Noah Davison, Jack Jones, Toby Davies.

Referee: Stefan Jenkins.

THE WELSH Government has taken a major step towards making Wales the first nation in the UK to ban greyhound racing after winning a key vote.

Senedd Members voted 36-11, with three abstentions, to support the general principles of the greyhound racing bill on December 16, paving the way for the sport to be outlawed by April 2030. However, the bill will be subject to further votes before becoming law.

Huw Irranca-Davies, the Deputy First Minister who is responsible for animal welfare policy in Wales, told Senedd Members the welfare of greyhounds must remain paramount.

“It is about protecting the lives and welfare of greyhounds in Wales,” he said. “Greyhound racing around a track poses an inherent risk of high-speed collisions, falls and injuries.

“Bringing this to an end… will keep animals safer. This bill shows we are a progressive nation committed to ethical standards, animal welfare and forward-thinking legislation.”

He said officials will continue to monitor the social and economic impact, including the effect on the Valley Greyhound Stadium – Wales’ last remaining track in Ystrad Mynach.

Mr Irranca-Davies, who visited the stadium in November, added that work is under way to ensure targeted support for workers before the bill comes into force.

The Deputy First Minister told Senedd Members: “I took the opportunity to listen to the concerns from trainers, track managers and other industry representatives.”

He argued the likelihood of racing going underground was low, telling the Senedd he had accepted most of the recommendations on the bill made by scrutiny committees.

Delyth Jewell, who chairs the Senedd’s culture committee which has been examining the bill, expressed concerns about the “accelerated” window for scrutiny. “We hope the reduced timetable followed for this bill will not set precedents,” she said.

Ms Jewell said opponents accepted injuries to greyhounds happen but argued that welfare has improved under regulation, warning of racing moving underground or across borders.

She raised evidence from supporters who suggested these measures cannot address the inherent dangers of racing dogs where “catastrophic injuries are at times unavoidable”.

She stressed that the available data on welfare measures and injuries is highly contested.

Ms Jewell expressed her personal view that the bill should be agreed during the stage-one debate despite “shortcomings” in the legislative process.

The Plaid Cymru deputy leader said: “Nobody, in giving evidence, contested the fact there will always be predictable and unavoidable harms that are inherent to greyhound racing.”

She added: “Compassion should be our compass and the law should reflect that.”

Mike Hedges, who chairs the Senedd’s legislation committee, warned of a lack of consultation and said relevant impact assessments have not all been completed.

The Conservatives’ Gareth Davies, who visited the Valley track last week, recognised welfare concerns but he voted against the bill, suggesting a ban was disproportionate.

Mr Davies said: “I saw, first hand, the kennels the dogs were kept in which were of a very high quality and I was satisfied that the industry is, rightly, more than willing to comply with the very high standards of animal welfare regulation.”

He was pressed by Labour’s Carolyn Thomas about his support for a sport which sees dogs “suffering life-ending or life-altering injuries in the name of gambling and entertainment”.

Mr Davies warned the bill had been rushed through, with “clear evidence that injury rates have fallen to historic lows under the current regulatory framework”.

Llŷr Gruffydd explained he would not support the principles of the bill, breaking with most of his Plaid Cymru colleagues, due to the “highly contested” evidence base. “A strong ethical basis alone doesn’t necessarily make good law,” he said.

Mr Gruffydd told the Senedd the bill was introduced without an evidence base, without comprehensive public engagement and without complete impact assessments.

Raising the risk of unintended consequences, he pointed out dogs could still be kept in Wales and raced in England – “increasing travel distances and welfare risks”.

Mr Gruffydd warned the bill falls short, saying: “We all share the goal of improving animal welfare but good intentions don’t always deliver good legislation.”

Conservative James Evans echoed these concerns as he argued against a ban, warning politicians were being placed in an “impossible position” without the necessary evidence.

Jane Dodds, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales, struck a budget deal with the Welsh Government last year which led to the introduction of the greyhound racing bill.

Ms Dodds, who has owned rescue greyhounds, said: “These are animals that have been raced, they have been cruelly treated and I’m not going to milk that word: it is cruel.” She paid tribute to the Cut the Chase charity coalition which has campaigned for change.

Labour’s Lesley Griffiths, John Griffiths and Carolyn Thomas; Plaid Cymru’s Siân Gwenllian and Luke Fletcher; and the Conservatives’ Altaf Hussain similarly spoke in support of a ban.

Mr Hussain told the Senedd: “Dogs are being subjected to horrendous injury and death… to maximise profits for the multi-billion-pound betting industry… enough is enough.”

The bill now moves to the next steps – consideration of detailed amendments by the culture committee then the whole Senedd – before a final stage-four vote.

Mark Bird, chief executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain which has launched a legal challenge to the plans, said the process showed the Senedd in the worst possible light.

Following the debate, he criticised a “dodgy backroom deal” and an “indefensible policy sham” which ignores the “condemnation and objections” of Senedd scrutiny committees.

Mr Bird warned: “This is neither good government nor good politics. This bill will do nothing to serve the priorities of the Welsh public, economy or animal welfare.

“Rather every instance of animal use in Wales – from horseracing to livestock farming – should prepare to be the next target of the animal rights movement and its political lackeys.”

He added: “Wales is sleepwalking into the arms of an animal rights future that no one has voted for and which ignores common sense, factual evidence and proper process.”

A spokesperson from the Cut the Chase Coalition – made up of Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Hope Rescue, and the RSPCA – said: “Today’s vote is so important and marks the latest step in what we hope will be the final lap for a pastime which is outdated, and puts animals at unnecessary risk. 

“In backing the legislation’s general principles, MSs have made a clear statement that the risks greyhound racing continues to pose to dog welfare are simply not defendable in the interests of sport or entertainment.

“Across the UK, the industry’s own data shows the thousands of injuries that have occurred in recent years as a result of racing, while hundreds of dogs have lost their lives.

“Ending greyhound racing is the only way to protect dogs from such avoidable and unnecessary risk; and MSs have today voted in line with public opinion after tens of thousands of people signed a petition urging the Welsh Government to take action.

“In the months ahead, we look forward to continuing to work with MSs as this legislation progresses… to ensure Wales joins the growing list of nations worldwide where greyhound racing has been consigned to where it belongs – the history books.”

MORE than 50 young people took part in a multi-sport taster event designed to encourage girls to get involved in new activities.

The Sport Pembrokeshire Community Clubs event was held at Fishguard Leisure Centre on Sunday (Dec 1) for pupils from Ysgol Bro Gwaun and its feeder schools, with sponsorship from Valero.

Local sports clubs and activity providers offered a wide range of sessions, including cricket, self-defence, rowing, dance, hockey, tennis, table tennis, rugby and basketball. Water for participants was kindly provided by Princes Gate.

Young Ambassadors from Ysgol Bro Gwaun also played a key role in helping the event run smoothly.

Dan Bellis, of Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “It was a fantastic evening and it was brilliant to see so many young people and coaches in attendance.

“There was a wide range of activities on offer and everyone clearly enjoyed themselves.

“We hope the girls who took part have discovered a new sport or activity and will continue their involvement with the local clubs and providers who supported the event.”