News

Narberth seconds win friendly in Cefneithin

Published

4 years ago

November 9, 2021

Report and photo from Bill Ridge

ON the first Saturday in November, Narberth seconds travelled to Cefneithin, a village and community in Carmarthenshire, West Wales, in the Carmarthenshire coalfield area.

It was a wet miserable November day. Cefneithin seconds were playing their first match of the season with a mixture of social players and first team boys. So no doubt they had not trained together much to have well-practiced set pieces.

Narberth had a few young team members missing and were keen to field all the fringe players that didn’t get game time last weekend v Tenby. The strategy of the Narberth coach is to encourage all squad players to train hard with a view to getting some game time in a real match sooner or later in the season.

The game kicked off and the early exchanges were quite even until George Macdonald who stepped down from the 1st team to help out at scrum half made a lovely little break to score under the posts.

It was Macdonald again showing his electric pace that added the second try with a lovely dart down the blindside to score another try. Dan Owens then trundled over for the third try, Ifan Rees converting them all, half time the score was Cefneithin 3-21 Narberth.

In the second half Cefneithin began to tire and Narberth youngsters picked up the pace, Harri Harries moved to scrum half, Will “Pop” came on at 10 and Ifan Rees moved off the wing into the centre, in an inspired decision by coach James Merriman (ex-player from Gloucester), the back line began to click with Harvey Jones and Ifan Rees making some lovely breaks and some great hands in difficult conditions, to run in 5 unanswered tries from Will “Pop”, Josh Hamer, Ryan Scourfield, Shane Rossiter and the eventual Man of The Match Ifan Rees.

It was a great runout for the team and they had a great welcome from the Cefneithin Club. They are looking forward to playing a return fixture during the 6 Nations fixtures in 2022.

Next week the Otters’ 1st team will be playing at home in the Championship league against Neath.

Crime

Neighbourhood policing boosted across Dyfed-Powys

Published

5 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has announced a significant expansion of its Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams (NPPT), with more officers being deployed to frontline roles where demand is greatest.

From Monday (Mar 16), teams across the force area have been strengthened, with a renewed focus on tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing crime at its source.

The force says the move is aimed at reducing repeat demand by addressing the root causes of offending, rather than simply responding to incidents.

To achieve this, a number of officers have been redeployed from central departments back into frontline policing, while new posts are also being created to bolster capacity.

Temporary Chief Superintendent Steve Davies, head of uniform policing, said: “These changes are about increasing frontline visibility and ensuring we have the right resources in the right places.

“They form part of a wider programme of improvements across the force to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while also supporting the wellbeing of our officers and staff.

“This is positive news for our communities, who will benefit from stronger neighbourhood teams focused on local priorities and proactive policing.”

The expansion has been made possible through Home Office funding under the Neighbourhood Guarantee scheme, which is designed to strengthen community safety and crime prevention.

Dyfed-Powys Police has been allocated £1.4 million for 2025/26, enabling the recruitment of police staff and freeing up officers previously in support roles to return to operational duties.

As a result, four sergeants and 29 police officers have now been reassigned to neighbourhood teams across the force.

Each NPPT area will also have a named officer, with full team details available via the ‘Your Area’ section of the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

The force has also secured early access to 2026/27 Neighbourhood Guarantee funding, which will see a further 12 officers recruited between April and the autumn—adding to overall officer numbers in the region.

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said: “Neighbourhood policing is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships.

“Greater visibility helps build trust, strengthens community ties, and reassures the public that policing is present, responsive, and committed to keeping people safe.

“I remain committed to improving police visibility across our communities, and these additional officers will help turn that ambition into reality.”

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

5 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.