Sport
Neyland Youth beat Colwyn Bay to reach third round
Report by Jonny Sutton
A SUNNY but cold Saturday (Jan 29) at The Athletic Ground saw Neyland Youth entertain Colwyn Bay Youth in the second round of the WRU National Bowl Competition.
The visitors went straight on the attack from the outset as their kick off was fumbled into touch which allowed Colwyn Bay a foothold in the Neyland 22.
A great steal from Jasper Endean, the first of many over the 80 minutes, meant Neyland could attack from deep and clear their lines.
After 10 minutes of an even contest a quick tap and run from Rhys Power, offloading to Harvey Myles-Nash caused panic and quick ball and a snipe and stretch by Fletcher Picton resulted in a try for the home side. The conversion nailed from just inside the touchline increased Neyland’s, and Fletcher’s, score to 7.
On 15 minutes an infringement by Colwyn Bay resulted in a penalty about 40 yards out. A hell of a kick by Fletcher Picton sailed through the sticks to give Neyland a deserved 10 nil lead.
A penalty for a late tackle on fellow Ginger Liam Rees after 26 mins resulted in a yellow card for Colwyn Bay and with in a quickly taken tap Neyland where again on the attack, although the ball was lost in contact it was won back and a charge from Lloyd Stephen was followed up with Seb McIntosh crashing over for his first try of the day, on this occassion Fletcher pushed conversion past the post into a strong wind.
On 24 minutes a strong charge from Lewys Scourfield left him just short of the try line and Colwyn Bay where able to hack clear when their backs tryed to move it wide.
Four minutes before the break, Neyland were again held up after a series of drives from forwards Asha Gledhill and Toby Rees which allowed a Colwyn Bay defender to get under the ball and escape with a goal line drop out.
The half time whistle came from ref Joseph Kiff with a scoreline of 15 nil.
Ten minutes into the second half and outstanding play from Neyland resulted in the ball going one way and coming back the other and Finley Picton, on debut, giving Fergus Reynolds a scoring pass to go over in the top right hand corner. This was superbly converted by Fletcher Picton.
The scoreline could have deflated many a side but Colwyn Bay stuck to their task and got some rewards with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Sustained pressure from their forwards led to charge after charge which eventually Neyland defended by holding up over the try line. Colwyn Bay weren’t to be stopped though, they ran the drop out back and got some rewards when Scrum Half Jack Turner sniped through a gap for a converted (by himself) try.
The score now 22-7 and in the balance even though Neyland were deserving of their lead.
The last 20 minutes saw Neyland turn the screw and drive home their superior aggression a series of drives were thwarted with penalties and an indescrestion near the line saw another yellow card for Colwyn Bay.
A quick tap and go released Fletcher Picton for try no 2 under the sticks which he converted for a 29 7 lead which put the tie to bed.
With 10 to go a quick tap from a free kick by Rhys Power released Fletcher into space to beat a flurry of defenders and run in from 60 yards, on this occasion he missed his kick but pushed the score to 34-7.
Neyland finished the game with a try on stoppage time when sustained pressure saw oustatanding No8 cap a great game by burrowing over from close range, the try being duly converted by Fletcher Picton.
A final score of 41 to 7 slightly favoured Neyland who deserved the win but maybe Colwyn Bay would feel slightly hard done by in a game where a couple of dropped balls or missed passes may have resulted in a closer score.
Sport
Letterston marksman wins junior athlete award
A TALENTED young athlete from Letterston has been honoured at the British Shooting Awards 2024.
Seren Thorne was shortlisted for the prestigious awards and attended the gala event held at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester. To the delight of her family and supporters, Seren was named the winner of the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award.
This accolade highlights Seren’s exceptional skill and dedication to the sport, marking her as one of the rising stars in British shooting.
Her mother, Sian Thorne, expressed immense pride in Seren’s achievement, sharing photos of the memorable evening.
The British Shooting Awards 2024 celebrated excellence in the sport, with a full list of winners available on their official website.
PHOTO CAPTION: Champion marksman: Seren Thorne receiving the Rifle Pathway / Junior Athlete of the Year award (Pic: Supplied).
Sport
Previewing the 2025 Super Bowl
Each year millions of people across the world gather to watch one of the biggest sporting events of the year – the Super Bowl. Last year, 3.4 million people in the UK watched the Super Bowl, up 1.1 million from the previous year. Considering the growth in popularity of American football in the UK, we anticipate the viewership will be even higher for 2025.
The 2025 Super Bowl is scheduled to take place on 9 February 2025 at Caesars Superdrome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NFL teams
12 teams began competing for a spot in the 2025 Super Bowl when the playoffs began on January 11. At this point, four teams were eliminated. This now leaves eight teams to compete in the Divisional playoffs. Four of these will make it to the Conference Championships before contesting for a spot at this year’s Super Bowl.
The eight teams left with a shot at competing in the 2025 Super Bowl are:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Detroit Lions
- Houston Texans
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Rams
- Washington Commanders
Last year, the Kansas City Chiefs took the title for the second year in a row. However, the latest Super Bowl odds puts the Detroit Lions as the favourites to win this year’s Super Bowl, following a series of impressive performances in the regular season.
The national anthem and halftime show
Before the game commences, a special guest performs the national anthem. Last year, Reba McEntire offered a moving performance of The Star-Spangled Banner, and this year the task falls to jazz singer Jon Batiste.
It’s not just the football match that people look forward to. Super Bowl halftime shows are a spectacle in themselves and many look forward to the performance as much as the game itself. This year, 17-time grammy winner Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show. Lamar previously headlined the Super Bowl in 2022.
How can I watch the Super Bowl in the UK?
The Super Bowl is being broadcast to fans free on ITV, including live online via ITVX on your laptop, mobile, or tablet.
Sky Sports is also broadcasting the event which you can watch online via Sky Go, NOW TV, or using the Sky Sports mobile app. You could also head to your local pub as plenty of pubs in Pembrokeshire will be showing the big game.
Will you be tuning in?
With a surge in popularity for American Football, it’s anticipated that more people from the UK than ever before will be turning their TVs on for the big event this year. Will you be watching this year’s Super Bowl?
Sport
Division Four West rugby: Thrills and tight contests on a chilly Saturday
Exciting matches, hard-fought battles, and standout performances define the weekend’s action.
Dreigiau Emlyn Edge Harlequins in Close Contest
Dreigiau Emlyn 21 – Pembroke Dock Harlequins 15
Dreigiau Emlyn secured a narrow victory over Pembroke Dock Harlequins, strengthening their position in the top half of the table. Gethin Davies scored two crucial tries, while Deiniol Rees added three penalties and a conversion to steer the hosts to victory. The Harlequins kept the game competitive with tries from Craig Barnett and Tom Donovan, with Ben Hathaway converting one and kicking a penalty. However, Emlyn’s composed performance ensured they held on for the win.
Teirw Crymych Outgun Llangwm in High-Scorer
Llangwm 22 – Teirw Crymych 33
Teirw Crymych powered to a 33-22 victory over bottom-placed Llangwm, bolstering their challenge for the league’s top spots. Sion Williams and Morgan Jones led the visitors’ try-scoring efforts, with additional tries from Sion Owen and Nick Bevan. Adam Phillips was reliable from the tee, adding four conversions. Llangwm fought back with tries from Aidan Rees and Ryan Banner, while Harry Makepeace contributed two conversions and a penalty. Despite their spirited display, the hosts couldn’t match Crymych’s attacking prowess.
St Davids Win Key Clash Against Llanybydder
Llanybydder 17 – St Davids 29
St Davids took a significant step away from the relegation zone with a vital 29-17 win over Llanybydder. Harvey Godkin, Nathan Foster, Zac Morgan, and Morgan Griffiths all crossed the whitewash for the visitors, with Bob Froy converting three and adding a penalty to secure a bonus-point victory. Llanybydder’s John Evans delivered an impressive hat-trick of tries, with one conversion by Matthew Rowlands, but St Davids’ all-round performance proved too much for the home side.
Division Four West continues to deliver thrilling rugby as teams battle for position in a tightly contested league.
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