Sport
Neyland beat St Clears in dramatic extra time to reach Senior Cup semis
NEYLAND booked their place in the semi-finals of the Senior Cup on Saturday (Feb 19) as they beat St Clears 3-2 after extra time.
Division 2 side St Clears had built up a 2-0 lead but Neyland hit back in the second half to force the game into extra time.
The home side took the lead in extra time and then had keeper Patrick Hannon save a St Clears penalty.
There was still time for more drama as the Saints felt they should have had another penalty but their protests fell on death ears and soon after the referee blew for full time.
Neyland will now look forward to a semi-final tie against Hakin United.
Conditions were tricky for both sides with strong winds blowing down the pitch throughout the match but both looked to take full advantage when having the wind behind them.
Kyran Lewis put the Saints ahead after 14 minutes and they continued to dominate, winning a succession of corners, the last of which hit the front post.
Steve Thomas also saw a shot blocked for the Saints before Neyland began to have a good spell of pressure.
Max Bowman-Davies saw a shot go wide and moments later he held the ball up well before crossing to Mike Chandler, who in-turn found Josh Watts but his shot went over the bar.
On the stroke of half time a ball upfield was collected by Will Clewes but his passback almost allowed the Saints in to score but the ball was cleared.
However, from the resulting throw in the ball found its way to Martin Thomas who lofted the ball into the right side of the net.
That gave the Saints a 2-0 lead at half time but Neyland were keen to get themselves back in the game in the second half.
They did just that as they pulled a goal back on 67 minutes through Andrew Kemp.
Neyland were now looking for an equalising goal and had the wind at their backs and they came very close to a second goal.
A blocked shot looped up into the air and Saints keeper Jason Jones came to collect but he dropped the ball and it fell to Bowman-Davies but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and Jones recovered to gather the ball.
Lewis then shot wide for the Saints before the home side drew level with five minutes left to play.
A long free kick wasn’t dealt with and after an initial shot hit the post it fell to Bowman-Davies who was in the right place to slide the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 2-2.
Such was the strength of the wind that it then took a free kick from Neyland keeper Patrick Hannon into the arms of fellow keeper Jones.
Both sides had chances to score in the closing stages but it finished level meaning extra time would be needed.
Neyland looked for the goal which would have put them ahead as Bowman-Davies cut in from the right but he put too much on his cross and the chance was gone.
Chandler also saw a shot tipped wide by the Saints keeper as they dominated the opening stages of the first half of extra time.
On 105 minutes the home side won a corner which they took quickly, floating the ball into the box and Andrew Kemp was the only one who jumped and he powered a header into the top left corner of the net.
That put Neyland into the lead for the first time and it meant the Saints had to come out in the second half of extra time looking for another goal.
They were given an excellent chance to level the game up as a foul from Dylan Rowland gave the Saints a penalty.
Will Evans stepped up to take the spot kick but he saw his effort superbly saved by Patrick Hannon.
Undeterred by that miss the Saints looked to keep the pressure on and they had a free kick on the edge of the box but Dorian Davies’ effort hit the wall.
Neyland had a chance to put the tie to bed but Bowman-Davies saw his effort saved.
The Saints won a late corner and they sent their keeper up as well but Neyland were able to deal with it and clear.
As time ran out a long ball looked to have put the Saints in on goal but Hannon came to claim the ball and the collision sent him and the Saints player to the ground.
The visitors were adamant they should have been given a penalty but their protests were waved away and the referee blew for full time.
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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