Sport
Bluebirds hit six in second half to sink Druids
HAVERFORDWEST County netted six second-half goals to ease past bottom side Cefn Druids 6-1 at the Ogi Bridge Meadow on Saturday (Mar 12), making it back-to-back wins in the JD Cymru Premier Play-Off Conference.
Ben Fawcett scored a brace to take his goal tally for the season to seven, as Jack Wilson, Alhagi Touray Sisay and Danny Williams also found the net on an afternoon which also saw loanee Jordan Davies get off the mark for the Bluebirds.
The margin of victory is County’s joint-second highest in top-flight history, with their previous 6-1 success coming against Airbus UK Broughton in the 2004-05 season.
The result sees the Bluebirds move up one place to eighth in the overall standings, and second in the Play-Off Conference, three points behind Cardiff Met in seventh.
Manager Nicky Hayen, who was taking charge of his first game at the Ogi Bridge Meadow, made one change to the side that defeated Barry Town United 1-0 last week, with Fawcett replacing Williams in the starting lineup.
County were on the attack right from the first whistle, with Wilson’s cross from the edge of the area deflected into the hands of Druids goalkeeper Michael Jones.
Davies went close shortly after when he cut inside onto his right foot, before curling narrowly wide of the right post from just outside the area.
Fawcett’s first involvement of what would prove to be a busy afternoon was to see his shot from inside the area saved low down by Jones.
Just minutes later, Davies’ dangerous chipped cross into the area somehow managed to evade everyone and roll away to safety.
The best chance of the first-half came when Elliot Scotcher’s free-kick was blocked, but only into the path of Touray Sisay, who controlled the ball with his foot before heading it over Jones into the path of Wilson, but he was unable to direct it goalwards and saw his header come back off the crossbar.
The Bluebirds defence did well to scramble and block Liam Thomas’ shot from inside the area in first-half stoppage time to ensure the teams went into the break goalless.
However, in the exact same fashion as they had done against Barry the week before, County found the net just a minute after the restart. After Wilson had headed the ball back across goal, the Druids could only clear into the path of Fawcett, and he was on hand to strike first time into the right corner to give the Bluebirds the lead.
The Ancients responded just minutes later though. After winning the ball back high up the pitch, Thomas sprinted to the byline before squaring to Jelson Antonio, who benefitted from a slight touch off Scotcher before tapping in from point-blank range to make it 1-1.
Wilson and Corey Shephard both went close to putting the Bluebirds ahead again, but it was Davies who restored the hosts’ advantage when Wilson’s cross to the far post found the striker, and his clever touch took him past Jones to allow him to tap into an empty net.
Wilson again went close when he scuffed his effort just wide from inside the area, but he was not to be denied 10 minutes later when he showed excellent technique to let a high ball come down to him before hitting it first time and finding the right corner for his second goal of the season contender in a matter of weeks.
Things got even better for the Bluebirds when Fawcett’s strike from distance took a touch off an Ancients defender to direct the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 4-1.
There was still time for County to find the net on two more occasions in the closing stages. Firstly, Touray Sisay pounced on a loose ball inside the area to chip over Jones for his eighth league goal of the season, before Danny Williams finished off what could well be the team’s most impressive goal of the season to date.
An attack, which started with goalkeeper Lee Idzi, saw the Bluebirds complete 18 passes as they worked their way up the field, before Fawcett’s crisp pass to Shephard was directed into the path of Williams with an eye-catching flick, and the substitute took the ball around Jones to roll into an empty net and round off an excellent afternoon for Haverfordwest County.
The Bluebirds are next in action on Tuesday evening, when they travel to Park Avenue to take on Aberystwyth Town. Kick-off is at 8pm.
WALES HEAD coach Matt Sherratt has named his team to face England in the final round of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations at a sold-out Principality Stadium on Saturday (Mar 15, KO 4:45pm, live on BBC and S4C).
There are two changes to the starting line-up that played Scotland last weekend.
In the back row, Aaron Wainwright starts at blindside flanker, with captain Jac Morgan moving to openside. Taulupe Faletau retains his place at No. 8.
Joe Roberts is named on the left wing for his first start of the tournament, pushing Ellis Mee to the right wing. Blair Murray continues at fullback.
In the front row, Nicky Smith starts at loosehead prop, Elliot Dee at hooker, and WillGriff John continues at tighthead prop for a third consecutive match.
Will Rowlands and Dafydd Jenkins maintain their second-row partnership.
Tomos Williams starts at scrum-half, with his club teammate Gareth Anscombe at fly-half.
Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn once again form the midfield combination.
Nick Tompkins returns to the matchday squad and joins Rhodri Williams and Jarrod Evans as the replacement backs.
Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Teddy Williams, and Tommy Reffell provide forward cover.
Sherratt said: “Wales versus England is always a special occasion, and we know the atmosphere at Principality Stadium will be incredible. We’re excited to finish our campaign at home and want to deliver our best performance on Saturday.”
Wales team v England
- Blair Murray (Scarlets – 7 caps)
- Ellis Mee (Scarlets – 2 caps)
- Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 7 caps)
- Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 11 caps)
- Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 4 caps)
- Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 41 caps)
- Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 63 caps)
- Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 53 caps)
- Elliot Dee (Dragons – 55 caps)
- WillGriff John (Sale Sharks – 4 caps)
- Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 40 caps)
- Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 22 caps)
- Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 56 caps)
- Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 22 caps) – captain
- Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 107 caps)
Replacements:
- Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 19 caps)
- Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 39 caps)
- Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)
- Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps)
- Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 26 caps)
- Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 8 caps)
- Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 10 caps)
- Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 40 caps)
2025 Guinness Six Nations results:
Friday, Jan 31: France 43-0 Wales (Stade de France, Paris)
Saturday, Feb 8: Italy 22-15 Wales (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Saturday, Feb 22: Wales 18-27 Ireland (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Saturday, Mar 8: Scotland v Wales (Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
Saturday, Mar 15: Wales v England (Principality Stadium, Cardiff) KO 4:45pm GMT
Whether you’re new to the world of football or a lifelong fan, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest standings, upcoming fixtures, and more. With this in mind, here’s an update on the current status of the 2024-25 Premier League season, including which fixtures to look out for and predictions for who will claim the title.
Current standings
Liverpool are currently topping the Premier League table, having amassed 70 points over the course of the competition. They have won 21 out of their 29 matches in the season so far. Conversely, Southampton are sitting at the bottom of the league table, with just nine points. They have lost 23 out of 28 of their games.
But remember that the league table is always changing, so be sure to check in regularly, particularly as many teams have matches to catch up on due to Champions League and FA/League Cup commitments. So, things can change quickly.
Upcoming fixtures
April is packed with some highly anticipated matches. The month will kick off with Arsenal vs Fulham on April 1 at 19:45 at the Emirates Stadium. This fixture is followed by several matches the next day, including Brighton vs Aston Villa and Liverpool vs Everton.
Towards the end of the month, exciting matches such as Nottingham Forest vs Brentford and Liverpool vs Spurs will keep fans on the edge of their seats as the final league positions are decided. Make sure you keep an eye out for all upcoming matches, so you don’t miss out on any of the action.
League predictions
Chelsea are currently in the top four. However, they are the most likely to drop out of contention over the course of the remaining games – partially because they’re already 21 points behind Liverpool. The favourites to win the 2024/25 league are Liverpool at 80%, followed by Arsenal at 25%, Manchester City at 2.4% and Nottingham Forest at 1.2%. Despite some poor performances recently, Newcastle United are still in with a small chance of glory at 0.8%.
Where can I watch Premier League football?
The go to place to watch Premier League football is Sky Sports and TNT Sports. However, these packages can be costly.
As a result, in recent years, many fans have turned to online streaming solutions, such as Hesgoal TV. These streaming sites show the games for free, but they’re illegal to use and you may face a penalty for watching or broadcasting matches.
Will you be watching?
Whether you enjoy football via Sky Sports, use a streaming service or watch games down at the pub with your mates, keep an eye out for your favourite team and see how they perform in the final few matches of the season.
PEMBROKESHIRE’S own Sean Bowen, hailing from Letterston, has cemented his place among the UK’s top jockeys, ranking fourth on the all-time career earnings list for British National Hunt riders. With a staggering £11.5 million in prize money to his name, Bowen continues to make waves on the biggest stage—Cheltenham Festival 2025.
Bowen’s rise to the top
The latest rankings, compiled by racing experts at OLBG, highlight Bowen’s remarkable achievements:
Top-Earning British Jockeys
- Sam Twiston-Davies – £21,968,167
- Harry Skelton – £18,837,862
- Harry Cobden – £17,717,810
- Sean Bowen – £11,520,715
- Charlie Deutsch – £7,071,208
Bowen, 26, has quickly become one of the most respected jockeys in the sport, following in the footsteps of his father, Welsh trainer Peter Bowen. His younger brother, James Bowen, also ranks among the top-earning jockeys, sitting in seventh place with £5.6 million in career winnings.
With major wins in the Grand National and multiple Grade 1 victories, Sean Bowen is a name synonymous with Welsh racing success.
Cheltenham Festival 2025: Bowen in Action
This week, Bowen has been front and centre at the Cheltenham Festival, competing in multiple high-stakes races:
- Heads Up – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) (March 12): Bowen guided Heads Up to a strong second-place finish, proving his ability on one of the festival’s biggest stages.
- Western Zephyr – Grand Annual Chase (March 12): In one of the most unpredictable handicap chases, Bowen put in a solid ride aboard Western Zephyr.
- The Goffer – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (March 12): Tackling Cheltenham’s unique Cross Country course, Bowen took on the gruelling challenge with The Goffer.
- Might I – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (March 12): Competing in one of the festival’s most competitive handicap hurdles, Bowen demonstrated his versatility.
- Jane Eire – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (March 13): Bowen will look to add another big festival win to his name in this prestigious event.
A Pembrokeshire jockey on the big stage
As one of Wales’ top sporting figures, Sean Bowen’s continued success keeps Pembrokeshire in the spotlight of British horse racing. With Cheltenham still in full swing, local fans will be hoping for more triumphs from the Letterston star.
His incredible career earnings, combined with his continued performances at the festival, show why he is one of the most respected and successful jockeys in the UK today.
Calls for urgent reform as violence among teens rises in Wales
VIOLENCE AMONG TEENS LEADING TO CALLS FOR WELSH GOVERNMENT TO ACT WALES is experiencing an alarming surge in violent crime...
Caldey Island mourns loss of beloved long-time resident
CALDEY ISLAND is in mourning following the passing of its oldest resident, Rita Cunningham, at the age of 95. A...
Dog attack in Pembroke Dock sparks police probe and online debate
A VIOLENT dog attack in Pembroke Dock town centre on Tuesday (March 11) has led to a police investigation and...
Câr-Y-Môr leads Wales’ £105m regenerative sea farming push
PEMBROKESHIRE INITIATIVE LAUNCHES CROWDFUNDER TO EXPAND INDUSTRY Wales is poised to develop a £105 million regenerative sea farming industry, projected...
Milford man jailed for hurling racial insults during verbal attack
A Milford man has admitted hurling a barrage of racial insults at a male, after calling him ‘a black b******’...
Man faces charges over tragic death of baby in Tenby car park
A MAN accused of involvement in the death of a six-month-old baby in a multi-storey car park in Tenby has...
Oil tanker and cargo ship ablaze after collision in North Sea
MILFORD HAVEN LINKS TO LARGE SCALE MARITIME RESCUE OPERATION A MAJOR maritime disaster unfolded in the North Sea on Monday...
Milford Haven man jailed for six years after hiding cocaine in police car
A MILFORD HAVEN man has been jailed for six years after attempting to hide nearly 50 grams of cocaine under...
Pembrokeshire becomes latest council to consider devolution of Crown Estate
SENIOR councillors will consider a bid for Pembrokeshire to become the latest council to support the devolution of Crown Estate...
Festival of the Sea makes a splash at Milford Waterfront this weekend
MILFORD HAVEN is buzzing with excitement as the Festival of the Sea kicks off this weekend, bringing a wave of...
-
Crime1 day ago
Calls for urgent reform as violence among teens rises in Wales
-
Top News2 days agoPembrokeshire man sentenced for driving four times over drink-drive limit
-
News3 days ago
Oil tanker and cargo ship ablaze after collision in North Sea
-
News18 hours agoDelays to Wales’ tribunal system ‘deeply troubling’
-
Crime3 days agoJohn Cooper appeal file still under review, but CCRC says process ‘will take time’
-
News4 days ago
Pembrokeshire becomes latest council to consider devolution of Crown Estate
-
Business4 days agoNew owners reopen The Vibe in Milford Haven
-
Crime2 days ago
Milford man jailed for hurling racial insults during verbal attack