Sport

Narberth Under 16s host touring Irish side

Published

12 months ago

April 10, 2022

ON Saturday (Apr 9) Narberth Under 16s hosted a touring side from Ireland and supporters who attended were treated to a close game of rugby.

The visitors’ squad of 37 players and committee men came from Mallow which is a town in County Cork, Ireland, approximately thirty-five kilometres north of Cork.

The previous day the team had played Llangwm and on Sunday they were due to play Haverfordwest. A very busy weekend was made possible only by them bring a large squad allowing them to rotate players and guarantee that each lad would get game time in at least two matches in quick succession.

Narberth were only able to field 12 players and so the Mallow Committee very sportingly loaned three of their players to the Narberth squad.

In the first half Mallow kicked off looking into the Sun playing East to West on a superbly maintained dry pitch.

After 10 minutes the Otters Under 16’s scored under the posts following a good passing sequence right to left amongst the backs. The try scorer wearing the 14 shirt was speedy Irish lad Reilly O’Hanlon. The conversion by scrum half Olly Hough took the score to 7-0.

Later, from a cleaned out ruck near the five metre line the outside half broke through on the left side and Aeron William scored. The try was nearly converted by Olly Hough.

In another break on the left-hand wing another try was scored by the Irish player Reilly O’Hanlon in Narberth colours and it was converted by Ollie Hough. The score after 15 minutes 19-0.

Then another try by the Otters after 20 mins converted by the scrum half Olly made the score near the end of the first 30 minute half 26-0.

The rotated squad from the 37 Irish players with fresh legs started to dominate the tiring Welsh team and they scored after some skilful jinking and swerving moves by the No 12 the inside centre which was converted by the number 10 outside Half Callum Lyon’s. After 25 minutes the score was 26-7.

In the second half 10 minutes into the game the number eight for Narberth Aaron Williams made a breakout from a ruck a few moments after the Irish Loose Head prop had been slightly injured and winded.

The conversion attempt 8 metres in from the left touch line was narrowly missed and the score stood at 31-7. But it was not over for the Irish stalwarts. They rallied and battled on gaining dominance in the forward.

During the closing minutes of the game there was a further score by the Irish player No 10 Outside half Evan Sheahan but this was not converted. Score 31-12.

Not to be outdone, and now playing back in his Irish green colours Reilly O’Hanlon scored with 5 minutes to go, converted Evan Sheahan. Score 31-19.

The dominance of the Irish team which had enough squad members to rotate players continued right up to the last minute where Reilly and Evan completed their double act by scoring and converting. The Final score was 31-26.

This was a very entertaining game played in a truly sportsman-like way and the game was a credit to the skills of both sides. After the match the teams enjoyed a hot meal with refreshments in the Clubhouse and Narberth team coach Ian Hough commented on the good standard of play before his wife Cathy Macphee, who had helped organise the reception, was presented with a memento by the Irish Chairman Mike Boyle.

Related Topics:Mallow Narberth pembrokeshire Rugby

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Cup semi-finals and more league action this weekend

Published

4 weeks ago

March 2, 2023

James Hemingray

THERE are two Divisional cup semi-finals this weekend as well as the usual league action across Pembrokeshire.

The first of those semis is in the Division 3 Cup. Letterston will take on Lawrenny at Carew with that game kicking off at 2pm.

Letterston beat holders Clarbeston Road seconds on penalties in the last round while Lawrenny beat St Florence.

The other semi-final sees Haverfordwest CC taking on Camrose with that game taking place next weekend, March 11.

There is also one semi-final in the Division 5 Cup this weekend and it sees Cosheston seconds taking on Milford Athletic seconds with that game being played at Pembroke Boro and also kicking off at 2pm.

Cosheston beat Pembroke Boro seconds 5-1 in the quarter finals while Milford Athletic beat Broad Haven seconds 4-3.

There is a game in the Division 2 cup too as Herbrandston host Solva, with that game again kicking off at 2pm.

In Division 1, leaders Goodwick United host Kilgetty in what will be a good game between two in-form teams. Goodwick earned a 2-0 win over Kilgetty in their last meeting. Both sides go into this game on three-game unbeaten runs (in all competitions) and it promises to be a close encounter.

Second placed Merlins Bridge have suffered three straight defeats in all competitions and they will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Fishguard.

Clarbeston Road take on Neyland and the league’s bottom two also meet as St Clears travel to St Ishmaels.

Monkton Swifts are on a four game unbeaten run and they face local rivals Pennar Robins who themselves have won their last two games.

All Division 1 games will be kicking off at 2:30pm.

In Division 2, second placed Milford United host fifth placed Johnston. Milford were beaten last week by Tenby and they will be keen to get back to winning ways.

Johnston are unbeaten in three games and they will be looking for another win to close the gap on the top four.

Narberth have won their last three games and they take on Carew seconds. A win for the Bluebirds will take them closer to their opponents in the table.

Tenby will be bouyed by their win over Milford last week and they host Broad Haven on Saturday.

Pennar Robins seconds earned their first win of the season last weekend and they now host rivals Monkton Swifts seconds.

In Division 3, Cosheston host Camrose, Haverfordwest Cricket Club host Goodwick United seconds. Milford Athletic host Pendine and Pembroke Boro visit St Florence.

Fixtures for Division 4:

Angle v Newport Tigers
Camrose II v Tenby II
Carew III v Prendergast Villa
Kilgetty II v St Ishmaels II
Neyland II v Herbrandston II

Fixtures for Division 5:

Broad Haven II v Pembroke Boro II
Johnston II v N Hedges & Saundersfoot
Lawrenny II v Letterston II
St Clears II v Monkton Swifts III

Sport

Bluebirds beaten on the road

Published

1 month ago

February 27, 2023

James Hemingray

HAVERFODWEST County suffered defeat on Saturday (Feb 25) as their hopes of finishing seventh took a blow.

The Bluebirds had beaten Flint Town United last time out and were hoping to pick up another win but they came up against a Pontypridd side bouyed by their late show against Aberystwyth in their last game which saw them earn a 3-3 draw.

There was a chance for Ben Fawcett early on as he latched on to a long ball but his shot from the edge of the area went just wide.

In the 24th minute, Jordan Davies crossed the ball to the back post for Jazz Richards whose header back towards proved too hot for the Ponty keeper to handle who palmed the ball into the net.

However, nine minutes later the home side were back level as Kieran Lewis’ corner was headed in by Jarrad Wright.

The game remained 1-1 at the break with both sides keen to make a good start to the second half.

For the Bluebirds, it was anything but. Four minutes in, Oscar Borg was sent off for pulling down Ponty’s Ben Ahmun, giving the home side a free kick on the edge of the box.

Lewis stepped up and curled a brilliant effort into the net to put the home side ahead.

Ponty nearly added a third late on as the ball was sent through for Danny Williams but he could not beat Bluebirds keeper Zac Jones. The rebound fell to Owain Jones but he sent his effort over the bar.

The win for Ponty moves them back out of the bottom two and they now sit three points behind the Bluebirds.

The sides now have a two-week break before their next league game.

On Saturday, March 11, Haverfordwest travel to Aberystwyth Town while Pontypridd host Caernarfon Town.

Sport

Division 2: Johnston, Tenby and Hakin seconds earn victories

Published

1 month ago

February 27, 2023

James Hemingray

THERE were wins for Johnston, Tenby and Hakin United seconds on Saturday (Feb 25) as the race for promotion to Division 1 hots up.

Hakin United seconds remain top of the table after they beat Monkton Swifts seconds 2-0.

Leon Davies scored after half an hour and James Trueman added a second with twenty minutes to go as the Vikings earned their thirteenth win of the season.

Their gap to second placed Milford United increased to four points as the Robins were beaten 4-0 by Tenby.

After a goalless first half, Dan Storer put Tenby ahead before Scott Ferney added a second. Jerome Mansbridge added a third before Ferney put the result beyond doubt with an 82nd minute penalty.

Herbrandston missed the chance to close the gap to Milford after they were beaten 2-0 by Johnston.

Craig Bendall scored a 17th minute penalty and Joey George added a second ten minutes before the break. There were no more goals and Johnston held on for the win which moves them five points behind Herbie.

Narberth earned their third league win in a row on Saturday as they came from behind to beat Merlins Bridge seconds 2-1.

Rhys Corney put the Wizards ahead but two quick goals from Jordan Williams and Morgan Preece gave Narberth victory.

Broad Haven earned their sixth win of the season on Saturday as they beat Solva 6-1.

Jack Thornton put Solva ahead in the thirteenth minute but Thomas Lawrence equalised a minute later.

Spencer Le-Petit then scored either side of half time to make it 3-1. Ian Harvey added a fourth before scoring a further two goals in the space of four minutes to seal a comfortable win.

Pennar Robins seconds earned their first win of the season on Saturday as they beat Carew seconds 1-0. It had looked as if the game was heading for a 0-0 draw but a late goal from Bobby Jones earned Pennar a welcome win.

Fixtures for Saturday, March 4:

Second Division Cup
Herbrandston v Solva

Division 2
Milford United v Johnston
Narberth v Carew seconds
Pennar Robins seconds v Monkton Swifts seconds
Tenby v Broad Haven