Sport

Davies scores twice to help Bluebirds see off Barry

Published

3 years ago

April 17, 2022

JORDAN Davies scored twice as Haverfordwest County beat Barry Town United 2-0 at the Ogi Bridge Meadow yesterday, a result which guarantees there will be JD Cymru Premier football in Pembrokeshire next season.

The on-loan forward gave the Bluebirds the lead after 19 minutes with a well-taken finish, before striking again just before the hour mark to give County a priceless three points.

Nicky Hayen’s side performed excellently throughout, and the margin of victory could have been even wider. However, the hosts did have goalkeeper Lee Idzi to thank for saving Kayne McLaggon’s second-half penalty to maintain the clean sheet.

The result is enough to lift the Bluebirds up to seventh, and top of the Play-Off Conference, after Cardiff Metropolitan lost 2-0 at Connah’s Quay Nomads.

Manager Hayen made two changes to the team that beat Cefn Druids 6-1 last Saturday, with Kurtis Rees and Ricky Watts coming in for the suspended Alaric Jones and Kyle Patten, who failed a fitness test before kick-off.

It was the visitors who had the first opportunity of the game, with McLaggon seeing his shot from inside the area well saved by the alert Idzi.

This was as close as the Dragons would come to scoring in the first-half, as County went on to control the tempo and create the better chances.

Jordan Davies, who was heavily involved throughout, played a teasing ball across the face of goal but couldn’t pick out a teammate, before Kieran Lewis’ first time effort went wide after Ben Fawcett had done well to keep the ball alive.

County were nearly presented with a gift when Jordan Davies’ ball into the area was fumbled by Mike Lewis, however, despite being nearby, Lewis couldn’t react in time as the ball went wide.

The Bluebirds were ahead just minutes later though, when Fawcett’s ball down the right touchline put Jordan Davies into space, and he advanced into the area before turning Evan Press inside out and firing past Lewis to send the home crowd wild.

It was very nearly 2-0 not long after when Jordan Davies’ curling effort from the left side went narrowly wide of the right post.

Hayen’s side were flowing with confidence at this point, as Henry Jones’ shot from inside the area took a deflection before being pushed behind by Lewis.

There were two further opportunities for the Bluebirds to double their advantage before half-time, with Fawcett’s cross picking out an unmarked Jordan Davies, who was unable to get the desired connection on his shot, before Fawcett’s header was blocked on the goal line.

Marcus Day went close with a shot from distance which flew just over the crossbar 10 minutes before half-time, as County headed into the changing rooms with a deserved lead.

Keen to find the second goal early in the second-half to take full control of the contest, the Bluebirds started quickly with Jazz Richards’ ball into the area nearly finding Fawcett, as Lewis came out to gather.

Moments later, though, they did find the second goal when Lewis’ pass upfield played Fawcett into acres of space, and his pinpoint cross into the area picked out Jordan Davies who beat Mikey George to the ball to sweep home and give County some breathing space.

It looked as though the lead was going to be halved when the visitors were awarded a penalty shortly after the hour mark, as Kurtis Rees was adjudged to have fouled Clayton Green inside the area. However, Idzi was equal to McLaggon’s spot kick, as he got down low to his left to push the ball away and keep the scoreline at 2-0.

The Dragons striker had another opportunity to bring his side back into the game not long after, but Jazz did brilliantly to get back and block his shot from inside the area.

Rhys Kavanagh sent a shot inches wide of the left post as Gavin Chesterfield’s side continued to push forward, but the Bluebirds defence battled hard to ensure they maintained a clean sheet.

Substitute Jack Wilson sent a shot just wide in the closing stages as County looked to finish with a flourish. However, the game was to finish in unfortunate circumstances as substitute Alhagi Touray Sisay had to be carried off the field on a stretcher after sustaining an injury to his collar bone.

The game, understandably, rather petered out after this, but it was Hayen’s side who took all three points having turned in an excellent display when it was needed the most.

The Bluebirds are next in action on Monday (April 18), when we travel to Deeside Stadium to take on Connah’s Quay Nomads, before returning home to face Cardiff Metropolitan in our final game of the season on April 23 at the Ogi Bridge Meadow.

Related Topics:Football Haverfordwest County JD Cymru Premier

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News

Haverfordwest Amateur rider qualifies for Horse of the Year in SEIB Search for a Star

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Herald Sport

AN AMATEUR rider from Haverfordwest, Grace Gibbon, and her horse, The Granite Way have qualified for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) in Birmingham this October.

Hannah and The Granite Way had a 12.30am start for the journey to Pickering Grange in Leicestershire for the SEIB Search for a Star qualifier on the 15^th June. They will now go on to compete under the bright lights of the HOYS Arena at the NEC in Birmingham in early October.

The pair competed in and won the Working Horse class under top judges Michaela Bowling and Samantha DeCaprio to earn their HOYS qualification.

Grace said: “This is the only HOYS qualifier we have done together! My mum and I work full time but we both were off today so we decided to give it a go! My mum and I share Fern, as we call The Granite Way at home, and we all aim to go out and have fun and anything else is a bonus! It’s brilliant to have this opportunity! I’d moved away for university and work and not ridden for 10 years. Then mum and I decided to get back into the horses! Fern came from a family friend Sarah Gould, he is brilliant – my mum takes him to West Wales Riding Club every week too! I did Search for a Star when I was 12 back in 2009 with my Show Hunter Pony, Small Land Screen Play and we took 4th place. Having read the rules recently I realised I could now come back to give it another go!” Grace works as a Chartered Surveyor.

SEIB Search for a Star organiser, Nicolina MacKenzie said: “Search for a Star is all about the journey and learning and improving over time. Our team of judges and stewards are all invested in providing support and encouragement to help competitors and their horses and ponies perform to the best level they can.”

SEIB Search for a Star first took place back in 1996 and over the years has provided thousands of opportunities for amateur riders to compete at HOYS.

Each of the SEIB Search for a Star qualifying shows offers opportunities for a full range of show horses to earn a place at the series championships at Horse of the Year Show and Your Horse Live.

Please see www.seib.co.uk/competitions or the SEIB Search for a Star facebook page for updates. To enter please visit www.seib.co.uk/competitions/schedule which will link directly to the Search for a Star and Racehorse to Riding Horse entry page on Showing Scene.

SEIB have been providing expert insurance services for over 60 years. Renowned for their specialist equestrian insurance, SEIB offers tailored cover for horses, horseboxes, trailers, riders, and equestrian businesses, ensuring comprehensive protection and peace of mind. For more information on their range of services and to explore their bespoke insurance solutions, please visit seib.co.uk.

(Pic – 1st Class Images )

Community

Travel advice issued for Pembrokeshire’s Long Course Weekend

Published

9 hours ago

June 24, 2025

Luke Sinclair

Motorists and bus passengers across south Pembrokeshire are being advised to prepare for a series of road closures and transport changes as the Long Course Weekend returns to the region this weekend.

The popular endurance event, which draws thousands of athletes and spectators each year, will bring temporary disruptions to routes in and around Tenby on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June as competitors take part in the Wales Sportive and Wales Marathon.

Saturday 28th June – Wales Sportive

On Saturday, the Wales Sportive cycle event will see several roads in the wider Tenby area closed or converted to one-way systems to ensure participant safety. While the A40, A477, and the A478 Narberth to Kilgetty routes remain unaffected and fully open, other roads will be subject to closures and diversions throughout the day.

Sunday 29th June – Wales Marathon

Further closures will be in place on Sunday during the Wales Marathon, affecting routes between Tenby and Pembroke. These will operate on a rolling basis between 9.30am and 4pm, with the aim of minimising disruption while maintaining safety for runners and spectators.

Up-to-date information on all road closures can be found on the event’s official website:
https://community.lcwwales.com/road-closures

Special arrangements for carers and emergency access

Care professionals requiring access to clients in affected areas can obtain vehicle passes through their care organisation managers. More details are available at:
https://community.lcwwales.com/road…/carers-information

In case of emergencies during the event, organisers can be contacted directly on 01437 765777.

Public transport disruptions

Local bus services will also be impacted by the weekend’s events, with changes in place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Friday 27th June

All services will operate as normal.

Saturday 28th June

351 (Tenby-Kilgetty-Amroth-Pendine) – No service
381 (Haverfordwest-Narberth-Kilgetty-Saundersfoot-Tenby) – No service
Tenby Coaster (Tenby-Saundersfoot) – No service
349 (Haverfordwest-Neyland-Pembroke Dock-Pembroke-Tenby) – Will not serve Pembroke to Tenby until after 1pm
356 (Milford Haven-Neyland-Pembroke Dock-Pembroke-Monkton) – No service to Pembroke Commons or Monkton until after 1pm
387/388 (Coastal Cruiser) – Service will not operate until after 11am

Sunday 29th June

387/388 (Coastal Cruiser) – No service
Tenby Coaster (Tenby-Saundersfoot) – Will operate via the A4218 (Broadwell Hayes) instead of Marsh Road and Heywood Lane

Residents and visitors are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance and allow extra time for travel where necessary.

News

Tenby station rebranded as ‘Home of Long Course Weekend’ in sustainable travel push

Published

1 day ago

June 23, 2025

Herald Sport

Sporting event teams up with Transport for Wales to promote greener travel and boost local economy

TENBY Railway Station has been officially rebranded as The Home of Long Course Weekend in a new partnership between Transport for Wales (TfW) and the internationally renowned endurance festival.

The move is part of Long Course Weekend’s wider Sustainability Strategy, aimed at encouraging athletes, families and spectators to travel to Tenby by train—not only for the event itself but also for training breaks and year-round holidays in one of the UK’s most picturesque regions.

Launched in Tenby in 2010, Long Course Weekend has grown into a global phenomenon with editions in New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Mallorca and Yorkshire. Despite its international expansion, the event’s roots remain firmly in Wales, drawing over 50,000 visitors to Pembrokeshire each year and generating more than 160,000 bed nights annually—contributing millions to the local economy.

Now in its 15th year, the event is reaffirming its local commitment by transforming Tenby’s railway station into a branded celebration of sport, sustainability and community pride. The initiative comes as Transport for Wales increases services to the coastal town for the summer season.

Matthew Evans, founder of Long Course Weekend, said: “It’s incredible to see how far LCW has come, but Tenby is—and always will be—our first home. Partnering with TfW helps us open the door to a more sustainable future, inviting athletes, families and visitors to arrive in style while reducing their environmental impact. The increased train services this summer are fantastic for Tenby and for Pembrokeshire’s ambition to be a global leader in sustainable tourism.”

Victoria Leyshon, Partnership Marketing Manager at Transport for Wales, added:
“We’re thrilled to work with LCW to celebrate what makes Wales special—from world-class sporting events to stunning destinations like Tenby. By encouraging rail travel, we’re supporting a cleaner, greener Wales and welcoming thousands to an iconic coastal location.”

Tenby Mayor David Morgan welcomed the initiative, saying: “It’s great to see the strides made by Long Course Weekend and Transport for Wales—from the new station branding to the real improvements in local transport. Most importantly, the increased train services over the summer will benefit both visitors and the people who live here. We’re looking forward to another brilliant event.”

Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall added: “We are delighted to see LCW and TfW promoting sustainable travel for athletes year-round. It’s exactly the kind of forward-thinking partnership we should be celebrating.”

More than a station makeover, the project represents a gateway to Wales and a call to explore its landscapes—anchored in community, sport and sustainability.