Sport

Battling Wales beaten by Belgium

Published

2 years ago

September 22, 2022

WALES suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Belgium on Thursday night (Sept 22) as their hopes of staying in Group A of the Nations League took a blow.

Belgium dominated for large parts of the first half with Kevin De Bruyne instrumental in much of the play but Wales hit back in the second half.

An early second half goal from Kieffer Moore wasn’t enough as Belgium held on for victory.

It was Kevin De Bruyne who gave Belgium the lead after ten minutes and he had another shot minutes later but saw that effort go over.

There was then a chance for Michy Batshuayi as the ball dropped for him in the box but he blazed a shot high and wide.

De Bruyne was involved again in the 26th minute as he saw a shot fly onto the post. Wayne Hennessey then made a great save to deny Yannick Carrasco on the rebound. The offside flag was raised so it wouldn’t have counted had it gone in.

Dan James then had a chance for Wales but he saw his shot blocked.

A minute later it was Belgium’s turn to attack as Eden Hazard cut in from the left but he curled his shot wide.

Ten minutes before the break Wales won a corner which Dan James floated in but the ball was gathered by Thibaut Courtois.

Wales’ task then got a little harder as De Bruyne crossed into the box for Batshuayi who had an easy tap-in to make it 2-0 to the hosts.

With six minutes to go until the break Wales were given a free kick. Joe Rodon headed back towards goal but his effort was cleared and the headed rebound from Ethan Ampadu was well saved by Courtois.

There was another chance for De Bruyne but his shot was deflected wide by the bottom of Wayne Hennessey’s boot.

The visitors won a corner as half time loomed. It fell to the back of the box for Neco Williams but he saw his shot deflect off team mate Rhys Norrington-Davies.

It meant Wales would face an uphull battle in the second half if they were to get something from the game.

Four minutes into the second half Wales had a route back into the game. Johnson crossed from the right and Kieffer Moore rose highest to power a header home.

Gareth Bale was brought on with half an hour to go and he may have scored but for an intervention from a Belgian defender.

Some good play from Wales then saw them win a corner but Belgium were able to clear.

With thirteen minutes to go, Belgium were given a penalty as Joe Morrell was adjudged to have fouled. Replays showed though that he did get the ball and after consulting the VAR screen the referee overturned his decision.

There was a chance for Brennan Johnson with six minutes to go but he shot wide after being set up by Connor Roberts.

Bale then set up Neco Williams but he saw his curling effort saved by the Belgian keeper. Moments later, Johnson sent a cross into the box but no one could get on the end of it.

There were six minutes added on and in the third of those Belgian boss Roberto Martinez was shown a red card as he looked to delay the game.

Wales searched for a late equaliser but they were unable to find it as Belgium hung on for the win.

Sport

Letterston marksman wins junior athlete award

Published

1 day ago

January 21, 2025

Tom Sinclair

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

Published

2 days ago

January 20, 2025

Staff Writer

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

Published

3 days ago

January 19, 2025

Herald Sport

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.