Sport

Spotlight – Fishguard Sports Manager Phil Jones

Published

2 years ago

December 19, 2023

Earlier this week we spoke to Fishguard Sports manager Phil Jones to get his thoughts on the season so far. As it’s Christmas he even treated us to his all time Pembrokeshire League XI too..

Herald – Firstly, how would you reflect on the season so far. A tough one so far for you, did you expect to be in a bit of a relegation fight before the season began?

Phil – We finished last season in 10th place and that was (and still is) my minimum target for this season. Whether I expected a relegation battle was perhaps a realistic evaluation but we’re certainly in one now. The division is much stronger for everyone in that there are no easy games and with the majority of teams I honestly think that there is not much to choose between them

Herald – September seemed a tough month for you, however since that you’ve had some positives even in defeat? Narrowly losing to Goodwick stands out, as well as a good cup win. Would you say you’re improving?

Phil – I thought our start was especially hard as four of our first five games were away.

We were poor the last 30 minutes at Milford United and the last 60 at Goodwick getting thumped on both occasions.

Other than that we have competed well in all games but our performances haven’t realised in the league the points we perhaps deserved.

I can think of a few times when things haven’t gone our way like leading Monkton at home 2-1 with 20 minutes to go and losing 3-2; behind 2-1 against Clarbeston Road and having the best of it but conceding the next goal to lose 3-1 and as you mention Goodwick at home – still in the game with 10 to go but again conceding to lose 2-0.

The table doesn’t lie but I honestly believe we have a chance to turn things around.

The shining light of our season so far has been our performances in the West Wales Cup.

We have played at our best on 3 occasions against teams from the Neath area (2 away from home) and along with 6 other Pembrokeshire teams are in the last 16.

As far as hopes and expectations for the remainder of the season I trust we can find the answer to our league difficulties, put in some decent performances, get more points on the board and strive to get to that elusive 10th position.

A run in the Senior Cup would be nice (although St Ishmaels may have other ideas) and a Home Draw in the West Wales Cup.

I’m not asking for much am I haha.

Herald – And finally as it’s Christmas, you’ve been a very well respected and successful coach in Pembrokeshire a long time now if you don’t mind me saying. If you had to pick your best ever Pembs 11 for a game on Boxing Day let’s say, what would it be?

Phil –

GK – Nicholas Jones

In goal I would have my youngest boy – he’s Nick or Nicky to all but he’ll always be Nicholas to me.

Currently at Carmarthen Town he provides a safe pair of hands, good feet, vocal (I wonder where he gets that from) and a re-assuring presence between the sticks.

Full Backs – Matthew Divry and Lee Hudgell.

A pair of marauding full backs in Matthew D’Ivry and Lee Hudgell. Both previous managers of Merlins Bridge who are still playing and who I have the utmost respect for.

Centre Backs – Nigel Delaney and Patrick Hughes

My centre backs would be Nigel Delaney and Patrick ‘Chesney’ Hughes.

Nigel has won all you can win in local football and his experience would shine through. Ches is my Captain and right hand man at Fishguard and the sort of individual you would want at your side if you had to go to war

Midfield – Alan Davies. Nathan Thomas. Matthew Delaney.

My midfield 3 combines experience and youth.

First there is Alan Davies with his combative and industrious style who very rarely came off second best.

Next would be Nathan Thomas who is the epitome of what Merlins Bridge is all about. His competitive edge alongside Alan would ensure most midfield battles would be won and they would cover when Divs and Hudge bombed forward.

Completing the midfield would be Matthew Delaney.

Now back at Goodwick I coached Mattie for most of his junior career and he has developed into a fine box to box player who can finish if given the opportunity

Right Wing – Adrian Haworth

On the right would be a Pembrokeshire legend who won titles galore in Adrian Haworth. His pace and goal scoring exploits would be beneficial to the team and add to that the fact that he’s such a nice guy.

Left Wing – Charlie Davies

Left of an attacking three would be another one of my junior successes. Now at one of Nicholas’ previous clubs in Cinderford Town and scoring goals for fun, here we have Alan’s boy Charlie Davies and his wand of a left peg.

Striker – Peter Nash

Leading the line would be my old team mate from our time at Crundale, Peter Nash.

He moved to the area from Cardiff, joined his local team and helped us through the Divisions to ‘almost’ get to Division One. He had electric pace, was a brilliant finisher, is a true friend and could have played at a much higher level.

An 11 of family and friends that would make others sit up and take notice.

Add to that a bench containing Laurie; Will and Joe Haworth; Scott Delaney and Peter Thomas.

As manager I’d have Fishguard’s Gareth ‘Mad Dog’ McKenzie and Matthew Griffiths as my Assistants and a supportive Chairman in Jon Luke.

I’d like to end by wishing all players and officials in the Pembrokeshire football community a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

We’ll all be back at it in January.’

Thanks to Phil for taking the time to share his thoughts with us. That team would take some beating and I’m sure will spark debate up and down the county this festive break.

News

Awards celebrate all that is good about Pembrokeshire sport

Published

2 days ago

December 2, 2025

Herald Sport

PEMBROKESHIRE’S sporting community came together on Friday evening as Folly Farm hosted the annual Sport Pembrokeshire Awards – a night dedicated to honouring achievements across every level, age group and discipline.

The awards recognise exceptional performances, inspiring journeys and the volunteers who keep local sport thriving behind the scenes. The ceremony was once again presented by Ceri Coleman-Phillips of BBC Wales Sport, supported by Cris Tomos.

Lifetime honour for Premier League star

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Pembrokeshire’s own Simon Davies.
The former Wales winger enjoyed a distinguished Premier League career with Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

Davies scored in the 2010 Europa League final for Fulham, won fifty-eight caps for Wales – scoring six – and captained his country during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He was named Welsh Footballer of the Year in 2002 and Fulham’s player of the season in 2007–08. After leaving the club in 2013, he returned to his boyhood side Solva AFC, famously paying £3 subs to play against St Ishmaels.

Special recognition for Wales Women’s Street Football Team

Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas introduced the evening’s Special Award, honouring the players of the Wales Women’s Street Football Team for their remarkable run to the quarter-finals of the Homeless World Cup in Oslo.

The squad trains in Haverfordwest and included five outstanding Pembrokeshire players – co-captains Tor Planner and Marie Tilley, alongside Claire Mantripp, Sam Lewtas and Bryony Davies. All have overcome personal challenges, including homelessness, mental health difficulties and social exclusion, yet wore the Welsh jersey with pride on the world stage.

The team was led by manager Jo Price, former Wales and Arsenal goalkeeper.
Support staff included Anji Tinley, Manager of the Garth Youth & Community Project and a Pembrokeshire County Councillor.

Cruising Free honoured after rowing the Atlantic

The Chairman’s Award for 2025 was presented by Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman Cllr Maureen Bowen to ‘Cruising Free’ of Neyland Rowing Club, who achieved one of the world’s toughest endurance feats – rowing 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

Sophie Pierce, Janine Williams, Miyah Periam and Polly Zipperlan completed the gruelling crossing from Lanzarote to Antigua, raising money for cystic fibrosis and the Paul Sartori Foundation.

At 32, Sophie became the first person with cystic fibrosis to row an ocean, while 70-year-old Janine became the oldest woman ever to complete the challenge. The team’s achievement was hailed as a powerful example of determination, unity and courage.

Parkrun pioneers win School Award

The School Award went to the Federation of Tavernspite and Templeton Schools – the first Parkrun School in the UK.

The federation has built a Parkrun curriculum with Parkrun UK, using the weekly event to boost physical activity, support wellbeing, and develop leadership through the Parkrun Ambassador scheme. The schools were praised for exceptional inclusion, providing adapted PE equipment, wheelchair races and strong support for disadvantaged pupils. Estyn has highlighted their work as best practice.

A strong year for Pembrokeshire sport

Summing up the event, Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said:
“My congratulations go to everyone who won awards and all those nominated. We are so lucky to have such a strong sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire, and my thanks go to all those who work so hard to ensure people of all ages and abilities can take part in the sports they love. Thanks also to our sponsors Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio for supporting this celebration each year.”

Full list of winners

Girls U16: Ava Tyrie (Brazilian Ju Jitsu – Pembroke MMA)
Boys U16: Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Club of the Year: Milford Haven Hockey Club (MAIN PHOTO)
Junior Disability: Jake Evans (Llangwm RFC)
Young Volunteer: Alannah Heasman (Haverfordwest High School)
Junior Team: Merlin’s Bridge FC Under-14s 2024/25
Unsung Hero: Jenny Lewis (Clarbeston Road AFC)
Senior Team: Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club
Male Achievement: Liam Bradley (Triathlon)
Female Achievement: Sanna Duthie (Running)
Disability Sport: Rachel Bailey (Boccia)
Club Organiser: Silfan Rhys-Jones (Fishguard Table Tennis Club)
Coach of the Year: James North (Kilgetty AFC)
School Award: Tavernspite & Templeton Federation of Schools
Chairman’s Award: Cruising Free (Neyland Rowing Club)
Special Award: Street Football Wales
Lifetime Achievement: Simon Davies (Wales, Spurs, Fulham, Everton & Solva AFC)

Sport

South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls: Week ten results

Published

4 days ago

November 30, 2025

Herald Sport

The Friendly League continues as Reynalton close the gap on leaders East Williamston

THE LATEST round of fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association’s Friendly League produced another mix of tight contests and emphatic victories.

Kilgetty were beaten 8–2 at home by Hundleton, while Reynalton delivered the standout performance of the week with a 10–0 win over East Williamston. Llanteg also impressed, defeating Carew 8–2.

Elsewhere, St Twynnells claimed a 7–3 win away at the Badgers, and Lamphey ran out 7–3 winners against St Johns. Cosheston had the bye.

League table – Week ten

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	S/D	Points
East Williamston	8	7	0	1	+130	62
Reynalton	8	5	1	2	+64	50
Hundleton	8	4	1	3	+3	42
Llanteg	8	4	0	4	–5	41
Badgers	9	3	1	5	–21	41
St Johns	8	3	1	4	–6	38
St Twynnells	8	4	0	4	–34	37
Lamphey	9	4	0	5	–15	36
Kilgetty	9	4	0	5	–49	36
Cosheston	8	3	0	5	–13	35
Carew	7	3	0	4	–54	32

Reynalton’s dominant win means they move within touching distance of leaders East Williamston, setting up an intriguing second half to the season.

Sport

South Africa run riot as Wales suffer record defeat in Cardiff

Published

5 days ago

November 30, 2025

Herald Sport

Wales 0–73 South Africa
WALES endured one of the heaviest defeats in their history on Saturday as world champions South Africa ran in 11 tries at the Principality Stadium, producing a brutal 73-0 demolition that exposed the gulf between the sides and underlined the scale of the rebuilding task facing Welsh rugby.

The fixture, arranged outside the international window, left Wales without several first-choice players and short on experience. South Africa, by contrast, arrived in Cardiff at full strength and in ruthless form. What followed was a one-sided contest from the opening minutes to the final whistle.

First-half dominance

The Springboks established their authority early, their scrum immediately overpowering the Welsh pack and setting the tone for the afternoon. Tries from Gerhard Steenekamp, Ethan Hooker and Jasper Wiese put the visitors 21-0 ahead, with Wales struggling to exit their own half and repeatedly conceding penalties under pressure.

Wales’ lineout functioned reasonably well and there were brief flashes of ambition from Joe Hawkins, Joe Roberts and Rio Dyer, but every half-chance dissolved through handling errors or South Africa’s suffocating defensive line. A late surge from the Boks saw Morne van den Berg cross just before the break for a 28-0 half-time lead.

Second-half collapse

Any hopes of containment disappeared after the interval. South Africa emptied their bench—bringing on yet more power—and immediately cut through Wales again. Wilco Louw, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (twice), Canan Moodie, Ruan Nortje and Eben Etzebeth all scored in a relentless second half.

Wales’ discipline faltered under the pressure. Taine Plumtree and Aaron Wainwright were both shown yellow cards, with Wainwright’s high tackle sent to the bunker for review. South Africa’s own discipline cracked late on when Etzebeth received a straight red card for making contact with the eye area of Alex Mann—an incident captain Siya Kolisi later claimed was accidental.

Reaction

Player of the match Andre Esterhuizen, who produced a series of thunderous carries and turnovers, said the Springboks “worked really hard” to complete their Autumn clean sweep, praising Wales for “never giving up”.

Kolisi was gracious in victory but said he did not want the Etzebeth incident to overshadow the performance, adding: “The only way a team gets better is by playing the best. Wales will be stronger for facing this.”

Former Wales captain Dan Biggar, working as a pundit, was blunt in his assessment. “There are players there that aren’t at this level now, and may not play this level again,” he said. “I don’t think anyone learned anything from that.”

A difficult day for Welsh rugby

For Wales, the defeat will strengthen scrutiny of the WRU’s scheduling and long-term planning. A young and inexperienced squad battled gamely in patches—Mann, Hawkins and Dyer among those showing fight—but the mismatch was stark.

A crowd of around 50,000, well below capacity, reflected the mood of supporters as another bruising year for Welsh rugby nears its end.

Head coach Warren Gatland will now attempt to piece together the positives from a chastening afternoon, but the bigger questions facing the structure of the game in Wales remain unanswered.