Sport
New year, new goals: Goodwick’s treble quest, Hakin’s focus, and a rugby title race
WITH the beginning of a New Year it gives everyone a opportunity to set new goals and targets for the year. Rugby and Football teams are halfway through their seasons while cricket clubs will be starting indoor nets and starting preparation for the summer months.
We start with turning our attention to football and we have to start with Goodwick United who have finally been beaten and are out of the FAW Amatuer Trophy. However they are firm favourites for the league title, as well as senior cup and will take some beating in the West Wales Cup competition too. The treble is surely quietly in their thoughts and is not an unrealistic goal for the men from Pheonix Park having only lost one game all season.
Hakin United’s focus will be solely on the league having been knocked out of the senior cup and the West Wales Cup. However Goodwick beat the Vikings 5-1 to knock them out of the West Wales Cup, this result speaks volumes and Goodwick are firm favourites for the title. Despite impressing teams such as Clarbeston Road and Merlins Bridge are too far adrift to mount any serious title charge. Neyland, Kilgetty, Carew and Fishguard Sports occupy the four bottom places of the table and it looks like being two of those four who’ll experience relegation. All four clubs are more than capable of picking up results against anyone and this is going to be an intriguing battle as the weeks progress.
In the second division Monkton Swifts Reserves and Herbrandston are locked into a intriguing battle for the league title, while Merlins Bridge Reserves are just behind but have played more games than the top two. At the opposite end of the table Cosheston unfortunately look destined for relegation having only picked up one point to date from ten games. Carew Reserves, St Clears and Broad Haven will all have relegation fears, however I tip Broad Haven to have enough to steer themselves clear. Another intriguing battle where I’m sure all clubs involved will be battling for every point available.
Turning our attentions to the oval shaped ball and our county’s rugby clubs. Narberth sit at the top of the Championship and have been outstanding to date and faultless, if they continue that form they will be lifting the Championship Trophy come the end of the season, in what would be a brilliant achievement. In the second division Tenby have only lost the one game all season and will be targeting the league title and promotion. On the basis of what we’ve seen since September this is a definite possibility. In the same division Fishguard look unlikely to push for promotion despite some impressive results. Milford Haven sit third from bottom and will be hoping for a few wins in January to ease any relegation fears.
In the third division the main story is Haverfordwest’s title push, they are currently third behind Aberaeron and Cardigan, they do however have two games in hand over both. Every game is vital for the Blues now with bonus points very helpful too. St Davids and Neyland are much improved and the Saints especially are in excellent form of late.
Sport
South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics
Two of the finest athletes in south-west Wales are dreaming about bringing home medals from the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Track cyclist Emma Finucane and sailing star Micky Beckett will head to France in a buoyant mood after enjoying a successful build-up to their respective events.
Welsh athletes collected a record-equalling 11 medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games and hopes are high that the tally could be beaten this year.
The Carmarthen-born rider cemented her rapid rise up the sprint ranks by winning a gold medal at the 2023 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
She became Great Britain’s first women’s sprint world champion since Becky James in 2013 and is now on track to chase more medals at the Olympics across three events.
The 21-year-old has yearned to compete at the Summer Games since watching Team GB sparkle at London 2012 and she is eager to make her mark this summer.
“It’s a massive dream of mine and it’s pretty cool that I’m kind of living my dream,” Finucane said. “I’m just trying to enjoy the journey and hopefully I’ll get selected and compete for my country.
“And it’s exciting because as the Team GB women’s sprint. I feel like we’re in a really good place to do well at the Olympics, not just compete as Olympians.”
Pembrokeshire-born sailor Beckett will also head to Paris with his sights firmly set on winning gold in the hugely competitive ILCA 7 class.
He will renew rivalries with Australian Matt Wearn, who controversially claimed the World Championship title ahead of Hermann Tomasgaard and Beckett earlier this year.
Online bookmakers rate Wearn as the favourite to emerge victorious this summer, but Beckett’s recent form gives him every chance of turning the tables.
Several new sports betting sites in Australia cut the Welsh sailor’s Olympic odds after he completed a trio of World Cup successes at a recent event in Palma.
Beckett believes the hard work he has done over the past few months gives him every chance of toppling Wearn when the action gets underway this summer.
“There is still plenty of work to do and managing form is probably the most important thing of any athlete’s job,” Beckett said. “There is no point being the best in the world unless you are the best in the world when it counts.
Sport
Kilgetty and Carew Share Spoils in End-of-Season Showdown
In the picturesque setting of Kilgetty, under the soft glow of the evening sun, local football fans were treated to an enticing clash between Kilgetty and Carew in the Pembrokeshire League Division 1. With the season winding down, both sides took to the pitch amidst numerous squad rotations, following a hectic week of multiple fixtures.
The match kicked off in a leisurely pace, resembling more of an end-of-season friendly than a fierce competition. Kilgetty seized the early initiative, with the trio of Josh Bevan, Richard Tebbut, and Richard Cope causing headaches for the Carew defense, skillfully led by Gareth Lewis. It was Jac Waters who broke the deadlock for the home side, putting Kilgetty ahead 1-0 as the first half came to a close.
However, Carew emerged revitalised after the break, with Jonty Bennett, James Hinchcliffe, and Zac Rowell putting in the hard yards to level the score. The introduction of Harvey Drummond for the ineffective Sam Christopher added further depth to Carew’s attacking prowess, culminating in an equaliser courtesy of the excellent Hinchcliffe.
As tensions rose, the game took on a newfound intensity, marked by needless bookings, after a clearly offside goal and a few heated moments on the field. Despite the fatigue evident from their recent fixture congestion, both teams showcased their competitive spirit, treating the fans to an entertaining second half.
In the end, neither side could break the deadlock, with Kilgetty and Carew having to settle for a well-fought 1-1 draw. While neither team was at their absolute best, the match provided a fitting conclusion to their respective seasons.
Sport
The stage is set – Senior Cup Final
It’s the time of the year again, Saturday see’s Bridge Meadow host the senior cup final. The sun has been shining and both teams will be dying to get on the pitch. This year the final will be contested by Goodwick United and Clarbeston Road.
League champions Goodwick will go into the final as favourites, and most around the county expect a Goodwick win. It has been an outstanding season for Goodwick however cup success has evaded them so far. Clarbeston Road have impressed everyone this season and really deserve their place in this years final.
Neill Crawshaw will referee the game, with Tudor Walters and Stefan Jenkins running the line.
There will be a unique contest on the pitch as brothers Will Haworth and Laurie Haworth come face to face on opposing teams. Adrian their father was a great player in the county, and played in many cup finals himself.
The stage is set, Clarby will feel less pressure than Goodwick and will be a threat with Haworth, John and Davies in attack. Meanwhile Goodwick are also blessed with quality players in every department, there is no weak link in O’Sullivans team. Cup football and finals in particular never go as people predict. On paper Goodwick are firm favourites, Clarbeston Road will be happy the game will be played on grass though and not paper, anything can happen! Hopefully it’ll be a good crowd down at the Meadow for the show piece of Pembrokeshire football.
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