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Pembrokeshire Football Division 2 Preview 06-01-24

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The league table has taken shape and clubs now know what their respective challenges and goals are for the second half of the season. We have what seems to be four possible title contenders based on the table, Monkton Swifts Reserves and Herbrandston occupy top two places, whilst Merlins Bridge Reserves are only one win off top. Narberth sit in fourth but have only played 11 league games and should they manage to win their games in hand they’ll be right in the mix.

At the opposite end of the table, there are again four teams who seem likely to be fighting a relegation battle for the rest of the season. Cosheston sit rock bottom on 1 point and seem very likely to be relegated unless they can dramatically improve results and fast. Carew Reserves have 6 points, St Clears have 8 points and Broad Haven 10 points to date. Results would suggest Broad Haven will have enough to steer themselves to safety, while St Clears will have to turn draws into wins, they’ve drawn 5 and only won one so far.

St Ishmaels vs Monkton Swifts Reserves

The hosts are unbeaten since September and after a shaky start to the season have shown they are a good outfit and much improved. Tish held table toppers Monkton to a draw in the reverse fixture in December. The Swifts can’t afford to drop anymore points really with Herbrandston hot on their heels and in excellent form. An interesting match up here, the game will be officiated by Keith McNiffe.

St Clears vs Hakin United Reserves

St Clears will be aiming to start the new year positively after 2023 wasn’t a great one for them. Hakin United Reserves beat St Clears 4-0 at the Obs, however they haven’t won since, suffering 3 league defeats in a row and conceding 5 in each of these games. This will give the hosts confidence, however I’m sure Hakin will be very keen to put this right and will see this fixture as a good opportunity.

Merlins Bridge Reserves vs Narberth

Two of the better teams in the division meet in what’s an important fixture for both teams. When they met in December Bridge came out 3-1 winners thanks to a Tomos Gwilliam hat-trick. Narberth will need to be consistent if they want to keep up pressure on the top three and a win against third place Bridge would be the perfect start. Joe Leahy seems to be playing regularly for the Bridge Reserves and is a quality player and is enough to worry any team in the county.

Cosheston AFC vs Carew Reserves

Must win is a phrase used often in sport but it couldn’t be more accurate here, Cosheston have failed to win all season and they need to start now if they want to steer themselves to safety. Carew Reserves sit second from bottom and themselves only have one win all season, and will be looking at this fixture as the perfect opportunity to get three points.

Johnston vs Camrose

Newly promoted Camrose sit in sixth place and would have taken that if you’d offered it to them at the start of the season. Last time out they narrowly lost 3-2 to Herbrandston after a costly red card, Camrose were 2-0 in that game proving they are a dangerous opponent for anyone in this division. Johnston sit in eighth however have only played ten league games whereas some teams have played fifteen. With some quality players in their ranks the hosts will be hoping to climb the league table in the coming few weeks.

SECOND DIVISION CUP – Herbrandston vs Broad Haven

Unbeaten in the league Herbie are proving to be one of, if not the best outfit in the second division. Manager Leigh Galdo will be aiming for cup success as well as winning the league. The hosts beat Broad Haven 4-0 at home in the league fixture back in December. However Broad Haven held Herbie to a 2-2 draw in September and have proved they can be a tricky opposition. With the weather having been very wet, this may suit battling Broad Haven more than free flowing Herbie, however the hosts are still firm favourites for this tie.

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East Williamston maintain lead as Week 20 results confirmed

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THE LATEST results from last week’s league fixtures saw Kilgetty secure a 7-3 victory over Llanteg, while Carew dominated Badgers with an 8-2 win. Cosheston delivered a strong performance, beating Lamphey 9-1, and St Twynnells claimed an 8-2 win over St Johns. East Williamston had a bye, while the match between Hundleton and Reynalton was postponed.

Current League Standings (Week 20)

TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostS/DPoints
East Williamston171601267135
Carew17101610498
Cosheston1710075593
St Johns1610065790
Llanteg186111-5484
Hundleton178095783
Reynalton169072483
Badgers186111-1575
St Twynnells176110-11174
Kilgetty165011-17558
Lamphey175012-13257

Meanwhile, the weekend’s triples tournament had to be abandoned after the round-robin stage due to an accident involving Nev Ruff of Badgers. The knockout round will be rescheduled, with the league committee extending their best wishes to Nev for a speedy and full recovery.

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Local MP completes his first Haverfordwest Parkrun

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HAVERFORDWEST Parkrun number 312 took place on Saturday (Mar 15) at the Racecourse, with 80 participants crossing the finish line—among them, Henry Tufnell MP, who completed his first parkrun.

The MP recorded a time of 18 minutes and 14 seconds at the free weekly 5k community event. His wife, Poppy, also took part, volunteering for the first time as one of 15 helpers who ensure the event runs smoothly under the parkrun UK umbrella.

The event, which has now seen 24,536 finishers, takes place every Saturday at 9:00am. Organisers expressed gratitude to Haverfordwest Racecourse Public Park Trust for their continued support in hosting the event and to Haverfordwest Cricket Club for providing toilet facilities for participants each week.

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Future of Wales’ last Greyhound track uncertain amid ban proposal

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THE VALLEY Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, the last remaining greyhound racing track in Wales, faces an uncertain future following the Welsh Government’s proposal to outlaw the sport.

Greyhound racing has been a part of Welsh sporting history for nearly a century, with the first races taking place on April 7, 1928. At its peak, the sport drew tens of thousands of spectators, with the Welsh White City Stadium in Cardiff once attracting crowds of 25,000. The Valley Greyhound Stadium itself opened in 1976 and has undergone significant renovations over the years, including the addition of an indoor lounge and licensed bar in 2011. The stadium was granted a licence by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) in August 2023, ensuring compliance with modern animal welfare and racing standards.

Welsh Government pushes for ban

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies announced on February 18, 2025, that the government intends to implement a ban on greyhound racing “as soon as practically possible.” He stated: “I believe that now is the right time to move to ban greyhound racing in Wales. We are proud to be the first nation in the UK to do this.”

The proposed ban follows increasing pressure from animal welfare groups and a government consultation that received 35,000 signatures supporting the end of the sport. Welfare concerns, including the risks of injury and post-racing care for retired dogs, have been key drivers behind the move.

Divided opinions on the proposal

The announcement has sparked widespread debate.

BVA President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux commented: “When it comes to the use of animals in sport, as a society we have a collective responsibility to ensure that the animals involved receive the highest standards of welfare.

“It’s also essential that policy decisions on this issue are led by evidence and BVA’s ‘Animals in Performance Sport’ working group is looking closely at the issue, examining the evidence to ensure a comprehensive and considered view.

“The working group is expected to report later this year.”

However, industry representatives and racing enthusiasts argue that the decision is not grounded in sufficient evidence. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) has strongly opposed the move, with Chairman Jeremy Cooper stating: “This decision has been heavily influenced by animal rights activists. Our industry has made significant strides in ensuring the welfare of greyhounds.”

Essex businessman Dave Barclay, who has owned the Valley Greyhound Stadium since November 2021, is understood to be seeking legal advice in light of the government’s plans.

Impact on local economy and sport

If the ban is enacted, Wales would become the first UK nation to outlaw greyhound racing, leaving only 18 tracks operational in the rest of the country following the closure of Crayford Stadium in January. The closure of the Valley Greyhound Stadium is expected to result in the loss of approximately 30 jobs and leave a void in the local sporting community.

Former England and British and Irish Lions rugby player Mike Burton, now a greyhound trainer, expressed disappointment: “I come to Wales because they are good people, they are all grafters and love the sport. This is a huge loss.”

Uncertain future for greyhound racing in Wales

Despite the outcry from the industry, the Welsh Government remains committed to phasing out the sport. The exact timeline for implementation is unclear, but with the next Senedd election set for May 2026, the ban could be in place before then.

As the debate continues, stakeholders on both sides await further details on the government’s plan, including support measures for affected workers and provisions for the welfare of retired racing greyhounds. For now, the final bend looms for Wales’ last greyhound track, and its future remains uncertain.

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