Sport
All Blacks and Blues share epic draw
NEYLAND and Haverfordwest shared an excellent 19-19 draw on Saturday (Nov 18), despite the game being played in tough conditions.
Light rain throughout the match had made it tough for both sets of players who both looked to play rugby in light of the wet conditions.
It was the Blues who made the brighter start to the match as with two minutes gone they were awarded a penalty which Gareth John sent through the posts, using the wind that was blowing across the pitch to good effect.
Moments later another good move, started by John and sent on to Matty Phillips and then Rhys Baker to go over for the first try of the game. The conversion was wide and the score stayed at 0-8.
Neyland hit back and had a chance to put some points on the board but Mark Riley sent his kick wide of the posts when it looked easier to score.
From the restart, Neyland were penalised for holding on and John took the chance to kick at goal and was successful to give the visitors a 0-11 lead.
With quarter of an hour gone, Neyland were awarded a penalty and they used the wind to good effect as they sent the ball from the right over to the left to earn a line out.
From that they ran the ball out back to the right hand side for George Williams who ran over to score and Riley added the conversion to cut the deficit to 7-11.
However, the Blues responded well and another good move saw Baker turn provider for Josh Atherton go over for the try. This time John was unsuccessful with the conversion leaving the score at 7-16.
With seven minutes to go until half time, Neyland did well at a Blues scrum to push the Blues back and win the ball and it was Dan Goodridge who went over in the corner to cut the gap once more.
Mark Riley had a difficult looking conversion and it proved to be so as the ball fell short of the posts.
On the stroke of half time, the home side were given a penalty after what appeared to be a deliberate knock on by the Blues. Rather than going for touch from just inside the Blues half, Riley decided he would go for goal.
The All Blacks kicker was extremely unlucky to see his effort bounce back off the bar and the score stayed as it was.
The Blues again had a good spell of pressure at the start of the second half and six minutes in they were given another penalty which John sent through the posts to make it 12-19.
However, just two minutes later a speculative kick ahead from Mark Riley was well taken by Stephen Martin and he made his way over to score an excellent try.
Riley then kept his nerve to add the extra two points to level the scores at 19-19.
Both sides had chances to add to the scoring but the constant rain made the ball slippy and the players were guilty of dropping the ball forward on a number of occasions.
With ten minutes to go, Neyland were awarded another penalty in a similar position to the one they had at the end of the first half. Riley again took the kick but the ball again fell short.
The Blues came forward late on but were unable to get through and the score remained 19-19 when the full time whistle was blown.
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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