Sport

Seagulls miss out on a draw after missed conversion

Published

3 years ago

September 27, 2021

FISHGUARD and Goodwick missed out on a draw in their game with Aberystwyth on Saturday (Sept 25) as they were beaten 25-27.

The visitors were the first to score as outside half Matthew Hughes kicked a penalty for obstruction.

However, the home side hit back almost immediately with an excellent solo try from their No10, James Griffiths. He added the conversion to give his team a 7-3 lead.

After good inter-passing involving backs and forwards Aber worked their way downfield for Hughes to break through the home side’s defence to run a full 20 metres to score a well-worked try. This went unconverted but Aber were narrowly ahead at 7-8.

The visitors again worked their way patiently downfield keeping possession using backs and forwards and it was entirely with the run of play that Bryn Shepherd went over for their second try and it was Aber who led 7-13 at half time.

The first half had been more competitive than the margin suggests as Fishguard had shown themselves to be a well-drilled team playing with cohesion and good understanding. Their skilled teamwork was to threaten Aber even more in the second half.

The score at the interval flattered the visitors as the home side were equal to anything Aber could offer. The scrums were even and they gave nothing away in the loose nor in the lineouts despite lacking height.

Fishguard showed that they could be even more competitive in the second half. They gathered Aber’s kick-off and ran hard at the visitors forcing desperate tackling and urgent defending.

Their pressure paid off as they were awarded a penalty to get back into the game at 10-13.

Now it was Aber who turned on the pressure as they carried hard and won phase after phase to make ground. From a ruck within Fishguard’s 22 metres, Charles Thomas threw out a long, accurate pass to Carwyn Evans who ran hard to cross the line for Aber’s third try. Hughes’ conversion gave the visitors a 10-20 lead.

Again Fishguard regrouped and were awarded with another penalty to close the gap to 7 points.

Once more, Aber fought back, kept possession and gained ground. They, and almost everyone except the referee, thought that Paul Stubbs had scored a good try from loose play; but it was disallowed for not grounding.

Denied a certain seven points the visitors heads dropped momentarily and they allowed Fishguard right back into the game. Such was the home side’s confidence during this period that they bullied and harassed their way downfield to cross for a try in the corner, scored by Chris Shousha. An excellent Griffiths conversion levelled the score at 20-20.

Although Fishguard were on top at this stage of the game it was the visitors who scored next as Carwyn Evans ran powerfully to score his second try of the afternoon.

Hughes converted the bonus point try and at 20-27, with only minutes left on the clock, Aber literally took their eye off the ball.

At a scrum near the half-way line, the Fishguard pack shunted the Aber eight clean off the ball and earned a penalty. They kicked for the corner, won the ensuing lineout, and for several minutes forced the visitors to defend desperately. Eventually their pressure paid off and Gavin Walsh scored their third try of the afternoon to take the score to 25-27.

As a drawn game looked certain, Griffiths’ missed with the conversion, and the final whistle was blown almost immediately.

It was a hammer blow for the Seagulls who had worked brilliantly throughout the game to keep themselves in it.

They will look to take the positives and regroup as their next game sees them travel to Crymych on Saturday, October 2.

Sport

Fox’s Fantastic Clarby shock the county to win Senior Cup

Published

7 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Herald Sport

Strong favourites Goodwick United were expected by many to be lifting the senior cup again come Saturday afternoon. However Clarbeston Road had other ideas, we warned they were a dangerous opponent with pressure off, this proved to be the case.

A healthy crowd at the Bridge Meadow were treated to an excellent final, often cagey perhaps boring affairs this final was far from boring. It took just seven minutes for the deadlock to be broken when Clarby captain Rheinallt George put the underdogs ahead. However just before the twenty minute mark his opposite number in Scott Delaney squared things up with a trademark header.

Goodwick then took the lead when another set piece caused problems for Clarby who failed to deal with a free kick before Rhys Dalling latched onto the loose ball to volley his team into the lead. However the lead was short lived as the impressive Jake Booth found the net at the second time of asking to make it all square at the break.

Halfway through the second half another set piece led to the equaliser when Matthew Davies headed home a Laurie Haworth corner. Goodwick manager O’Sullivan rung the changes in search of a way to find an equaliser. Newly introduced striker Nathan Greene was fouled in the box and Rhys Jones had the chance to level the cup final, however Rhys Mansell had other ideas and he saved the penalty. The save gave his team a huge boast and belief that this could be their day, and indeed it was.

Most of the season we have hyped up the quality and character of this Clarby team and praised Matthew Fox and his players. Fox has done a excellent job and this is just rewards, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Clarby began this cup run by beating Hakin who have dominated this cup for so many years. An excellent achievement for all involved and an interesting plot going into next season, will Clarby be able to challange Goodwick in the league also.

For Goodwick it’ll be a bitterly disappointing defeat in a season of such dominance just the one trophy will be the least most expected from this quality side. Many thought Goodwick would win the treble and they were certainly capable, which will be the frustrating factor for the Goodwick management.

Sport

South-West Wales Athletes Aiming to Shine at the Summer Olympics

Published

4 days ago

April 26, 2024

Design Team

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

Published

4 days ago

April 26, 2024

Herald Sport

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.