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Pembrokeshire rugby preview -11/11/23

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ANOTHER wet week for the county but I’m sure there will be grounds men up early tomorrow to ensure there is plenty of rugby played across the county.

Both Pembrokeshire based clubs are giving a good account of themselves this year in the Championship West. Narberth sit third in the league and have a 100% record, tomorrow they host newly promoted Llangennech who sit second, thanks mainly to having played a game more than the Otters. A big game for both teams and it promises to be an afternoon of quality rugby at the Lewis Lloyd Ground. Meanwhile north of the county Crymych who have had a solid start to their first season in the Championship West, host Maesteg Quins. The visitors only have one league win to their name to date this season and it’ll definitely be a game Crymych will be wanting maximum points from.

Elsewhere at Haywood Lane, unbeaten Tenby welcome Nantgaredig who have had a mixed start to the season, Ossie Boswell and Andy Barlow will be looking to further their promotion push with a comfortable win here. Milford Haven travel to Mumbles a trip that maybe they’d hoped had been saved for April. Both teams are in the lower part of the league and a win here would be vital for either. Further inland Fishguard travel to Lampeter in a game which would see them leapfrog them in the table should the Pembrokeshire outfit manage to win.

Division three west brings some local derbies which I’m sure will attract decent crowds. Haverfordwest host Llangwm in a fixture they have dominated over the years, however the wasps won last week and will be more up for this game than most.

Pembroke welcome Neyland to Crickmarren and are looking for a reaction after their heavy defeat away to Aberaeron last time out. The All Blacks themselves will not be happy with their league standing currently as they sit third from bottom. Meanwhile Pembroke Dock Quins host pointless St Davids the Dock themselves have only managed two wins so far and will be confident of making it three this weekend.

Plenty of rugby to enjoy all over the county, hopefully most games beat the weather.

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From Cymru Premier to Champions League: The rise of Nicky Hayen

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AT the time, it seemed an unexpected appointment for semi-professional Haverfordwest County. Now, just three years later, the man who arrived in west Wales on New Year’s Eve 2021 has taken Club Brugge to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Nicky Hayen, the first Belgian to manage in the Cymru Premier, is now one of the most sought-after managers in Europe. Having guided his side past Europa League holders Atalanta in the play-offs, his rapid ascent has caught the attention of the footballing world.

Some pundits have even suggested the 44-year-old could be in line for the Liverpool job when Arne Slot departs.

Few of the 273 fans at Bridge Meadow Stadium for Hayen’s biggest home victory – a 6-1 win over Cefn Druids – could have imagined that their manager would soon be preparing for Champions League clashes against Aston Villa.

But for Haverfordwest chairman Rob Edwards, who remains in regular contact with Hayen, his rise comes as no surprise.

Work ethic and early impressions

“The guy was a workaholic,” Edwards said. “He lived in my house while in Wales, and I’d wake up at 8:00am to find him watching match footage. When I went to bed at 11:00pm, he was still at it.”

A former defender with more than 400 appearances in Belgium and the Netherlands, Hayen arrived in Haverfordwest via coaching roles in Belgium and Saudi Arabia. His time as technical director and interim manager at Waasland-Beveren ended in relegation during the Covid-affected season.

Introduced to Edwards through a mutual contact in Belgium, Hayen impressed the Haverfordwest board with his detailed analysis and tactical vision.

“We just wanted to listen to every word he said,” Edwards recalled. “We knew he was the right person for the job and did everything we could to bring him in.”

Transforming Haverfordwest

Hayen’s influence was immediate. He took Haverfordwest from second-bottom to the brink of European qualification within six months, introducing a structured, possession-based style rarely seen in the Welsh top flight.

“He didn’t over-coach the players,” Edwards explained. “Instead, he gave them detailed opposition analysis and focused on their welfare. He got the best out of players in a way we didn’t expect.”

Despite the culture shock of moving to a small market town in Pembrokeshire, Hayen embraced his new surroundings.

“There are 14,000 people in Haverfordwest. It’s a beautiful place, but it was all about football for him,” said Edwards. “He is a family man, doesn’t drink, and stays off social media. He just works hard.”

The move to Brugge and European success

Edwards always knew Hayen wouldn’t stay forever. When Club Brugge came calling in 2022, offering him the chance to take charge of their Under-23s, the move was inevitable.

By 2023, he was assistant manager to Scott Parker before stepping in as interim boss when Ronny Deila left in March 2024. With Club Brugge struggling in the league, Hayen led them to nine wins from their last ten matches to clinch the Belgian title.

Former Ajax and Anderlecht striker Jan Mulder predicted in May 2024 that Hayen would soon be on the radar of Europe’s elite clubs.

“Next year, he will play a series of matches in the Champions League, attracting the attention of Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern and Manchester,” Mulder wrote.

His words have proven accurate. Hayen’s Club Brugge defeated Villa, Sporting, and Sturm Graz in the group stage, while also holding Juventus and Celtic. They then dispatched Atalanta in the play-offs with a commanding 5-2 aggregate win.

What next for Hayen?

Ahead of their Champions League clash with Aston Villa, Hayen spoke about how he continues to draw inspiration from his late mother, who passed away four years ago.

For Edwards, Hayen’s rise is a testament to his relentless dedication.

“Club Brugge have had better squads on paper, but he gets the best out of his players,” he said. “He is fanatical and leads by example. The younger players are thriving under him.”

Hayen’s short time in Wales also laid the foundation for future success at Haverfordwest. Under Tony Pennock, they qualified for Europe in 2023 for the first time in 19 years.

“It’s fantastic for the club to be linked with someone like him,” Edwards said. “And this is just the beginning. If he keeps going, he will be managing at the highest level soon enough.”

With the biggest clubs in Europe watching, Nicky Hayen’s journey from Bridge Meadow to the Champions League knockout stages may only be the start of an even greater story.

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South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls: Friendly League catch-up results – Week 2

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THE LATEST round of catch-up fixtures in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association has seen St Twynnells secure a dominant win over Hundleton, while Llanteg and Lamphey battled it out in a close contest.

Results:

  • St Twynnells 10Hundleton 0
  • Llanteg 7Lamphey 3
  • St Twynnells 8Kilgetty 2

Following these matches, the updated league standings are as follows:

TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostS/DPoints
East Williamston171601267135
Carew169169190
St Johns1510057188
Cosheston169074284
Hundleton178095783
Reynalton169072483
Llanteg176110-4881
Badgers176110-273
St Twynnells165110-12566
Lamphey165011-11956
Kilgetty154011-18151

The competition remains tight as teams continue their push towards the top of the table. More fixtures are scheduled in the coming weeks as the league heads towards its final stages.

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The magic of ‘night golf’ lights up Tenby Golf Club

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TENBY GOLF CLUB hosted an electrifying Night Golf event on Friday evening in aid of the Paul Sartori Foundation, delivering an evening of excitement, camaraderie, and glowing golf balls lighting up the night sky.

Club Captain Heather Morgan invited Club Night Golf (CNG) to run the event, with George Lever traveling from Surrey to ensure everything went smoothly. Thanks to unseasonably mild and dry weather, the course was transformed into a magical spectacle, with illuminated fairways, greens, and bunkers creating a truly unique playing experience.

The event followed a Texas Scramble format, adding to the fun and challenge as players navigated the course in complete darkness, some with head torches, others lighting up their trolleys, and a few relying on traditional flashlights.

One of the standout performances came from Jemma Nand-Lal, who clinched the Nearest the Pin prize, outshining even the pros. The night’s champions, Bev and Adrian Palmer, Lynne Campbell, and Mandy Jones claimed victory with an impressive five-shot finish.

With no lost players, no injuries, and a clubhouse buzzing with excitement afterward, one question dominated the conversation: “When’s the next one?” Given the overwhelming enthusiasm, a follow-up event seems inevitable.

All proceeds on the night were donated to the Paul Sartori Foundation.

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