Quins make hard work of it

Pembroke Dock Quins 7 Llandeilo 5

THIS was a game which Pembroke Dock Harlequins were expected to win, and they did, but they made very hard work of it.

Coach Lenny Scourfield will be happy with the final outcome but he will be concerned that his side never really got on top.

The visitors grabbed a cracking try to open the scoring and were always looking to run the ball.

The Quins had to rely on a penalty try right on half time, converted by fly half Tom Lewis, to snatch victory.

Llandeilo's try came after 33 minutes following a quickly taken tapped penalty. Arwel Davies, Wyn and Gareth Thomas put in Jacob, who sprinted into the corner from fully 35 metres. He was just short with the wide angled conversion.

Shortly afterwards the Quins were awarded a penalty but opted for a scrum and their decision paid off almost immediately.

Gareth Scourfield controlled the forward drive which the visitors pack deliberately collapsed, and it left referee Ken Bowen, who had a good game, with little option but to award a penalty try. Lewis converted.

In the second half the home side defended resiliently and deservedly held out for the all important three league points.

The match was sponsored by Paddles Night Club, Main Street, Pembroke

Pembroke Dock Harlequins: Gareth Clarke: Carl Scott; Roy Davies; Darren Gibby; Adrian John: Tom Lewis; Ollie Brace: Brendan O'Driscoll; Gary Burns; Richard McIntyre (Clark James): Colin Burton (Dai Lewis); Gavin Nicholas: Justin Richards; Kevin Bratcher; Gareth Scourfield.

Blacks lose out to Bont power play

Pontarddulais 10 Neyland 0

AFTER last week's disappointing home defeat at the hands of Laugharne, Neyland travelled to Pontarddulais and suffered the same fate.

In their earlier meeting at the Athletic ground the All Blacks won comfortably by 31-17.

The home side grabbed an unconverted try in each half, the first coming from a push-over attempt.

Experienced No 8 Nick Walters clearly nudged the ball forward before diving over the line.

But the Bont also went close on two other occasions from push-over attempts where the official signalled that the ball had been held up to balance the decisions out a little.

In the second half Pontarddulais added a second try after a period of pressure saw the ball smuggled away from Mark Hamer by his opposite number but again the ball appeared to go forward. Play was allowed to continue for home centre Ian Merks to cross out wide.

Neyland lost the influential services of centre Mark Riley in the second period after he picked up a shoulder injury.

Steven Evans replaced Riley, but the player/coach had to leave the field soon afterwards when he picked up a knock. Veteran Peter Davies entered the fray in his place.

This disappointing defeat means that the All Blacks' chances of promotion now look very slim indeed!

Neyland: Greg Miller: Delme Bateman; Adam Collins; Mark Riley (Steve Evans) (Peter Davies); Simon Phillips: Nicky Greggain; Mark Hamer: James Picton; Craig Bennett; Ben Lloyd: Tony Busby (Chris Busby); Mark Chamberlain: Adi Riley; Steve Hamer; Mathew Williams.

Mariners edge closer to safety

Gowerton 5 Milford Haven 20

MILFORD Haven deservedly came away with the spoils at Gowerton to record a fifth win of the campaign and surely put them safe in this section.

The visitors grabbed three tries and young Matthew Doncaster was given the man of the match award for his tackling and speed to the break-down.

It was the boiler house five in the Mariners' pack which formed the platform for victory.

Jack Kinnersley, Jonathan Madden and Jamie Picton were rock solid in the scrums. Madden's excellent throwing in, despite the slippery ball, meant that Carl Allen and Matthew Reynolds reigned supreme in the lineouts.

Scrum half Matthew Mason scampered over for Gowerton's one and only try which gave his side the lead.

But the Mariners drew level just before the interval with a good try from winger Matthew Reynolds.

No 8 Walters picked up at the base of a scrum, fed scrum half Rob Evans on the blind side and it was the simple matter of Evans' drawing the last line of defence before slipping the scoring pass for a try out wide.

It was all Milford after the interval as player/coach Bruce Evans controlled matters from outside half and regularly called centres Ioan Dolling and Adam Craxford into action.

Dolling was replaced by Tim Edds, who is home on holiday and turned out for the Mariners for the first time in a league match.

Scott Walters crashed over for the visitors' second try. Nathan Young converted to add to an earlier penalty.

A clever dummy by Rob Evans set him up for the Mariners' final try which ensured victory and put a big broad grin on the faces of delighted coaches Bruce Evans and Phil Stoddart.

Milford Haven: Nathan Young: Matthew Reynolds; Adam Craxford; Ioan Dolling (Tim Edds); Rob Sweeney: Bruce Evans; Rob Evans: Jamie Picton; Jonathan Madden; Jack Kinnersley (Darryl Jones): Carl Allen; Matthew Reynolds: Mark Wonnacott (Scott Evans); Matthew Doncaster; Scott Walters (Jamie Parr).