WITH the Nations Championship starting over the weekend, Pembroke’s First XV did not have a fixture over the weekend, writes Darell Willington.

The Panthers were unable to field a squad and so were unable to host Burry Port in their WRU Cup match, consequently, Burry Port have claimed the tie.

The Youth were due to play Neyland across the Cleddau on Saturday, but by mutual consent Neyland came to Pembroke on Friday evening, for a game under lights; both teams having played very few games were both eager for the contest.

The evening was cold, dry and calm, with the pitch in excellent condition.

Both teams started very strongly, but the home side monopolized the early possession, which eventually led to them scoring the first try after multiple phases the forwards crashed over after seven minutes.

After a period of ten minutes of stalemate, when the visitors stressed the home defense a number of times, the home side struck again, when scrum half and captain Daf Killian took the ball off a lineout in his own twenty two, jinked past initial defenders then accelerated, swerving past numerous defenders to sprint seventy five metres to score a truly magnificent individual try, converted by Evan Clark to round off a very competitive first quarter.

Neyland responded very quickly, with their heavier forwards multiple phase attack ending with them crashing over for their first score.

The Neyland pack then dominated for a while and scored another try from close in to tie the score.

But to their credit Pembroke weathered this period and after a penalty kick to the corner, a neat lineout move close to the Neyland line saw prop Mason dive in, in the corner unopposed to give his side the lead at the break.

The third quarter saw both sides attacking and defending resolutely, but not scoring.

Neyland broke the stalemate, with their forwards making ground by using their weight advantage to get close to and eventually cross the home line for a converted try to take the lead.

The remainder of the game saw the home side come close on occasions, but the Neyland lads defended strongly.

With only ten minutes to go, in what had been a very exciting and entertaining game in front of a large crowd, there was a melee as tensions rose, only Pembroke received three cards and after a second melee the referee halted the game with four minutes to go, leaving Neyland worthy winners.

Upcoming games include; the First team Pembs Cup fixture scheduled for tonight Wednesday has been cancelled and will now be played on Nov 17 KO 7.15pm, the Youth are due to play Tenby at home on Friday night KO 7pm.

President Dilwyn Williams, accompanied by other committee members, laid a wreath at the Pembroke Town Remembrance service last Sunday.

Results:

Admiral National League 4 West A: Llangwm 42 Tenby Athletic 19; Narberth Athletic 55 Llanybydder 5; St Davids 55 Dreigiau Emlyn 21; Teirw Crymych 26 Pembroke Dock Quins 20

Fixtures:

Saturday, 21 November: Aberystwyth Athletic v Teirw Crymych; Llanybydder v Dreigiau Emlyn; Narberth Athletic v Pembroke Dock Quins; Pembroke v Llangwm; Tenby Athletic v St Davids