FIRST XV

The club’s senior team entertained Cardigan, in an eagerly anticipated, top-of-the-table clash, in ideal sunny, slightly breezy and very mild conditions.

Prior to the match, the WRU Division 3West (A) table showed Pembroke in first place with an unbeaten record, Cardigan with five wins from six starts and the teams equal on points. The records of both teams clearly indicated that they both, prior to this game, had adopted an expansive game; consequently, supporters on both sides were anticipating an exciting match and a titanic battle for the bragging rights.

Pembroke started well and found themselves pressurising their opponents’ line for the first five minutes, without scoring. Cardigan, however, were the first to score after seven minutes when, from an attacking lineout on the Pembroke 22-metre line, the resulting forward thrust released quick ball, which gave their numbner 10 Luke Rogers time to execute a neat drop goal.

Pembroke then retaliated with some good combined play, which took them the full length of the field and deep into the Cardigan last quarter. The ball ran free from some loose play and young scrum-half Tom Lewis skilfully picked up to crash over in the corner; the try was very ably converted by fullback Luke Hartland.

Soon after and from increased pressure, Pembroke came very close to scoring another try after some excellent back play took them the length of the field, but poor handling cost them that opportunity.

After a period of 10 minutes, which saw the game seesaw between halves, Cardigan pressurised the Pembroke line and eventually their pack forged an opportunity by winning a number of phases deep in the Pembroke 22, for their lively scrum-half Llyr Jones to crash over for an unconverted try.

Pembroke then built a short period of constant pressure deep in Cardigan territory, which yielded two well-taken penalties by young Hartland, which put them in the lead at 13-8 for the first time in the game.

Pembroke continued to put pressure on through their dominant pack, before losing second row Scott Powell to a yellow card, as he was deemed offside in defence, a rather mystifying decision by the referee, judging by the reaction of both sets of players and Pembroke supporters.

Cardigan capitalised on the situation by scoring a highly disputed and controversial try. Fom an attacking lineout, they executed a neat move, which saw the linesman put up his flag as their second row Rob Connolly dived into the corner, only for referee John Griffiths to over-rule the linesman (who was confident that the scorer had a foot in touch) to allow the score. The try was converted by outside-half Luke Rogers to leave the half-time score in this very exciting match at 15-13 to Cardigan.

Straight after the restart, Pembroke mounted a concerted attack, which was thwarted on the Cardigan 10-metre line by the visiting forwards, who released their fullback John Lamb to weave 40 metres through a very poor Pembroke defence to score an excellent individual effort under the posts, which was converted by number 10 Rogers.

Minutes later, Cardigan were again on the attack and forced a penalty in the loose, which was converted by Rogers, to take Cardigan into a lead by 25-13.

Then Cardigan lost their hooker to a yellow card after an infringement in the loose and Pembroke took the opportunity to kick deep into their opponents’ 22 for an attacking lineout. After winning the lineout, they pressured the line and were awarded a five-metre scrum; with the Pembroke eight dominant in the set-piece, they elected for an eight-man shove, which yielded the opportunity for bulky number eight Dom Coleman to pick up and crash over for a well-deserved unconverted try.

Pembroke continued to pressurise their opponents’ line and were camped in the final 10 metres for a full 12 minutes. However, the Pembroke players and home supporters were mystified and exasperated, when referee Griffiths refused to award a penalty try after Cardigan cynically, repeatedly wheeled and collapsed a series of four scrums on their own line.

Cardigan eventually relieved this pressure, with eight minutes remaining in what had been a very exciting and tense final quarter of the game.

Then, at the end of a totally absorbing and fraught finalé, the hard-working Pembroke pack produced a huge surge and stole possession from a Cardigan put into their own defensive scrum on their own five-metre line, which again allowed number eight Dom Coleman to pick up and crash over for a try, much to the joy of the large and vociferous home crowd. Under huge pressure, young fullback Luke Hartland then stepped up and confidently stroked over an excellent conversion to square the score at 25-25.

A few minutes of high tension followed, but neither team could force the decisive score, leaving the teams to share the spoils, after a hugely entertaining, tense and exciting encounter.

After the final whistle, the coaches on both sides congratulated each other and their players on their excellent performances, while Cardigan were left to reflect on what might have been after the late Pembroke fightback.

Everyone agreed that both teams had produced an excellent advert for rugby at Division Three level as they retired to the bar relishing the prospect of the return in 2017.

Next Frist XV match is St. Clears (home) on Saturday December 3, kick-off at 2.30 pm. The game will be sponsored by ‘The Regulars’. If any of the regulars have not yet registered their attendance, would they please contact Eifion Powell asap.

SECOND XV

Pembroke entertained a strong Whitland outfit last Saturday afternoon, prior to the Wales international match. The game was played in near perfect conditions and proved to be a well-contested and exciting affair.

Pembroke opened the scoring as number eight Owain Johns picked up from loose play, after the home forwards had combined well to get deep into Whitland’s territory, and crashed over from close in for a well-deserved, unconverted try.

Whitland then seemed to settle into a rhythm, creating a lot of pressure on their opponents’ line and promptly scored a converted try five minutes later, and then followed up with another three minutes later.

Pembroke came under sustained pressure for the next 15 minutes and resisted a number of attacks, but their line was finally breached after some very good combined play for another converted try, leaving the half-time score at 21-5 to the visitors.

Pembroke started the second half much more strongly and Nathan Mounter (at centre), after an excellent combined effort, scored a well-taken try, which was converted by Mark Jones.

The game then see-sawed for the remainder of the half, with both teams defending resolutely, but Whitland completed a dominant performance by scoring a well-earned try at the end of the half, which was converted, leaving the final score at 28-12 to Whotland.

The Second XV will entertain Crymych at home this (Friday) evening at 7.15 pm.

YOUTH XV

Pembroke Youth travelled to St. Davids and recorded their second win in succession. The game was a highly competitive affair against a very combative St. Davids XV, who battled bravely throughout the entire match.

The first half was a ‘ding dong’ affair, with both sides scoring twice. Pembroke try scorers were Tom Harding-Jones, who scored a fine individual effort, showing excellent footballing skills after a chip ahead and dribble to the line, and number 15 Billy Kinnear, who finished off a fine ‘team try’, after the ball was moved swiftly between backs and forwards. Billy also converted both tries to give Pembroke a small 14-12 lead at the break.

St. Davids began the second half strongly and scored a well-worked try under the posts to take a 19-14 lead.

The young Pembroke lads struggled to overcome the resolute St. Davids’ defence, but the tiring Saints eventually succumbed and Pembroke scored three further tries, two from the excellent Tom Harding-Jones, to get his hat-trick, and one from hard-working flanker Hal Gaskell; only one was converted by Billy Kinnear.

A very entertaining game between two well-matched sides, with Pembroke coming out winners 31 points to 19.

New Dock See

Stars as Pembroke U16s triumph

Pembroke U16s made the long journey up the M4 to Llanelli at the weekend to play Carmarthenshire Champions (for the past three seasons) New Dock Stars, at fortress St George’s Field, Trostre. New Dock Stars have been unbeaten at home for over two years and have seven players in the present Scarlets squad. Consequently, everyone in the Pembroke group was expecting a hard game.

In front of a large and vociferous home crowd, Pembroke were led by captain Jon Wood. The game started at a fast pace, with forwards and backs combining well to set up attack after attack on the homesters’ line, which nearly resulted in winger Rhys Richards going over in the corner.

With the front five of Rhys Taylor, Shane Gwyther, Liam Brunton, Ryan Gammer and Jon Wood putting in a hard shift and working well in close exchanges, the back row of James Jones, Med Le Britton Booth and Theo Davies were allowed time and space to exert their dominance in the loose.

After 15 minutes, the pressure finally paid dividends with Theo Davies scoring under the posts and Harry Turner adding the extras.

The try by Pembroke spurred NDS into life and after a series of attacks and excellent defending by Pembroke, they scored out wide, which was well converted by the NDS centre.

The next 20 minutes saw end to end, high quality rugby by both teams and had supporters impressed at the players’ skill levels.

NDS nudged ahead with a close range try, but Pembroke went ahead just before the break with a well-worked try by Curtis Palmer, which was converted by Harry Turner.

In the second half, half-backs Gethin Bradney and James Allen continued to control the game and linked well with centres Curtis Palmer and Douggie Whitbread.

With runners Jonathan Smith, Joe Watkins and Leon Stewart attacking at every opportunity and fullback Harry Turner dangerous on the counter-attack, the constant pressure proved too much for NDS and Theo Davies went in for his second try.

NDS again responded with a converted try, but with 10 minutes remaining, Pembroke’s Shane Gwyther scored what was to be the winning try under the posts, Harry Turner converted and Pembroke were ahead 26-24.

The final 10 minutes saw both teams giving everything they had and at the final whistle Pembroke U16s were victors in what had been a pulsating and very entertaining game, which was a credit to both teams.

CLUB GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ

This will be held at clubhouse on Friday, November 25, starting at 7.15 pm, for teams of four to six..

TICKETS

Don’t forget to get your ticket for the New Year’s Eve function in the clubhouse. Entry is by ticket only and they can be obtained from Emma or Jayne. Only a few are still available.

Turkey Trot tickets and Christmas Draw tickets are also still on sale.