SECOND XV v BLUESTONE BARBARIANS
The conditions could not have been more different. In September it had been dry underfoot and calm weather, whereas for this return there was some rain, very cool, strong winds and muddy conditions underfoot; consequently the teams elected to play three sessions.
Bluestone won the toss and elected to play against the wind first half and from the kick-off, the early exchanges clearly indicated that both sides wanted to play open, 15-man rugby.
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
Bluestone forced the first scoring opportunity, when their forwards combined well to take them deep into the Pembroke half; Pembroke infringed at the loose, but the Bluestone kicker failed to convert.
The following very entertaining 10 minutes saw both sides press deep into each other’s territory without making a score. Then 14 minutes into the half, Pembroke’s scrum-half put in a huge clearance kick, which saw them establish a lineout in Bluestone’s last quarter. From a well taken lineout and drive, Pembroke second row Cyle Wetherall was able to force himself over for the game’s first try, which went unconverted.
Soon after, Bluestone mounted a concerted attack of their own, with some excellent interplay and passing between forwards and backs, which freed up Gethin Gibby, who ran in wide out on the right for an excellent team try, which was unconverted.
Whilst Pembroke’s pack had established dominance at the scrum and this allowed them to build a number of attacking options, the dangerous Bluestone backs were able to use their own possession very well and mounted a number of assaults, which were repelled by a determined Pembroke defence; so play constantly oscillated between both halves, despite the heavy, difficult conditions.
Then after 25 minutes, Pembroke’s scrum advantage opened an opportunity as number eight Sam Smith picked up at the base and fed scrum-half Tom Lewis, who expertly evaded defenders to touchdown; Luke Hartland converted, to leave the score at 12-5 at the first break.
Both sides made a number of changes, then straight from the restart, Pembroke were on the attack and after a fumble in the Bluestone defence, the Pembroke forwards won quick ball from a ruck, which the backs used really well to send number eight Sam Smith into the corner for a well-constructed, but unconverted try.
For the remainder of this middle session, both teams tested each other’s defences, but both stayed resolutely solid. Bluestone lost one player to a yellow card for a high tackle, but this seemed to invigorate the rest of their team.
Consequently, despite some really exciting handling and interplay by both sides, which was well received by a large crowd of supporters, neither side was able to force a score. So this very entertaining session ended with Pembroke leading 17-5.
More changes were made to both sides at the last interval. The Pembroke pack started very strongly, again taking one against the head at a scrum 15 metres out from the Bluestone line, which allowed rampant number eight Sam Smith to pick up and crash over to score an excellent individual try, which went unconverted.
Bluestone responded well and their dangerous backs carried well on a number of occasions, but without success, thanks to a very resolute Pembroke defence.
Then, slightly against the run of play, Pembroke’s forwards and backs combined well to move deep into Bluestone territory, which ended with flanker Harry Owen running in for a well-deserved unconverted try wide out on the left.
Midway through the last session, due to injuries, Bluestone then had to go uncontested at the scrum, but this did not diminish their attacking intent, which they sustained throughout the entire session, but without success.
Pembroke, too, continued to play an open style, but the defences remained strong and neither side was able to force a score in the remaining time, so the game ended a deserved 27-5 win to Pembroke.
After the match was over, referee Chris Oliver (WRU) paid tribute to both sides for their endeavour and skills, willingness to play open rugby in challenging conditions and the excellent spirit amongst the players. Comments from members of both sets of supporters, confirmed they, too, had been very well entertained by both squads, despite what they said were very testing conditions.
FIRST XV
Llangwm were the visitors for the Saturday league game on March 4. Conditions were windy, showery and very heavy underfoot after sustained rain during the week and both teams were at full strength.
Pembroke were looking to retain the ‘Palmer Cup’, which enshrines the relationship and friendly rivalry between the two clubs, the winners being the side with the highest aggregate score after the twol eague fixtures.
Whilst the league table indicated a huge gulf in success between the sides, the Pembroke squad and coaches knew that conditions would be a leveller, the visitors would contest everything and nothing could be taken for granted.
Both sides started well, probing each other’s defences, with Llangwm showing that they would be contesting in all areas of the game.
Then, after five minutes, the Pembroke forwards forced a position deep in the Llangwm 22, where an excellent lineout take by lock Will Edwards, set-up a driving maul that ended with hooker Seamus Wiseman crashing in for a well-taken, unconverted try.
The game then see-sawed for some 20 minutes, with both teams trying to play some open rugby, despite the very heavy conditions; however, both defences repelled attacks very successfully.
At the start of the second quarter, after a short period of sustained pressure forged by the dominant home forwards, quick ball from the loose was fed out to Pembroke number 10 Simon Hooper, who weaved his way 20m through the Llangwm defence to score near the posts; the try was converted by fullback Luke Hartland.
This score seemed to galvanise the visitors, who then exerted a period of pressure on the home line towards the end of the half, which saw scrum-half Grice crash over for a well-deserved try, which was converted by outside-half Brimacombe, to leave Pembroke leading 12-7 in a very close, well contested game at half-time.
The second half started as the first, with both sides testing each other’s defences. However, Pembroke’s pack, having established dominance at the set-piece, made this tell in the second half, despite solid resistance from the visiting eight.
A good kick into the corner and another great lineout take by lock Edwards, after 11 minutes, saw prop Jamie Brayford show some balletic footwork, to set his hooker Wiseman in for another opportunist try, which went unconverted, leaving the score at 17-7 to Pembroke.
The remainder of the half saw repeated attacks and phases of pressure by both sides, but neither could pierce their resolute defences.
Consequently, the Pembroke players became quite anxious as they sought to press home their territorial advantage and score that elusive bonus point win.
After a number of substitutions, which seemed to invigorate the Pembroke effort, they pressed hard in the final minutes and forced a lineout five metres out from the visitors’ line. The home team strongly contested the lineout, which forced a huge mistake from the visitors, who lost possession, which allowed Max Hayward to dive on the loose ball to score a dramatic fourth try for the ecstatic home side, who swarmed around and congratulated their hooker. The try went unconverted, leaving the final score at 22-7 to Pembroke.
Despite the heavy conditions and very pedantic officiating which frustrated both coaching teams and prevented both teams developing extended continuity in their play, both sets of supporters reflected on an entertaining game and a well-deserved result for Pembroke.
Lock Will Edwards was named Pembroke man-of-the-match by match sponsors John and Colin Evans, of the Cresselly Arms, for his superb work in the lineout, while hard-working flanker Hicks from Llangwm was named their man-of-the-match.
The First XV now move onto a much harder encounter against St. Clears (away) this Saturday, mindful that an away win could have a real impact on their own league aspirations and those of St. Clears. They also have two remaining confirmed league fixtures against Laugharne (H) on March 25 and Cardigan (A) on April 15.
SECOND XV v TENBY
Tenby entertained a strong Pembroke second string at Heywood Lane last Tuesday, in very wet, blustery conditions. From the outset, both teams showed a determination to try to play 15-man rugby, despite the difficult conditions.
Pembroke started well and forced their way deep into home territory. The Tenby forwards wrestled back the ball and after a long speculative kick deep into the visitors’ 22, Tenby winger Stanford forced an error from a Pembroke defender to dive on the loose ball and score a great opportunist try to open their account; the try went unconverted.
From the kick-off, Pembroke forced a position deep in Tenby territory and some very good handling from forwards and backs, freed flanker Jack Goodman, who stepped his way over for the visitors’ first try, converted by fullback Lewis Davies.
Play then moved between halves as both teams probed unsuccessfully for 10 minutes.
Tenby were then awarded a scrum just inside the visitors 22, where quick ball released the scrum-half and he went blind to feed speedy winger Stanford, who crashed over wide out on the right for a well taken, unconverted try.
For most of the remainder of the half, both teams tried to breach their opponents’ resolute defence without success.
Then, with a couple of minutes to go, after good combined play and excellent handling, Pembroke’s winger Barry Alderman-John made a weaving run deep into Tenby’s final quarter, which was carried on by good handling from the forwards and eventually saw prop Johnny Palmer crash over for a well-deserved try, again ably converted by Lewis Davies from wide out on the right into the wind, leaving the half-time score at 14-10 to the visitors.
Both sides made changes at half-time. Pembroke made very early inroads with an excellent kick into their opponents’ corner. Lock Will Edwards, who had taken some excellent catches along with his fellow lineout colleagues, rose high, pulled the ball down and after a short driving maul, Johnny Palmer took possession and forced his way over from short range for his second try, converted by centre Liam Price.
Due to an early injury in the half, the scrums went uncontested. Eight minutes later, Pembroke were on the attack again, with forwards and backs combining and handling really well, given the conditions and incessant rain.
Tenby conceded a penalty close to their own line at a defensive ruck and the quick-thinking Pembroke scrum-half Tom Lewis took it quickly, feeding number eight Sam Smith, who bullocked his way over to score an opportunist try, which went unconverted.
Young Yori Roberts, who had come on at number 10 for Pembroke, exhibited some very good handling, running and kicking skills throughout the rest of the game and triggered some very good passages of play over the next 10 minutes from his backs and forwards, which kept Pembroke on the front foot.
Then late in the game, centre Liam Price, returning from serious injury, scored a very good individual try after weaving his way past a number of flat-footed defenders, which he converted himself.
This proved to be the last score of the game, which ended with a well-deserved win for the visitors by 33-10, against a good Tenby side, who too had played some excellent attacking rugby.
Both weary, mud-caked teams were glad to retire to the shelter of the changing rooms after what had been a very entertaining game in atrocious conditions, where the referee commended them all for a well-fought contest played in great spirit.
NATIONAL POWER CUP
We have now had it confirmed by the competition organisers, that we will be playing home and away fixtures against Milford and Pembroke Dock Quins over the coming months. The winners of this small round robin group will play the winners of the other group made up of Cardigan, Laugharne and St. Clears, in a final, which is due to take place at the Quins ground on a date yet to be confirmed.
SECOND XV FIXTURES
The Second XV will be taking on Tenby at home and away matches on Tuesday, kick-off 7.30 pm, prior to playing Whitland in the Pembs. Junior Union KO Cup on a date yet to be confirmed. People should contact the clubhouse if they want venues etc. confirmed.
ANNUAL CLUB DINNER
This will be held at Beggars Reach on May 5. Tickets are available from Emma and Jayne. Buses will leave the club at 6.30 pm.
MONKTON OLD BOYS FLOODLIT YOUTH SEVENS
This annual competition between sides from around Pembrokeshire and District will be taking place on Friday, April 28, starting at 5.30 pm. All interested parties are cordially invited to attend and watch some of the top local Youth rugby talent. Refreshments will be available for all supporters and visitors.
FINAL SIX NATIONS MATCHES
The club welcomes anyone wanting to watch these potentially very exciting matches live on the big screen, in a rugbycentric environment.
Comments
This article has no comments yet. Be the first to leave a comment.