CUP WIN FOR FIRST XV

The senior team travelled to Cefn Cribwr (near Pyle) in the third round of the WRU Bowl competition. The weather was dry and overcast, with a stiff, cool breeze atop the open ridge where the ground was sited. A large contingent of supporters had travelled to support Pembroke and they received a marvellous welcome and excellent hospitality in Cefn’s new clubhouse. The teams had only met once before, many years ago and whilst some of their ex-players shared memories of that day with the visitor’s elder statesmen, the present crop knew very little of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. With the pitch wet and heavy after recent rain, the scene was set for an intense battle of strategy for a place in round four. Both teams seemed equally matched in terms of the sizes of the packs, whilst intelligence reports indicated that the Cefn backs could prove a real threat given good possession.

After a slow, nervy start from the visitors, which saw them repelling repeated Cefn attacks for five minutes, the next 15 minutes witnessed all sorts of drama which saw the visitors go into a 17 point lead, thanks to home mistakes and some really opportunistic individual skill and anticipation. After seven minutes, from a lineout close to the home line, Sam Smith made a surge and fed to flanker Dom Coleman in space and he took full advantage crashing through a packed defence for an unconverted try. Minutes later, the Cefn skipper attempted a quick 22-metre drop out to his winger which was pounced upon by Pembroke scrum half Tom Lewis, who to the delight of his supporters, broke a tackle to go over near the posts for a converted try. Then from the kick-off, Pembroke threw up a high kick which was well chased and under pressure a home defender lost possession, which winger Elliott Evans picked up and raced over for another unconverted try. A start the visitors could have only dreamed of! During this period, both packs battled hard and the visitors seemed to gain a small advantage at the scrummage and their big ball carriers definitely provided another advantage, whilst both sets of backs looked evenly matched.

Right at the end of the first quarter, Cefn’s No 10 kicked a penalty, after a period of intense pressure through their forwards. Soon after, Pembroke were on the attack again, and from quick scrum ball 25 metres out, the backs executed an excellent move that put centre Sean Dalling into space and he raced in for another well-worked try, which he converted. Soon after, Cefn responded with some pressure of their own, when from loose play, they released their centre, who crashed through some poor defensive tackling for a well-worked, converted try. Five minutes later, Pembroke were back on the attack with the forwards forging field position; Dom Coleman crashed through tackles, off-loaded to the ever-present Dan Colley, who crossed for a well-crafted, converted score, to the ecstatic cheers of the away support. Just before half-time, Cefn lost a second row, after he had punched a Pembroke player in full view of the referee, who promptly brandished a yellow card. Pembroke then got a little sloppy in defence during the last 10 minutes of the half and conceded two penalties, which were converted by Cefn’s No 10, who was proving a real threat in attack and a very accomplished place kicker. This left the score after a tremendously exciting and entertaining half, deservedly at 16-31 to the visitors, who had fed off the many errors made by the home side and crafted some excellent scores on the back lots of hard work by the pack.

Both sides made changes at the break, which reflected the pace and intensity of the first half battle. Pembroke were now playing with the assistance of the stiff breeze and they started well, pressurising Cefn’s depleted pack, but they could not force that all important score to cement their lead. Pembroke were also making a number of unforced errors, especially by not taking kick-offs cleanly and this was providing much-needed possession for the home side. Cefn seemed rejuvenated by the injection of fresh legs and a new tighthead, who shored up their scrummage. Both teams tested each other’s defences during the first quarter, but neither was giving anything away. The only scores in this third-quarter were two well-taken penalties by Sean Dalling, which were the direct result of pressure created by Pembroke’s very industrious pack, linking well with their backs. Both sides continued to make a number of handling errors, which gifted field position on a number of occasions. Then with 10 minutes remaining, Cefn struck after a period of sustained pressure, scoring a well-deserved, converted try after some very good combined interplay. With their tails up, Cefn continued to press and scored another excellent, converted try, wide out by their left wing, after some determined approach work by their pack. This set up a very nervy, but tremendously exciting last five minutes with the score at 30-37, with both sides working equally hard to get a vital score. In the end, in the dying minutes, a superb turnover by skipper Scott Powell at a maul in his 22, prompted a long kick downfield by a Pembroke defender, deep into the Cefn 22 area, a few Pembroke players, who had chased hard caught a lone defender and managed to regain possession to send young winger Elliott Evans in for an unconverted try to seal the win for the visitors, to the vociferous delight of their coaches, subs, team management and supporters. Soon after, the referee (Tim Davies, of Gloucester) blew the final whistle to end what had been a tremendously exciting, entertaining and hard-fought cup encounter. All of the players were applauded from the field by the large, appreciative crowd that had witnessed a marvellous advert for cup rugby.

The referee congratulated both sides on their performances and the good spirit demonstrated throughout the game. The Pembroke coaches were delighted to have won such a tough assignment, but recognised that their team would need to reduce their error rate and improve significantly again on certain aspects of this performance if they are to progress even further in the competition; they named young scrum half Tom Lewis as their man of the match for his work rate and opportunism, whilst Cefn nominated their young centre and skipper Owen Davies as theirs. Pembroke now await the outcome of the draw to find out their next opponents, hoping to get a home draw.

Meanwhile, they return to League action to play Haverfordwest home tomorrow (Saturday, November 4), KO 2.30 pm, with the game sponsored by the Former Players Association.

FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

The Former Players are sponsoring the game tomorrow. All attending the pre-match buffet are asked to come to the club at 1 pm, when chairman Dilly Williams will be collecting the usual donation for the day and members annual subscription.

YOUTH XV

The Youth travel to Tenby this weekend to take on their local rivals, looking to extend a good solid start to the season. KO 2.30pm.

UNDER 17s XV

The U17s took on Narberth at home last Tuesday in almost perfect playing conditions. The report for this match will appear next week. The team has grown in confidence as the season has progressed and they hope to reverse the early season result against Narberth, when they took the spoils, with some very good tries by their speedy wingers.

JUNIOR RUGBY

A large contingent of U11s players and their coaches and parents attended the very exciting Scarlets v Cardiff Blues match last weekend. Everyone had a tremendous evening at the match and the young players were all very pleased to have witnessed a West is Best win for the Scarlets.

150+ CLUB DRAW

Congratulations to the following winners for October. If anyone wants to join this monthly draw, they should see Mary James in the clubhouse on match days for the relevant mandate forms. £80 - Jill Coleman, £50 - Will Edwards, £25 - John Williams (Hundleton).

FIRST WINTER GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ

The club held a very successful first quiz last Friday, when eight teams fought it out for the winner’s title. The quizmaster set some intriguing sets of picture and word puzzles, combined with some taxing questions covering a wide range of topics. Whilst scoring was very good across all teams, the eventual winners scored a very creditable seventy six percent strike rate. The second quiz will take place on Friday, December 1, starting at 7.30 pm, the date and time will be confirmed nearer the time, as there could be a clash with a cup match. Thank you to all of the teams that turned in for this event.