An eager squad travelled to Burry Port wanting desperately to take the bragging rights, from one of the two sides to have beaten them at home this season; Burry in that match had proved an obstinate and resilient opponent and deservedly took the honours, after a determined defensive effort. Pembroke’s coaches were able to choose from a fully fit squad and knew they would be in for a tough battle, whilst the players were keen to take an early initiative and prove a point, tens year after their last visit. The weather was dry, calm and the ground in excellent condition, perfect for both teams to show off their skills and pedigree.

Both sides started strongly, with both sets of forwards trading territory in the early skirmishes. After only a few minutes, Burry forced a mistake from the visiting forwards in defence at the breakdown and their No 10 slotted the penalty to take an early lead. The visitors then put together some phase play and pushed deep into home territory forcing a lineout deep in Burry’s twenty two. Clean off the top ball was quickly transferred across the line and through a pre-planned move, full back Luke Hartland was put into space, he made good ground, straightened up and gave a beautifully weighted pass to winger Barry Alderman John who went over wide right unopposed for a marvellous first try, much to the delight of the large travelling support. No 10 Toby Smith then slotted, what Bill McClaren would have described as a “drunken” ball through the posts off the upright. Burry came straight back at the visitors and scored a converted try near the posts, after excellent phase work from their forwards. Minutes later, Pembroke after some sustained pressure and phase play from their forwards in midfield, moved the ball wide again, putting full back Hartland into space wide left and he raced over for another converted try to retake the lead. Burry then lost a key member of their team when their No 10 was injured and unable to continue. The match was proving to be the expected see saw battle witnessed earlier in the season, with two good packs slugging it out to provide possession and two sets of backs willing to make the most of their opportunities. Back came Burry, but this time some sloppy tackling in defence from the visitors allowed the home side to squeeze in for an unconverted try, much to the frustration of the Pembroke coaches. Pembroke through some deft tactical kicking and good chasing still threatened and mid way through the second quarter, good work initially from forwards and backs and a deft late pass from winger Dalling saw centre Fraser James use his pace to make himself enough space to race in for a try wide left, which was again ably converted by No 10 Smith. Pembroke’s forwards, with Sam Smith showing more good form in making more typically abrasive, rampaging runs, with great support from his team mates, kept up the pressure on the home side. With minutes to go in the half both sides created pressure through their forwards and backs combining well and both kicked a penalty apiece before the break to leave the score deservedly at 18-24 to the visitors, who had played some excellent attacking rugby, created chances out wide and converted the vast majority of their opportunities. Burry had again proved an obdurate foe, willing to run hard, support the ball carrier and take every opportunity to exploit any weaknesses shown by the Pembroke defensive line. Pembroke meanwhile were left to rue some poor early defensive work, which had gifted Burry scoring chances, which they had taken well, in what had proved a very exciting first half for both sets of supporters. Burry had suffered a number of injuries to key personnel and this seemed to have a definite impact on their overall performance.

Pembroke started the second half strongly and forged yet another opportunity for young, pacey full back Hartland, which he took with great aplomb; No 10 Smith knocked over yet another conversion, as he continued to have a good day with the boot. Burry however, came straight back and scored a well constructed, converted try, through good combined work from forwards and backs, bringing them back to six points adrift and lifting their spirits. After a period of trading territory and the introduction of subs on both sides to invigorate the effort in this intense and pacey game, Pembroke’s Smith slotted over another penalty after an infringement in the loose. Minutes later, as the visitors seemed to be gaining the upper hand, loose ball was seized, moved through phases and after a deft sleight of hand by flanker Gwilliam, which gave winger Fraser James an opportunity to made quick ground wide left and force his way over the line, through a few defenders to complete a tremendous team effort; Smith again slotted the conversion to increase the visitor’s lead. Pembroke’s pack were now dominating the set piece and allied to the loss of some of Burry’s key forwards were disrupting Burry’s ability to secure good first phase possession. With fifteen minutes remaining of the last quarter, Pembroke then took total charge of the match, despite a spirited defensive effort by the whole Burry outfit. The visitors scored three marvellous tries in the last ten minutes to wreck any aspirations that the home side had harboured. Firstly, after more excellent build up from both forwards and backs, the ball was quickly moved wide, where winger Barry Alderman John made space after a typical jinking run to go into the right corner; again this was very ably converted by Smith. Minutes later, more good combined work midfield, the ball was moved quickly to the left, where classy new centre signing Jack Parkinson raced around a flat footed defence to score and finish off another team effort, which Smith converted. Then to cap off a devastating last quarter, against a tiring but still determined Burry, after more great work by the pack and a great pick up off his toes, the ball was moved quickly to wing Alderman John and he raced in for his third and the team’s final score of the match, which Smith failed to convert, just to prove he was human! Despite their dominance, Pembroke were never allowed to relax and were made to tackle relentlessly, because the home side refused to capitulate throughout the last quarter. The referee blew up soon after the visitor’s final try, leaving them very worthy winners by 30-60, against a rather shell-shocked Burry squad.

As the players left the field, the referee congratulated both sides on a magnificent match, whilst the large crowd also showed their appreciation as the players left the pitch. Pembroke’s coaches were totally delighted with the eight try, bonus point victory, were quick to praise the fitness of their players, the important role their bench had had in the second half, adding lots of extra energy to build this commanding performance, and they also paid high praise to the Burry squad, who had proved as before to be a resilient, persistent and determined adversary yet again. Pembroke’s deserved victory maintains their position at the top of this competitive League, whilst the players are determined to stay grounded, because they know they have to eradicate any complacency, concentrate fully and keep working hard each weekend, if they are to sustain their momentum.

Pembroke: Luke Hartland, Barry Alderman John, Fraser James, Dan Colley, Sean Dalling, Toby Smith, Tom Lewis, Lloyd Davies, Rhys Mainwaring, Jonny Palmer, Will Edwards, Cyle Weatherall, Jack Smythe, Sam Smith, Rhodri Walters. Subs: Seamus Wiseman, Jack Parkinson, Scott Powell, Jordan Gwilliam, Alex Thomas.

Pembroke now move onto play top of the table Penclawdd at home tomorrow, KO 2.30pm, when they know they will have to be at their very best to bring home a result, against the most consistent team in the League.

SECOND XV

Win based on perseverance, tremendous determination and team work

Last weekend the “Tigers” entertained a strong Crymych outfit, with the weather conditions very favourable on a marvellous surface at Crickmarren. The Pembroke squad had not played since the Exiles match on Boxing Day and were very keen to make their opponents work hard on a dry day and excellent playing surface made for running rugby. Pembroke had drafter three Youth players to blood them at senior level alongside more established players and Billy Wood returning after a long lay off due to a serious hand injury, whilst the visitors were at full strength with their usual strong squad. Due to the lack of enough front row forwards, Pembroke elected to start with uncontested scrums, under the WRU’s Game On rule.

The match started at a frantic pace, with Pembroke playing with the wind towards the Lamphey end. The bulk of the first half was played in the Pembroke half, as the home side who looked very rusty, were kept under constant pressure. However, the home side’s very determined defensive work meant there was still no score after twenty five minutes. Crymych then forced a mistake from the home forwards in the loose and slotted over the ensuing penalty. Soon after, Pembroke attacked, but were turned over on the halfway line and the visitors ran in a well taken try, which they converted. After a few minutes, a similar situation and the visitors capitalised to score another converted try just before the break, leaving them deserved 0-17 leaders at the break. Pembroke however, had forged a number of positions and opportunities, but just could not cross the whitewash.

The Pembroke coaches had some stern words for their players during the break and implored them to raise their game. The players responded and so began a remarkable comeback, with the home forwards taking the game to the opposition in the loose particularly. No 10 Ryan Wilkins poached an opportunity in the visitors twenty two early on and converted this himself; this seemed to raise the spirits of his team mates. Minutes later No 8 Aaron Williams, after great work by his fellow forwards forced himself over the line through a number of defenders, from close in, to bring the score to 12-17. Crymych meanwhile, still remained dangerous and only really determined defensive work kept them from scoring on a number of occasions. Then with seventy minutes in the match, after yet more combined work between the home forwards and backs, young scrum half Rhys Cadogan sniped off a breakdown to score a marvellous individual effort and Wilkins coolly slotted the conversion to take the home side into the lead. Pembroke then lost Wood to cramp, prop Brayford to fatigue as the pace of the game began to take its toll, Pembroke were forced on the defensive and had to work hard to preserve their slender lead. Forwards Matthew Washbourne, Jim Brace, Aaron Williams stood out for their work-rate, whilst the Youth players, prop Liam Brunton, flanker Tommy John and centre Tom O’Neill all brought huge energy to the performance and had hugely influential inputs into the match. After a tense finish which witnessed some stern defence from the home side, Pembroke ran out deserved if unexpected winners of a marvellously exciting, enthralling and hard won match, watched by a large very appreciative crowd.

The Pembroke coaches were delighted with the second half response from their squad and congratulated them all on a superb come back, against a very accomplished young, energetic Crymych squad, who had made them work really hard throughout the whole match.

Pembroke: John Williams, Darcy Langston, Tom O’Neill, Billy Wood, Matthew Lewis, Ryan Wilkins, Rhys Cadogan, Jim Brace, Danny James, Aaron Williams, Gareth Miller, Matthew Washbourne, Harry Dawe, Dan Gosnold, Jamie Brayford. Subs: Tim Sharpe, Tommy John, Liam Brunton, Mark Jones.

Pembroke now play Carmarthen Druids away tomorrow KO 2.30pm at the Athletic ground and Nantgaredig away the week after.

The Tigers are now also committed to playing in a newly constituted WRU sponsored Second XV Cup competition to stimulate second fifteen rugby across District H, which will see two Leagues of three teams play off against each other, for places in a three tier Finals Day sometime to be confirmed in May. The two pools involve, POOL1 (Haverfordwest, Milford and Pembroke) and POOL 2 (Crymych, Tenby and Whitland). The qualifying rounds will be played during February and early March, with the winners of the Pools playing for the Cup, the runners up playing for the Plate and the third placed teams playing for the Bowl.

UNDER 17s

Our very eager, young squad travelled the short distance to play their long awaited match against local rivals Pembroke Dock Harlequins. The match was played at pace and with the energy and determination typical of this local derby, whilst there were a lot of excellent individual performances from players from both squads. The match proved a really exciting, enthralling and tough battle, which was fully appreciated by the large crowd and eventually the Quins ran out victors by 17-12. The Pembroke coaches were very pleased with the performance of their squad, which will play Neyland at home this Sunday KO 12pm.