Pembroke’s women’s squad travelled to the Carmarthen Quins ground last Monday to take on the students of UWTSD (Trinity St David University, Carmarthen) under lights. The evening weather was very calm, dry and mild, whilst the pitch was in marvellous condition and just right for open running rugby. This was the Panther’s third fixture of the season, with them having lost the first two by narrow margins. The ladies were very excited at the prospect of taking on the young, fit University team and coach Rob Griffiths, described it as “a vital indicator of his squad’s skills and tactical development, and fitness level at this early stage in their first season”.

Both teams started very well, with the University establishing early territorial advantage through their forwards, who handled and drove hard into a determined Pembroke defence for the first five minutes. Then for the second five minute spell, the Panthers produced some excellent interplay between forwards and backs to take the game to the students. After ten minutes, No 10 Chloe Jones put a pinpoint, penalty kick deep into the student’s twenty two; from the ensuing lineout, the Panther’s forwards handled well and put Isobelle Dufresnoy in space near the line and she crashed through defenders to open the scoring, with an unconverted try, to the delights of the large travelling support. Pembroke maintained the pressure on their opponents for the next ten minutes and were only kept at bay by determined student tackling, with Panther’s No 8 Pearl Van Ellis produced some rousing charges during this period, to put her team mates on the front foot. Whilst Pembroke won the territorial battle in the first quarter, the student’s very pacey outside backs looked very dangerous on the break. The game seesawed between halves for the first ten minutes of the second quarter, with some exciting passages of play from both sides, but no further scoring, due to strong defensive tackling all round. Then after thirty one minutes, the students struck through their hard working forwards, who crashed in for an unconverted try wide left, after some very good phase work and determined individual drives. The Panthers retaliated for a short period, after good handling from forwards and backs, who combined really well but were frustrated by more obdurate student tackling. Thirty five minutes in, the students mounted a concerted attack, which lead the Panther’s defence to knock on in front of their own posts; from the scrum the students moved the ball wide, but knocked on in the act of crossing the line to butcher a clear chance to score. The students gathered the drop out, moved it quickly through the hands and caught the Panther’s defence napping and their speedy centre crossed for a well taken unconverted score wide left. The referee, Andrew Thomson, allowed play to continue well past the forty minute mark, due to previous injuries; so after forty six minutes, Pembroke took the ball up to the half way line, lost possession, the loose ball was snapped up by the student’s very pacey right wing and she threaded her way past despairing defenders to score a marvellous, individual, converted try to give the students a deserved 17-5 half time lead.

Pembroke’s coach, whilst very happy with the team’s fitness, handling skills and tactical play, pulled his squad together and after a short evaluation of issues from their first half performance, his players emerged more determined to up their work rate to forge an improved second half performance.

Pembroke started in a very determined manner and No 10 Chloe Jones put in a marvellously accurate early penalty kick, deep into the student’s twenty two. From the lineout, the Panthers moved the ball along the line to Pearl Van Ellis, who crashed her way through a wall of defenders to score a try near the posts, which was converted by No 10 Jones. This seemed to lift the confidence and spirits of the visitors, who had to defend resolutely for the next five minutes of sustained TSD attacks. Pembroke then also mounted a number of attacks to put their opponents under serious pressure to end the third quarter on a high. Twenty five minutes in, the students kicked out of defence, the Panther’s defence fumbled loose ball, which was snapped up by the hard chasing TSD left wing on the half way line, who then sprinted unopposed to score a brilliantly taken individual, converted try, to give her side a substantial lead. Pembroke went on the offensive from the kick off, with their forwards and backs combining well to take play into the home twenty two, where after repeated phases and good ball retention, the ball was fed to No 10 Jones on the charge and she crashed through many defenders to score near the posts and then converted to the jubilation of her team mates. Pembroke’s confidence and resolve were now showing through and their fitness too was very evident as they kept up the pressure on the students. After more good work by her team mates, Chloe Jones again charged but was stopped just short of the line as the Panthers asserted themselves. Minutes later, after yet more excellent phase play by their forwards and good handling by the backs, Pembroke mounted a concerted attack and flanker Naana Geula snapped up loose ball and powered her way through a flat footed defence to score an inspirational, individual effort from twenty five metres to raucous scenes from her fellow players and supporters; Jones converted to bring the scores level. The students were straight onto the attack, in this pulsating match; Pembroke seemed to relax and were caught napping in defence to concede a very soft try, when the student’s took a quick tap penalty and ran in from ten metres to score an unconverted try to give themselves a slender lead, with only minutes for injury time left on the clock. Pembroke’s players then mounted a last gasp attack, took possession into the home twenty two through some very good handling and driving play by forwards and backs, which lead to Pearl Van Ellis gaining possession yards from the home line and she used her strength to force herself over the line for a try near the posts to the sheer delight of her team mates and the many supporters; this left Jones with the important final kick of the match, which could win it for the visitors; her players erupted into screams of joy and ran to engulf her, as she cleanly, stroked it between the uprights to cap a truly remarkable come back, in what had been a truly exciting, enthralling and memorable, five tries apiece, first win for the visitors, by 29-31.

Pembroke’s coach was absolutely delighted for his delirious squad, who gathered for their post match debrief and squad photograph, after congratulating their very deflated opponents for a match that had proved to be a great advert for senior women’s rugby. Whilst both teams applauded each other from the field, referee Thomson added his sincere congratulations to both teams on their performances during what he considered to be a “hard fought, tremendously exciting and skilful match”. Pearl Van Ellis was named Player of the Match for the Panthers, whilst there were strong performances from Lucy Johnson and Meg Boorman (making their debuts), Naana Gela, skipper Chloe Jones, winger Carys Slack, Fi Griffiths and Isobelle Dufresnoy, with every member of the squad adding their all to secure the victory.

SQUAD: Gail John, Chloe Jones, Chloe Beynon, Fi Griffiths, Lucy Johnson, Carys Slack, Rhiannon Griffiths, Abby Price, Leanne Panton, Isobelle Difresnoy, Jamie Moseley, Meg Boorman, Pearl Van Ellis, Naana Geula, Angharad Scourfield, Kate Thomas, Charlotte Lloyd-Bird, Vicki Weatherall.

After this thrilling win, the squad now look forward to entertaining the Port Talbot Reds at home this Sunday, KO 2.30pm, for their very first home outing. We hope to see a large crowd to shout the women to hopefully another victory.

FIRST XV

The next fixture for the senior squad is tomorrow away against Mumbles March 23rd, KO 2.30pm. Any supporters wishing to travel on the team bus should be at the club by 11am.

The squad only have three League matches to play after the above one, these are March 30th Loughor at home KO 2.30pm, April 13th Pontyberem away KO 2.30pm and finally St Clears away on April 27th KO 2.30pm. All of these are eagerly awaited by players and supporters alike and the outcomes will decide our fate with regard to the League title and possible promotion. Everyone at the club wishes the squad every success in their bid for League success during what has been another truly marvellous season.

Last season the members and supporters were asked to vote on their PLAYER OF THE SEASON and the winner of this award was announced at the Annual Dinner (and in this weekly report). The voting slips for this season’s ballot will be available on the bar at the final home game on March 30th and the closing date for voting will be APRIL 28th; all completed voting slips need to be placed in the BALLOT BOX inside the clubhouse by this deadline.

YOUTH

Following a very comprehensive win over Cardigan, Pembroke have drawn Narberth at home in the semi-final of the Pembrokeshire Youth Cup, which will now be played on April 13th, KO 2.30pm.

Meantime, the squad will play League matches against Crymych away on March 23rd, Tenby away on April 6th KO 2.30pm.

The annual Youth Sevens Tournament at the club will now take place on Saturday May 11th, starting as soon after midday as possible. As always clubs from around our District are invited to participate and will need to register by contacting our club officials through the usual channels.