PEMBROKE First XV entertained Teirw Crymych last Saturday on a warm, sunny autumn afternoon in front of a large expectant crowd, on a beautiful surface fit for running rugby, writes Darrell Willington.

The match was sponsored by JOP, with the match ball provided by Ian Martin and family.

Disappointingly, Crymych had to start without a front row due to a long injury list, therefore scrums throughout the game were uncontested, which also meant under WRU rules that they had to start with 14 players.

However, despite this handicap, both sides served up a flowing, entertaining match as they threw the ball around at every opportunity.

Pembroke’s pack provided lots of quick ball allowing their backs to stress the opposition and score five excellent tries in the first half against a very determined Crymych defence.

The home side fully deserved their lead of 35-12 at the break, after a very entertaining first half, which saw the visitors’ forwards and backs combine at pace to pierce the home defence, to score a couple of well-constructed tries to the delight of their travelling support.

The second half was almost a carbon copy with regard to the flow of play, with the visitors putting up a very spirited defence and taking their few opportunities to score some really well-deserved tries.

But the home side took advantage of lots of possession, excellent approach work and terrific handling involving interplay between forwards and backs to run in five more tries to consolidate their big win by 66-26.

Despite their handicaps Crymych fully deserved their losing bonus point and were applauded off the pitch by the enthusiastic, large crowd, who despite their allegiances had been thoroughly entertained by the efforts of both teams.

On Sunday afternoon the Panthers entertained Old Penarthians, a team they had lost to two seasons ago in the WRU bowl.

The visitors proved a tough unit as they took charge of the game in the early exchanges, building a solid base against a spirited home defence.

The Panthers were not overawed and mounted many attacks involving forwards and backs combining to score a number of well-deserved tries.

However, the strong visiting squad proved too capable and eventually ran out worthy winners by 19-38 in this very entertaining encounter.

The eager, young Youth travelled to Crymych for their first match after a two week break. The game proved a real humdinger, both sides throwing the ball around, in a really exciting fashion, scoring freely in both halves.

With the game a tie at 38-38 with only a couple of minutes remaining and the result seemingly a draw, the home side broke the deadlock, with a final thrust that resulted in a final try to secure an unlikely win.

All age groups in the Junior section were in action around the District with mixed fortunes.

Coaches reported many excellent individual and team performances.

Last week Scarlets and Welsh international prop Kemsley Mathias held a very successful and enjoyable master class session with the younger age groups.

Last Wednesday afternoon, nine of the club’s youth players represented Pembrokeshire College against Haverfordwest High at the H’West RFC ground. All performed very well in an entertaining encounter in front of a very large crowd, contributing positively to their squad’s well-deserved win, in another qualifying round that might see them progress go to a future Principality Stadium in an all-Wales Final.

Up-coming fixtures include; October 24, First XV at home to Narberth Athletic, Rd 2 WRU Div4 Cup; same day Youth home to Taibach, RD 1 WRU National Shield, both KO 2.30pm.