PEMBROKE U13s travelled with their coaching team and huge crowd of supporters to play in the annual District H Junior Finals Day, which was hosted this year at Haverfordwest RFC.
Their game against Neyland turned out to be a really tense, exciting and entertaining game, which may present said was the game of the day.
The larger, heavier Neyland pack proved a real handful for the lighter, mobile Pembroke squad, who had to dig deep to resist and withstand many thrusts by the powerful Neyland pack, whose No 8 Iestyn Roberts stood out with his strong runs.
Pembroke set their stall out from early on, moving the ball wide, on the many occasions that their hard-working forwards provided quick possession.
Both sides strived hard at the breakdown and were evenly matched in this phase of play; both sets of forwards were evident in the loose with surging runs from players on both sides, but the Pembroke backs had the edge and they regularly caused the Neyland defence lots of problems, because they stuck to their plan to move Neyland’s big forwards around the whole field.
The score seesawed throughout a marvellously, entertaining game, which midway through the second half saw the score at a stalemate.
With only five minutes to go Neyland’s No 8 scored what seemed to be the match winning try.
However, Pembroke’s players demonstrated great resilience, determination, match awareness, excellent skills and opportunism, scoring two late tries, the last of which involved Pembroke No 8 White pouncing on a Neyland defensive error to score and give his side a resounding win by 34-20 to the delight of players, coaches and their vociferous support.
Everyone then returned to the Pembroke clubhouse for their celebrations, where a committeeman congratulated the squad and told them how extremely proud the club was of them all on winning the cup two seasons in a row.
U18 former youth player Bowyn Clark completed his season playing for Carmarthen Quins in their Cup Final against a very strong Llandeilo outfit last weekend.
Bowyn played a pivotal role in his team’s excellent performance, however the bigger forwards of the Llandeilo squad carried the day, despite a very spirited performance from the very capable Quins outfit.
A BBQ fundraiser is to be held at Cresselly Arms on Wednesday May 14 starting at 5pm, there will be food, a raffle and music. Tickets for the annual club dinner are on sale in the clubhouse; the dinner will be at the Town Hall on May 23.
The very popular Friday night walking/running club continues for people of all ages and abilities, sessions will go on throughout April, May and June meeting around 6.15pm, then during July, August and September social rugby sessions take over, with U16s starting at 5.30pm for an hour, followed by 16yrs+ starting at 6.30pm, people of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate.
The club has hoisted a VE 80th Anniversary flag in honour of all those, who gave so much to give us all the freedoms we enjoy today.
The increasingly popular weekly Thursday Coffee morning will this week have a similar theme, when all present who endured those times will be encouraged to share stories and reminiscences; starts at 10am.