Local teams finish off with a bang (From Western Telegraph)

Local teams finish off with a bang

Most Pembrokeshire rugby teams finished 2001 with an almighty bang against teams from up the line, with pride of place going to FISHGUARDs first win of the season in Division Five (West).

Chris Mitchells side beat LAUGHARNE 17-12 at The Moors, with tries from centre Rhys Williams and fly half Daniel Cherry as centre Huw Evans landed both conversions and a penalty.

The Laugharne tries came from Simon Davies and Edward Brown, and it was rumoured in Fishguard that Mitch had applied for a loan to buy his boys a deserved pint!

HAVERFORDWEST also had an excellent away win in Division Four (West) as they twice came from behind to beat KIDWELLY by 21-14.

Carl Gower and Andrew Deacon scored converted tries for Kidwelly but the Blues responded through full back Danny Field and Graham Badham, while Steve Williams, landed a conversion, two penalties and a dropped goal to steer the Blues to a fine away success!

CARDIGAN also did well at BIRCHGROVE as they won 20-6 thanks to tries by wingers Gareth Davies and Alun Williams, outside half Aled Thomas landing two conversions and two penalties.

But TENBY UNITED found it hard going at promotion favourites RESOLVEN and eventually went down 51-11 as Jonathan Dodd landed two penalties and skipper Nicky Allen were their points scores.

Simon Brady led the home teams tally with 21 points and flanker John McPhail crossed for two tries.

PEMBROKE beat PEMBROKE DOCK HARLEQUINS 20-3 in their local Division Five (West) derby as Phil Williams scored a try, two conversions and two penalties to go with a penalty try as Chris Shelmerdine caught the eye.

Gareth Scourfield slotted a first-half penalty for the Quins but the Scarlets pack gave them the edge.

In the same division, NEYLAND continued their good away form with a 24-10 success at PENYGROES, leading by 17 points in an electric first quarter and quelling the expected fight back to snatch victory with tries by No 8 Mathew Williams, winger Delme Bateman, flanker Adrian Riley and winger Nick Greggain, who also notched two conversions.

In Division Seven (West) MILFORD HAVEN beat TYCROES 27-6 thanks to tries by Dean and Roy Hadley, John Morgan and winger Grant Bennett (2) as Jim Farr landed the sole conversion and Ken Lloyd kicked two penalties for the visitors.

ST DAVIDS also maintained their good form in a 13-8 success against ST CLEARS with tries by Darren Salmon and Carwyn Richards, plus a Rob Miles penalty as St Clears responded with a penalty by Andrew Edwards and a try from young flanker Andrew Walters.

CRYMYCH battled hard against ALLTWEN and were level with five minutes to go as Eurig Davies landed a penalty and Peter Pritchard scored a try, only for Alltwen to be awarded two penalties and a late penalty try which were all converted by Andrew Roberts to give Alltwen a 21-8 win.

LLANGWM lost 50-7 at LLANELLI WANDERERS.

And finally, spare a thought for players and supporters of NARBERTH, who travelled all the way to TREDEGAR to find the match called off because of the state of the pitch!