Rugby round-up (From Western Telegraph)

Rugby round-up

There were mixed fortunes for Pembrokeshire clubs as the rugby season draws to a tired climax - with Whitland being heavily beaten by promotion-chasing Pontypool, while Haverfordwest played really well against Kidwelly to record a welcome 29-10 win at Merlins Bridge.

Pontypool 81 Whitland 16

Pontypool winger Lenny Woodart is the top try scorer in Welsh rugby this season and he showed just why at Pontypool Park as he scored SIX tries against a tired Whitland outfit which has played really well in recent weeks.

Woodart grabbed four tries in the first half as the homesters led 43-6 and added two more alongside Ben Jeffries, Nicky Lloyd, Gareth Taylor (2), Steve John, and Stuart Lawrence. Byron Hayward landed nine conversions and Woodart took his points haul to 33 with a dropped goal! For Whitland, Daniel Griffiths gave them an early lead with a penalty and soon afterwards dropped a goal. He also converted a try by Steve Butchers and landed another penalty as Pontypool exacted revenge for their defeat at Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn!

Llangennech 24 Narberth 23

A last-gasp drop goal by fly half Mark Jones gave Llangennech the narrowest of wins against a Narberth side that had already secured the championship and looked a little jaded.

The home side, whose oldest player was only 24, took a 12-3 interval lead with tries by Gary Penfold and Stuart Jones, plus a Mark Jones conversion, with Simon Daniel landing a penalty for Narberth.

Chris MacDonald and Elgan Vittle grabbed splendid tries for Narberth after the break and there was a conversion and penalty for Daniel - but Jones landed three penalties as the lead kept changing hands - and grabbed the glory with his late drop goal!

Cardigan 23 Birchgrove 16

Cardigan returned to winning ways with a good home win against Birchgrove, leading 13-7 at half time with a try by No 8 Chris Jones, who was voted man of the match, with fly half Aled Thomas landing the conversion and two penalties.

Birchgrove responded with a try from Simon Hughes, converted by Jamie Rees, who also landed three penalties after the break. But the Teifisiders were always able to keep ahead as Duncan Cobb crossed for a good try and another conversion and penalty by pivot Thomas saw them home.

Tenby 20 Resolven 50

Third-placed Resolven were clear winners at Heywood Lane but Tenby tried to play entertaining rugby and scored two good tries by Jonathan Dodd, plus one from Gavin Brace as Neil Powling landed a conversion and penalty.

But it was never going to be enough as Resolven enjoyed try braces from John McPhail, Simon Hutchinson and Phil Rees. Phil Evans also crossed for a try and landed four conversions whilst Neil Goldsworthy rounded things off with a dropped goal and two conversions.

Haverfordwest 29 Kidwelly 10

The Blues bounced back to form as they beat Kidwelly at Merlins Bridge, taking a 10-3 Interval lead with tries by winger Paul Mason and scrum half Steve Hamer after Kidwelly had taken a 30-second lead through a Stuart Northcott penalty.

Northcott also converted a second half try by centre Steve Jones but the Blues overcame the early loss of lineout ace Gareth Thomas as Mark Hicks played well in his place - and two further tries came from pacy full back Danny Field, the second converted by Graham Badham.

Then a superb David Jones break created a try for his brother Michael, Badham converted - and the Blues were worthy winners in a hard-fought tussle.

Laugharne 28 Fishguard and Goodwick 25

Fishguard and Goodwick led by 15-14 at the break against Laugharne as Huw Evans landed five penalties but finally went down to defeat in a close contest.

For the Seagulls there was a try by replacement scrum half Ryan Davies which Evans goaled but Laugharne had tries from No 8 Huw Phillips, centre David Jenkins, flanker Robin Husselby and lock Steve Bradley - and a conversion and penalty by scrum half Sean Lynch finally saw the home side to a narrow win.

Neyland 41 Penygroes 17

The All Blacks played well at the Athletic Ground to maintain their place in the top four as centre Martin Tamilia scored a hat-trick of tries. The All Blacks had started with tries by winger Andrew Slark and lock Ben Lloyd before Ted struck three times.

Ceri Davies scored a try and landed two conversions alongside tries by Robert Evans and Simon Davies for the visitors but No 8 Jamie Dalton also crossed for Neyland and there were three conversions and a penalty for Mark Riley and two points from Steve Roberts to keep the All Blacks well in control.

Tycroes 7 Milford Haven 5

Milford had the better of the first half against Tycroes and were ahead thanks to an unconverted try by hooker and captain Gareth Nuts Phillips. But they failed to turn pressure into points and a try by winger Chris Davies levelled matters for Tycroes before the all-important conversion from fly half Ken Lloyd saw them to a narrow victory.