Whitland fail to turn pressure into points (From Western Telegraph)

Whitland fail to turn pressure into points

Whitland 15 Newbridge 19

Whitland were unable to turn late pressure into points against Newbridge and went down to a defeat that was disappointing since The Borderers started brightly and finished the stronger.

But they made basic errors and took wrong options as visiting skipper Damian Cooper grabbed the only try of the match and Newbridge coach Mike Watkins said afterwards that he was pleased just to pinch the points and make his way back up the M4.

Home coach Mark Waygood would have been less happy because his side had the wherewithal to take a fifth league win after they had made a bright start with penalties in the first and sixth minutes from fly half Daniel Griffiths from 40 and 37 metres respectively.

Sandwiched in between was a superb forward drive to the left corner orchestrated by Romeo Colella, Ricky Davies, Steve Gerrard and Fakataha Mollatika - but referee Huw Banfield was unsighted and the ensuing scrum five came to nought as a poor midfield pass allowed Newbridge to clear the danger.

Newbridge came back into contention with an easy penalty from fly half Justin Williams after good work by his partner Matthew Taylor and hooker Darryl Williams, the ex-Hundleton lad who started out with Pembroke Youth.

Williams was also involved at the 24th minute lineout take and drive from which Newbridge rolled the maul fully 22 metres before burly lock Mike Peard put skipper Damian Cooper over wide on the left, Williams slotting the conversion.

Newbridge had other chances as wingers David Venter and Gareth Lane were involved but on both occasions superb cover tackles by home scrum half Andrew Jenkins saved the day. But the pressure was bound to tell and a simple penalty on the 22 gave Williams another three points before Daniel Griffiths notched his third kick to have Whitland trailing 13-9 at the interval.

The second half was an error-strewn, untidy affair with little of the intensity one expects from these matches. Neither side was able to really wrest the initiative and although Daniel Griffiths landed another penalty early on he was off-target with a long-range effort soon afterwards.

Whitland wasted a couple of clear-cut chances as Daniel Rogers cut back inside with men outside him and Fakataha Mollatika kicked ahead in a similar position - and although Griffiths took his personal haul to 15 points there were two further penalties from Williams.

The visitors lost flanker Geraint Gladwin, yellow carded after 72 minutes, but although Whitland went close in the right corner from close-range forward work they allowed Newbridge to edge through to victory - and a vital three points lost for The Borderers!

During the match, announcer Rob Benjamin announced that Whitland stalwart Jackie Harries was in hospital and Telegraph Sport joins all rugby lovers in Pembrokeshire in wishing the likeable Jackie a speedy return to Parc Llwyn Ty Gwyn to support his beloved Borderers. The match was sponsored by Coors Brewers and the match balls were sponsored by James McNaughton, Paper Merchants Ltd, Cardiff Branch; Bernard Davies, Builder, North Road, Whitland; Richard Lewis.