Port's pace too much for Scarlets (From Western Telegraph)

Port's pace too much for Scarlets

Pembroke 11 Burry Port 22

Pembroke entertained Burry Port after a good mid-week cup performance against Cardigan had raised their confidence levels, but the Scarlets were unable to master the heavy conditions and although they were dominant in the scrums, they lost the ball too readily in contact.

The home side were unable to cope with the runs from deep by a Burry Port three-quarter line in which centre Keith Evans and winger Nathan Jones regularly caught the eye as they seemed able to break tackles and make important yardage.

That the match was played at Crickmarren owed a great deal to the yeoman work of long-serving groundsman Eric Brown - but it was Burry Port who adapted the better in the early stages as they were awarded penalties that were missed in quick succession by full back Gareth Roberts, fly half Dean Roberts and centre Keith Evans.

They were always likely to snatch the lead, however, and after 12 minutes they opened their account when flanker Gareth Gravell made the initial thrust and Evans cleverly kicked into the right-hand corner, where Nathan Jones made a superb pick-up under pressure and dived over the line.

They added an even better score straight from the kick-off as No 8 Christian Ford took a clean catch and good handling by hooker Eifion Evans (twice), flanker Geraint Hughes, fly half Roberts and winger Oliver Day handled before Ford rounded off a move he'd started 80 metres away.

Burry Port increased their advantage to 17-0 after 23 minutes with a cracking score that again involved good handling by Gareth and Dean Roberts, Gravell and Ford before full back Gareth Roberts used the space to score a try which Phil Evans converted.

Pembroke thought they had claimed their first try after skipper Darren Gilbert and Darren Wilson sent big lock Martin Goodrick away in the left corner.

A half dummy by Goodrick seemed to take him over but the referee adjudged that he had knocked-on in the grounding of the ball and disallowed what seemed a perfectly good score.

Veteran flanker Sandy Allen joined the fray for Pembroke and almost scored from his first touch after Richards Mason and Morris had created the platform in the right corner - but Burry Port smuggled the ball and were able to clear the danger via scrum half Ray Evans.

But the Scarlets finally scored after only four minutes of the second half after replacement winger Neil James had been illegally halted. Darren Gilbert spotted a gap in the Burry Port defence and dived over for an opportunist unconverted try.

Home hopes of a come-back were halted as another long-range handling move from under their own posts allowed hooker Eifion Evans to put winger Nathan Jones in for the move of the match.

The Scarlets were on top in the set-pieces and Geraint Lewis added two penalties but missed another chance as Richard Mason, Gareth Jones and Gilbert all featured close to the line.

But Burry Port held out and might have had a third try by Nathan Jones as he sped out of his own 22 but he chose to pass - and the chance went a-begging - although any further Port scores would have been an injustice to Pembroke because they had battled hard throughout the afternoon The match was sponsored by Stephen Badham and Associates, plus Coors Brewers, wiith the match balls sponsored by Phil Woodridge and Lyn Smith.