Scarlets succeed but local rugby's the winner (From Western Telegraph)

Scarlets succeed but local rugby's the winner

Rugby Division Five (West) Llangwm 7 Pembroke 21

Pembroke powered to a vital win in their top-of-the-table clash at Pill Parks but were pushed all the way by a Llangwm side which was in contention until they conceded a soft try after 71 minutes.

It stung a Wasps' side which also conceded a late penalty as their heads inevitably dropped - but the game itself was an advert for the advocates of a return to local rugby.

There were two bus loads of supporters from Pembroke and a large crowd down both touch-lines to watch the teams produce a tussle that was fully committed and provided further evidence that the Scarlets and the Wasps could gain promotion at the end of the season.

The first half was hard fought as both sides created initial space which was quickly shut down by the opposition.

The Wasps had the first chance of points in the first minute but winger JoJo Francis hooked his penalty from 25 metres well wide of the far post.

Llangwm were also given a second chance five minutes later, after good runs by Whitticombe and Francis, but the winger kicked to the corner and Pembroke somehow managed to hold up a concerted drive which included three of the home back division.

Pembroke almost scored from their first real attack when Steve Lewis beat his marker from a deep position but Robbie Neill somehow got across to fell the full back right on the corner flag to save the moment.

Huw Purser almost scored for the Scarlets soon afterwards but the referee signalled a double movement after the big centre had ploughed through to the line.

Pembroke lost influential flanker Sandy Allen with a cut head but Owain Johns proved a good replacement as he was soon winning ball on the ground alongside Darren Wilson and Steve Dyde.

The Scarlets finally took the lead after 24 minutes when Phil Williams chipped ahead but the outside half was adjudged to have been body-checked and he picked himself up to slot the simple penalty.

In a good period for Pembroke they appeared to add a try after ubiquitous scrum half Vyv Davies had sniped up the right touch-line and chipped through.

Steve Lewis had cleverly followed up and kicked ahead. Davies followed up to gain the touch down but referee Harwood decided that the No 9 was offside.

Pembroke survived some intense Llangwm pressure towards half time as Graham Badham and Neil looked to bring Andrew Williams into the line, with Andrew Phillips, Anthony Davies and Simon Brick heavily involved.

But the Scarlets kept their line intact and just on the interval added a second three-pointer as Phil Williams swung the ball in well to notch his second penalty.

The Scarlets made the best possible start after the interval as Williams launched a big cross-field 'bomb' and Steve Lewis showed his cricket skills with a clean catch before releasing winger Gareth Lewis on a run to the line for an unconverted try.

It says much for the Wasps that they refused to buckle and midway through the period their efforts were rewarded as Carl Rees and Whitticombe set up a platform ad centre Neil showed his power as he crashed through for a try which Francis converted.

At 11-7 it was anyone's game but with the Pembroke tight five of Richard Mason, Gareth Jones and skipper Richard Morris, supported by Dai Beynon and Martin Goodrick, looking as strong as ever the visitors managed to gain a foothold in Llangwm territory.

Wasps' full back Andrew Williams elected to chip the ball over the converging Pembroke cover but only managed to plant it into Vyv Davies' bread-basket for the scrum half to complete a soft try at the posts with a spectacular roll.

Williams converted and notched a penalty with minutes' remaining and the win consolidated the Scarlets' position at the top, to the evident satisfaction of coach Ossie Boswell and his team manager Dillwyn Williams.

But it was a cracking display by Llangwm that will prove some consolation for Alan McClelland's growing band of good players, who know that if they play like this for the rest of the campaign they could still join the Scarlets in Division Four (West) next season.

Llangwm were sponsored by the Farm Shop, Merlins Bridge.