Bishop Cup:

Haverfordwest 16 Llangwm 10

Haverfordwest retained the Bishop Cup in quite awful conditions against traditional Boxing Day rivals Llangwm as both teams deserved every credit for serving up some good rugby and total commitment.

The Wasps might be two divisions lower that the Blues but they pushed them all the way and were 5-3 up until the final moments of the first half, when home No 10 Danny Morgan wobbled over his second penalty to nudge his side 6-5 ahead.

With the elements at their back Llangwm also had the better of the third quarter and paid the price for failing to turn pressure into points as the Blues used their undoubted superiority at set pieces to score two unconverted tries that saw them home.

Llangwm made a cracking start as their pack battled into the wind and rain, and provided solid possession from which fly half Luke Brock put in a telling little chip, kicked to the side for full back Joseph Kiff, who put in another clever little kick and won the race for the touchdown.

And the game remained at 5-0 in Llangwm’s favour as they defended superbly, led by Ian Griffiths, skipper James Lewis and Matthew John until the Blues finally got on the score sheet when Danny Morgan just cleared the bar with a penalty.

Jamie Lewis and Dewi Williams both went close for the Blues but the Wasps somehow kept them out until Morgan’s second effort on target from the last kick of the half, put the Blues a single point ahead.

The Wasps had the better of the third quarter in terms of possession as Gareth Fawcett joined the fray with a couple of surges and Kiff again went close with a neat chip up the line.

But the Blues also defended well before grabbing an unconverted try from a series of raids up the right flank which saw Mason plough his way through to the line.

Dan John put in a rousing run in front of the stand for Haverfordwest and from this platform prop Neil Phillips also crossed for an unconverted try to put Haverfordwest 16-10 in front.

To be fair to the Wasps they never gave up trying and they were rewarded with a very late try by Fawcett which left the homesters as winners but with Llangwm having battled throughout to create an excellent Boxing Day contest for both club’s hardy sets of supporters.

After such a hard-fought tussle the Bishop Cup was presented by Haverfordwest president Charles Davies to skipper Darren Salmon and the James Cup for man of the match was presented by Richard James to the Blues’ outstanding back row man Jonathan Mason, who had been chosen by referee Chris Oliver.

Haverfordwest: Jamie Lewis: Scott Candler; Johnny Venables; Dan Birch; Darren Salmon (Capt): Danny Morgan; Lee Summons: Gareth Green; Zac France-Miller; Neil Phillips: Dewi Williams; Liam Brown: Adam Williams; Jon Mason; Ryan Banner. Replacements: Jamie Zambas; Ashley Mathias; Dan John; Dan Birch; Liam Eaton; Dane Pindare; Lawrence Hancock; Craig Barnett.

Llangwm: Joseph Kiff: Jonathan Brock; Steve Inward; Andrew Brock; Rhys Mason: Luke Brock; Ollie Davies: Ben Llewellyn; Josh Davies; James Griffiths: Ieuan Power; Matthew John: James Lewis (Capt); James Gardener; Ian Griffiths. Replacements: Mike Terry; Gavin Jones; Daniel Morgan; Will Beresford; Gavin Bernard; Dan Chesmer.

Referee: Chris Oliver.