Division Three West A:

St Davids 22-71 Pembroke

One game to beat the weather was this clash at St Davids – where title contenders Pembroke continued their charge towards promotion in what proved to be an entertaining 80 minutes given the conditions.

The game was moved to the spare pitch at Fishguard Road due to standing water on the main pitch, but The Scarlets overcame a resilient home side to cross for 11 tries, while The Saints grabbed three themselves.

The visitors played the first half with a strong wind behind them and spent much of the first quarter camped in the St Davids 22, taking the lead when flanker Dom Colman charged over after a series of forward drives.

They added a second when a burst by centre Dan Colley, who would go on to grab four tries himself, set up a close range score for second row Cyle Weatherall.

Geraint Lewis’ men were in the ascendancy at the scrum and their powerful pack then created the third try, pushing the Saints back off their own ball five metres out, and Colman dropped on the loose ball over the line.

But The Saints continued to battle against the elements, and with young forwards Tommy Reynolds and Jack Lewis-Prout impressing in their first league starts, tested The Scarlets with a spell of pressure that culminated in centre Scott James landing three points from a close range penalty.

However, Pembroke soon had their bonus point try when Colman again powered over from 20 metres out and then outside half Toby Smith, whose composed play was a feature throughout, broke from inside his own 22 before giving the scoring pass to winger Barry Alderman-John.

And it was scrum half Tom Lewis who rounded off the Pembroke first half scoring when No 8 Sam Smith shrugged off several tackles on a charge up-field, before popping the scoring pass to the youngster.

Toby Smith, as he had already done with four of the tries, converted to give his team a 40-3 lead at the break.

The Scarlets pressed again early in the second half but No 8 Sam Smith was stopped short of the line, as was Weatherall who was then sin-binned for dissent after being penalised for holding on.

But Pembroke, for whom flanker Rhodri Walters was judged man of the match with a dynamic all round display, did add to their tally when Colley went over out wide - before St Davids were rewarded for their endeavour.

It was James who took a quick free kick and chipped ahead, and fellow centre Moritz Neumann, playing on permit from Tenby, won the race to the loose ball to score.

However, Colley was in rampant form as he crossed for a second try, and then sniped down the blind side from a ruck for his hat trick.

Then Toby Smith, who also kicked three second half conversions to go with his five in the first half, exploited a gap to go over for a try on his way to a personal tally of 21 points.

The scoring wasn’t done there though, and the home side got their second try after a terrific burst from second row Reynolds took him to within metres of the line, and after replacement hooker Steve Griffiths was stopped just short, Neumann picked up and dived over and No 10 Matty Mcleod converted.

At the other end, Colley got his fourth try after a James clearance was charged down – but The Saints had the final word when James himself kicked forward after intercepting a pass in midfield, and won his side a penalty try after he was adjudged to have been impeded by Toby Smith.

That proved the final act of an entertaining and physical contest, with The Scarlets taking home the bonus point win they needed, but The Saints could at least point to another improved display after being beaten 96-5 by the same side earlier in the season.

St Davids coach Matthew Williams: “Pembroke are a very good side but I don’t think the score truly reflects our effort.

“We had periods where we really harried them and forced mistakes. It was a huge improvement from when we played them away in October.”

Pembroke coach Geraint Lewis: “It was a good performance and both sides tried to play rugby. I thought we controlled the ball well in difficult conditions.

“It was nice again to see the depth in our squad, we had a few boys out but 19-year-old Fraser James played well on debut in the centre, and Rhys Mainwaring as well when he came on at hooker.

“And credit to St Davids for doing everything to get the game on.”

Unfortunately, the first half was overshadowed by an injury to Pembroke hooker Max Hayward, who was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle after an accidental collision with his own player. Officials from both clubs have asked Telegraph Sport to wish him a quick and full recovery.

St Davids: Rhys Morgan, Gavin Smith, Moritz Neumann, Scott James, Gabe York, Matty Mcleod, Fraser Watson, Dan Murphy, Noel Lyons, Rhys Price (capt), Tommy Reynolds, Gethin Bateman, Andrew Groves, Anthony Davies. Replacements: Paul Thomas, Steve Griffiths, Will Davies, Jack Dudley.

Pembroke: Luke Hartland, Elliot Evans, Fraser James, Dan Colley, Barry Alderman-John, Toby Smith, Tom Lewis, Seamus Wiseman, Max Hayward, Johnny Palmer (capt), Cyle Weatherall, Will Edwards, Dom Colman, Rhodri Walters, Sam Smith. Replacements: Rhys Mainwaring, Scott Powell, Alex Thomas, Simon Hooper, Ryan Wilkins.