Division Three West A: St Davids 20-27 Llangwm

It went down to the final whistle – but it was Llangwm who took five points from a full blooded contest at St Davids yesterday on an afteroon that showcased the lower end of grass roots rugby in Wales.

Unusually for a clash typically low scoring and tight, the 80 minutes yielded six tries, not to mention four yellow cards, but it was deserved bonus point win for The Wasps in inevitably tough conditions as James Lewis, Jonathan Lloyd, Rhys Mason, and Lewis Murphy all crossed.

With a rare win at stake for both teams inevitably the opening stages were intense, and St Davids flanker Josh Strangward burst through early on only to be hauled down just short by the cover defence.

But it was The Wasps who soon took the lead when full back Luke Hayman landed a wide angled penalty – although the home side responded in kind as a spell of pressure led to Llangwm centre Robbie Neill being yellow carded in front of his own posts. Matty Mcleod duly levelled matters with a simple three pointer.

It stayed that way until moments before the break when Llangwm scrum half Ian Griffiths set up an attack which outstanding hooker Gethin Thomas continued – and it culminated in flanker James Lewis going over from close range. Hayman converted to make it 10-3 at half time.

In the early stages of the second period away winger Joey Lewin was also sin binned for a dangerous tackle and Matty Mcleod landed a penalty to reduce things to 10-6, but soon The Wasps took control as No 10 Jonathan Lloyd forced his way over from close range, and Hayman again converted.

A third yellow card though, this time to second row Ben Llewellin, shifted momentum and St Davids got back into it as centre Gabe York cut over from close range to bring the home side back within four points.

But from the re-start Anthony Davies’ men had second row Gethin Bateman yellow carded, and Llangwm took full advantage as a burst from Neil set up a try for replacement No 9 Rhys Mason, and moments later centre Lewis Murphy scored in the corner to seal a four try bonus point for The Wasps.

Still things weren’t done though, and with time running out York finished brilliantly from 40 metres out for a second try which McLeod converted to make it 27-20.

But it proved too little too late as Llangwm held on to a third league win of the campaign, while St Davids at least took a losing bonus point from a hard fought game witnessed by a large crowd at Fishguard Road.

Afterwards, a player collection and further fund raising made more than £743 for the ongoing appeal to support Eliza Scriven The four-year-old lives with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, and her family are currently trying to raise enough money to allow her to have life changing surgery in Bristol called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR).

St Davids: Rhys Morgan, Luke Brooks, Gabe York, Gavin Smith, Mark Wilson, Matty McLeod, Harvey Godkin, Rhys Price, Noel Lyons, Ben Evans, Dan Jenkins, Chris Jenkins, Tommy Reynolds, Josh Strangward, Gethin Bateman. Replacements: Dan Murphy, Will Davies, Anthony Davies, Fraser Watson, Zak Morgan.

Llangwm: Luke Hayman, Joey Lewin, Lewis Murphy, Rob Neill, Ewan Griffiths, Jonathan Lloyd, Ian Griffiths, Dan Breeze, Gethin Thomas, Will Scriven, John O’Boyle, Ben Llewellin, Ashley James, James Lewis, Josh Hicks. Replacements: Rhys Mason, Jason Mock, Gavin Jones, Dan Morgan, Sion Ace.