Division Two West: Pembroke 27-13 Gowerton

A hat trick of tries from winger Luke Hartland powered Pembroke to a much needed bonus point win over Gowerton.

Centre Dan Colley also crossed twice as The Scarlets notched only their second league win of the season with a performance that will give them fresh hope in their battle to stay in Division One West.

And yet it was the Swansea side who struck first as flanker Luke Davies touched down to put them 5-0 up but just moments after Hartland had his first score, finishing well by the corner flag.

Josh Hamer then rounded off some heavy pressure with a penalty for the away side and then Pembroke lost scrum half Andrew Davies, who has been back helping out since the New Year, to a hamstring injury.

It meant No 8 Rhodri Walters was forced into duty at No 9, but it paid instant dividends as he pounced from a scrum and his 40 metre charge created the overlap from which Hartland scores his second unconverted try.

Leading 10-8, Pembroke then really upped the ante in the second half and from a rolling maul involving back and forwards, it was centre Colley who touched down and Toby Smith converted from the touchline.

Back came Gowerton through a second try from Davies but the home side weren’t to be denied, and a cross field kick from Smith set up Hartland for his try treble.

It went unconverted, as did Colley’s second score when he again got himself into a maul and got the grounding, to leave home coaches Geraint Lewis and Kyle Davies delighted.

“It’s the best squad we’ve had out for a while and in the second half especially we really came out firing,” said Davies.

Pembroke: Dan Colley, Luke Hartland, Tom Harding-Jones, Kyren Gray, Geraint Powell, Toby Smith, Andrew Davies, Lloyd Davies, Seamus Wiseman, Johnny Palmer, Scott Powell, Dom Colman, Will Edwards, Alex Thomas, Rhodri Walters. Replacements: Jamie Kaijaks, Cyle Wetherall, Shane Gwyther, Jack Smythe, Shaun Dalling.