Rugby round up- divisions west
Success for Aberystwyth in Division 1, a narrow win for Fishguard in Division two and a convincing victory for Aberaeron in three.
Division 1
Tenby 17 Aberystwyth 25
Aberystwyth moved further away from the relegation zone following a five try win over Tenby at Heywood Lane.
The Plascrug men who travelled to South Pembrokeshire in a buoyant mood after an excellent win over Gowerton started well and were ahead after only five minutes when Llyr Thomas crossed out wide. Tenby came back hard and were rewarded for some enterprising play, initiated by Ben Pugh when centre Moritz Neumann went over for a score upgraded by stand off Lloyd Thomas.
Aber were next on the scoreboard when from a line out on the opposition 22m line the ball was swiftly spun out to promising young winger Tommy Sandford to touch down in the corner to put the visitors 10-7 ahead before Tenby levelled with a penalty from Thomas.
With the scores locked at 10-10 at the break it promised to be an intriguing second half and so it proved to be with little to choose between the sides.
The start of the second half saw a cutting drive by Dan Binks leading to a fine run by Ian Ellis only to be tackled short of the line. The Aberystwyth pressure continued a few metres short of the Tenby line with a good carry by flanker Bryn Shepherd. The spilled ball led to a home scrum which was poorly cleared and timely gains by Ian Ellis and Matthew Hughes allowed Steff Rees in at the corner for an unconverted try. The Plascrug men added another try soon afterwards when some slick handling put Matthew Hughes away for a touchdown in the corner, the conversion bouncing off the post.
The killer blow arrived with ten minutes to go when following Tenby pressure, which was thwarted by stout defence, the play moved into the hosts half and a forward drive set up captain Arwel Lloyd to power his way over.
It was Tenby though who had the final say when from a close range line out the ball was spun out wide by replacement Billy Truman to left winger Jack Tucker who sped over and the conversion completed the scoring.
Debut making Truman became the fourth generation of his family to play for the seaside club following in the footsteps of Les Truman (1947-1957), Michael Truman (1964-1983) and Neil Truman (1985-2005).
This Saturday Aberystwyth entertain Llanelli Wanderers and due to the afternoon’s Six Nations fixtures, there will be an early kick-off at 1:30 pm.
Division 2
St Clears 18 Fishguard & Goodwick 20
The seagulls sneaked this hard fought win with the very last kick of the match when outside half Geraint Jones slotted over a penalty after his side looked to be heading for a narrow defeat.
Jones was handed the three pointer after Jake Jenkins, a regular with Crymych in division one was high tackled in the dying seconds and his penalty kick was a real stab in the heart for the hosts who were desperate for a win.
It was Fishguard who were out of the blocks first and they opened the scoring with a try by prop Lewis Davies following some efficient driving by his colleagues in the pack but The Saints quickly responded when full back Andrew Phillips slotted over a penalty and then he added a converted try to his tally. The hosts then pulled ten points clear when Rhodri Jones barged his way over the try line
The visitors bounced back with a try from winger Luke Marshall but this see saw game saw the visitors regain the lead when Jenkins sliced through the Saints defence to score a try which was converted by Geraint Jones to make it 17-15.
This lead though did not last long as a late penalty from James Davies gave his side a one point advantage with a few minutes to go. However the drama continued and a late penalty from Jones sealed a late victory for the visitors.
Division 3
St Davids 0 Aberaeron 76
Aberaeron as expected returned from St Davids with maximum points but the Ceredigion side were nevertheless forced to work very hard in defence and especially so in the opening half as the Saints pushed hard for a try.
The visitors made an early impression when from the first kick flanker Gethin Dafis gathered a loose ball and crossed for a try which was converted by Rhodri Jenkins.
The seagulls who these days boast greater strength in depth and especially in the front row gave Matt Roberts and Ceri Dorian Davies their first starts at prop and Roberts crowned an impressive afternoon with the second try. Minutes later a deft pass from Gareth James to wing Rhodri Thomas released Aaron Lewis to cross the line and this was followed by a first of three tries by outside half Jenkins.
Wing Thomas then added to the tally with a move from midway gathering a pass from Tom Slinger and fellow wing Dyfrig Dafis then completed a move from the visitors 22 for a 38 point advantage at the break.
It was much of the same after the restart with Jenkins second followed by scrum half James taking the scoring pass from Lewis Tomlins. The Dafis brothers added their second tries apiece but their attempts for the hat trick failed only to see Jenkins claiming the honour with his third of the afternoon but not before young second row Llyr Davies had crossed for his second of the campaign to complete the scoring. Fly half Jenkins slotted over a total of eight conversions.
Haverfordwest 29 Tregaron 3
Tregaron slumped to their defeat of the season as the Blues ran in for five tries without reply. The hosts who were soundly beaten by Aberaeron the previous week were still without some key players but they managed to cross the whitewash through flanker Ashley George and co-flanker Matty Phillips, no 8 Gareth Phillips, Craig Barnett and second row Karl Busch.
The Ceredigion side battled hard through the likes of Sean Rattrey, Dan Thomas, Steve Roberts and Dorian Pugh showed real character up front for the visitors but their only points came via the boot of outside half Ieuan Wyn Rees with a penalty.
The games involving Crymych and Lampeter were called off whilst Cardigan did not have a fixture.
