The senior team were at home to Burry Port, who had not played here for a number of years. Burry Port’s season prior to the fixture mirrored the home side, having had two wins out of three in the League. Whilst Burry Port are renowned for their tough, abrasive, yet exciting playing style and the home side for their expansive style, both sets of spectators turned up with huge expectations. The weather during the week and on the morning of the game had been very wet, so conditions were overcast, conditions under foot excellent, but the ball very slippery.

Both sides started well, trading incursions and testing their defences. Pembroke’s No 10 Toby Smith put them close to the BP line from a penalty kick, but his pack failed to secure possession. This pattern was repeated three times in the first eleven minutes and the home side failed to make these opportunities count; whilst “Port” demonstrated a very well organised and determined defensive line to keep their opponents at bay. The packs seemed very even and BP’s backrow were showing that they could be a force to be reckoned with. Pembroke maintained pressure and after fifteen minutes, from a quickly taken tap penalty, scored a well deserved, converted try by centre Dan Colley. Port then reversed the situation, kicked deep into home territory, only to lose possession at the critical time and mis a good opportunity. Home full back Hartland, then kicked out of defence, chased hard and forced a error from a Port defender at the loose and up stepped Smith to knock over an east penalty. Back came Port and after a huge surge deep into home territory, the home pack took a strike against the head, moved the ball through the hands only to spill it at the critical time and miss another opportunity to extend their lead; a pattern that was repeating itself from the previous match, in that opportunities were being created but not finished. Yet another potential scoring chance went begging minutes later. The home scrummage was now beginning to develop greater dominance in the set piece, but their backs over eagerness and lack of accuracy at key moments was frustrating for their coaches and the expectant large home crowd. Both teams continued to trade territory, whilst both defences stood strong and some good line kicking by both sides helped to relieve pressure. Then at the end of this very competitive and compelling first half, Port were awarded a penalty on the home twenty two, after a transgreesion at the breakdown and their scrum half Ben Williams coolly converted this to end the half, leaving Pembroke deservedly in the lead by 10-3, but ruing their inability to be more accurate and clinical on so many occasions.

Port then startled the home side by scoring straight after the kick off, after sloppy lineout work, their lively No 8 Dylan Evans, kicked loose ball deep into home territory and from an ensuing penalty, his hooker was sent in under the posts for a deserved, converted try. Pembroke retaliated immediately, forcing a penalty from Port defenders under their posts; Pembroke’s Smith stepped up and gratefully slotted the three points. The game now ebbed and flowed, at a ferocious pace, with both sets of forwards working hard to establish control, whilst both sets of backs showed equal adventure; a true end to end game was emerging in front of a highly charged and vociferous crowd. The after thirteen minutes, after a number of phases and determined work by their forwards, Port released their backs who exploited space wide out on the left and their full back Steff Powell dived in to complete an excellent, deserved team try, which went unconverted and took them into the lead for the first time. The Port forwards had proved very aggressive and physical at the breakdown throughout the match and they continued to thwart the home side on a number of occasions. As the last quarter started both side continued to trade attacks, but with Pembroke’s pack now totally dominant at the set piece Port had to work even harder to keep them at bay. Pembroke were camped in their opponents twenty two for the bulk of the last quarter and battered away at a tiring defence, but they could not penetrate a determined and resilient black-shirted line of defenders. On a very large number of occasions the home forwards and backs created good positions, but lost possession or were turned over at critical moments and so many opportunities to get the crucial score were lost, much to the frustration of their coaches and supporters. The home team continued their relentless assault right up to the final whistle, that saw an elated, yet totally spent Port side take the honours in what had been an exciting, compelling contest, but one the home side and their loyal supporters, will no doubt feel strongly that they could and should have won.

Referee Julian Thomas of Llanelli congratulated both sides on a truly marvellous, tough, well contested encounter. Meanwhile the home coaches whilst very disappointed were more frustrated at their players, as they too felt that their inability to be clinical at key moments had led to them missing a great opportunity to register another home win; they however gave praise to the Port squad for their resilience and doggedness under pressure at the end, which they knew was the deciding factor and eventually won them the game.

The squad now moves on to play Aberystwyth at home next Saturday, in the first round of the WRU Plate competition, KO 2.30pm.

SECOND XV

The ‘Tigers’ played their home fixture, prior to the first team match, against a squad made up of ex-Army personnel that calls themselves the “Cockney Farmers Veterans”. Consequently, the home team had very little knowledge of what personnel and style of play they were going to encounter on the day.

The teams took the field in overcast, rainy conditions, on a very good, grassy surface and from the very first kick off, taken by the Pembroke pack, they signalled their intentions straight away, by moving the ball right across the field to put winger Darcy Langston in for an excellent, unconverted try wide left, with the bewildered veterans looking on.

The Farmers then put together a short period of handling, which saw them push into home territory for the first time. The home forwards gained possession in the loose deep in their half and again showing real adventure put it through many hands, full back James Davies made a decisive break and passed to lock Gosnold, who romped in for another unconverted score.

The Farmers came straight back, using their powerful forwards to gain territory, but their handling of the slippery ball let them down. Pembroke moved the ball from a midfield scrum, put it through many hands again and eventually flanker Jim Brace, after being in the move on two occasions, appeared out wide and was put into space to run twenty metres to score; the try was unconverted.

Whilst the bigger experienced Farmers’ forwards were very efficient in the loose, they could not keep up with the pace set by their younger opponents, who after thirty minutes got possession on the halfway line, moved it through many hands, until winger Daffy Lewis burst through a gap in midfield to cross unopposed.

Two minutes later, again from deep in their own half the home side, Pembroke’s forwards and backs combined well to make it to their opponent’s ten metre line, where they put winger Langston into space and he swerved his way expertly past despairing defenders to score an excellent team try and individual effort, which went unconverted, leaving the half time score at 27-0 to the young, eager Pembroke side. Perhaps the exuberant celebrations of the Farmers during their Friday night reunion had played its part, but their skipper promised a much more disciplined effort in the second half.

The second half did see the older, wiser Farmers try to tighten up their game and push for territorial gain through their bigger pack, but on loosing possession to the younger home side the trend set during the first half did prevail. Pembroke scored early, with flanker Brace to the fore picking up loose ball, making ground, before winger Lewis broke through in midfield, only to generously pass at the line to his co-wing Langston to score his hat trick; this was converted.

Minutes later, the eager home forwards won possession midfield and put Langston in for yet another, unconverted try. Farmers were then reduced in number as a couple of injuries prevented players continuing. Pembroke continued to play an expansive game for the rest of the final quarter, scoring three more tries, two by prop Jamie Brayford and another for unbiquitous flanker Brace, two were converted. In the dying seconds of the game the Farmers got their just rewards for huge endeavour, when they put their loose forward Roper into space and he galloped in from twenty metres to score a marvellous, unconverted try, greeted with loud cheers from all around the ground, to end a well contested and very enjoyable match, with the home side deservedly winning 56-5.

Both captains congratulated their teams and the referee Steve Ford (from Mynydd-y –Garreg) also congratulated the teams for the good spirit and sportsmanship demonstrated throughout the match, then everyone retired for some much needed lubrication. The club Vice Chair John Richards thanked the Farmers for coming to the club and for the very entertaining game, whilst Richard Watts (of local origin) and his skipper Gaz Palmer, thanked the host club for their warm welcome and generous hospitality; they confirmed that their eclectic group had enjoyed the chance to come together for their annual reunion and play together once more.

The Farmers were: Gaz Palmer, Richard Watts, Barry Watts, Gavin Richardson, Gaz Hearn, Fish o’Hanlon, Martin Roper, Jeff Austin, Jim Longhurst, James Tichias, Ricky Paul, Stephen Bidgood, Paul Richardson, Eugene Van Rooyen, Scotty Byrne, Justin Irvine.

In the coming weeks a number of matches are planned against a number of local teams, the full fixture list is displayed in the clubhouse, but could be subject to change. Next weekend they are scheduled to play Haverfordwest away, kick-off 2.30 pm.

YOUTH

Pembroke Youth 50 Aberaeron 0: Pembroke’s youngsters made the long trip on Saturday to Aberaeron from where they returned home with a convincing victory.

For the first time this season, ‘contested’ scrums were enjoyed and the front row of Evan Phillips, Shane Gwyther and Liam Brunton put in excellent performances, with Evan especially leading from the front around the pitch as well.

Pembroke showed some lovely handling skills and this resulted in the scoring of eight tries by Shane Gwyther, Tommy John, Billy Kinnear, Jack Mallitte, James JJ Jones, Tom O’Neill and Theo Davies (2). Kyran Gray converted five of them.

Theo deserves special praise for playing on the wing rather than his usual position of flanker.

Also Dan Grove came on into the front row to mark his debut for the youth team.

Next fixture for the youth team is Whitland away tomorrow (Saturday).

The next two Saturdays will see the squad take on Whitland (venue tbc) and Milford (home).

UNDER 16/17s

Last Friday night the squad played at away in Whitland, against a strong home outfit. After a very entertaining match, which saw players on both sides stand out and both strive hard to take the upper hand, Whitland came out worthy winners by a 14-12 score line.

Scorers for Pembroke were tries by Morgan Watson and Jake Wright, with Morgan also kicking a conversion.

WOMEN’S RUGBY

Now that all of the formalities of registration with the WRU are nearly complete, the ladies are training hard and preparing for their much anticipated, initial friendlies in the coming weeks. The club wishes them every success and hopes that many of the regular and loyal spectators will go along to support them. Matches will be posted and played on Sundays.

150+ CLUB

WINNER

Congratulations to Alex Sherratt on winning the draw and the £500 prize for September.

JUNIOR SECTION

Last Tuesday evening, in quite challenging weather conditions, two well know Scarlets senior players came to the club to give a coaching workshop to a large number of the eager Junior age groups. The children participated in a number of drills and practice routines and learned a lot from their mentors. The Club would like to thank the Scarlets players for making the journey and providing such an enjoyable experience for our young players.