Boxing Day sees many ex-players return and reconnect with their home club, by turning out against the Second XV for the annual Exiles fixture, when the two teams compete for the Jenny Gibby Cup (donated by the Gibby family in her memory).

In beautifully sunny, dry and windless conditions, the two sides played out a very entertaining match, which yielded 11 tries after some exciting and very entertaining open rugby from both sides.

The game was very ably refereed by Colin Kayaks, himself an ex-player, and he complimented both sides on their determination to play a fluid style in great spirit.

The play see-sawed throughout the entire match, with both sides refusing to kick the ball, even when trapped deep in their own halves. The players on both sides were not willing to give way and there was some very resolute tackling seen throughout play.

Both sides scored four tries in the first half, as the result of some excellent forward play and expert handling from the backs. The pick of the tries came from the Pembroke forwards, who after some real slight of hand put old-timer Dai Beynon into the corner.

Throughout the second half, play continued to see-saw between the two halves, but the club’s team managed to get the upper hand, scoring two tries to one and finishing up winners by 32-29, in a very close finish.

During the post-match festivities, both captains were asked to nominate their man of the match; Ben Hughes (2nd XV captain) nominated centre Rob Jones for the Exiles, whilst James Roberts (Exiles skipper) nominated Jordan Evans, who had played centre for the club XV.

The club chairman thanked everyone involved in putting on such an exciting match, the Exiles and club players for turning out, Colin Kayaks for refereeing, the match sponsors (Molson Coors Brewery and a number of former Pembroke players) for providing the after-match refreshments for the players, prior to presenting the Jenny Gibby Cup to the home skipper Ben Hughes, who also thanked his players and the Exiles for such a well-contested game.

Scorers: Exiles tries - James Roberts, Matthew Lewis (3), Rob Jones. Club XV tries - Jordan Evans, Barry John, Dai Beynon, Aaron Williams, Will Edwards and Max Hayward.