A highly motivated squad left Pembroke very early last Saturday morning to travel the four hours to just north of Welshpool, to take on COBRA (Caereinion Old Boys Rugby Association) for a place in the quarter-finals of the WRU Bowl competition. The players’ bus was closely followed by another carrying a large group of excited and expectant supporters, who were determined to make themselves heard at the venue.

On arrival, the players, coaches and supporters were met by a very welcoming COBRA committee. The grounds sit in the village of Meifod, protected by a broad bank next to a tributary of the River Vrynwy in a picturesque valley, surrounded by mixed woodland. A two-tier clubhouse, with a large balcony outside the bar on the first floor, looked down the main pitch, giving a great vantage point for many, whilst the small, metal-clad stand eventually became the focal point for the away supporters.

The teams had never met before and the match did not disappoint, as it turned out to be a typically hard fought cup battle, with no quarter given by either side, which was very ably controlled by referee Mr. Gwion Davies (Anglesey).

The match was played in dry, breezy conditions, on a very good surface, given the recent wet weather, in front of a large crowd comprised of two sets of very partisan supporters, who certainly made themselves heard as the players, who knew nothing of each other’s abilities, took to the field.

The first 10 minutes saw both sides test each other’s mettle, thrusting forward and forcing some very determined early defensive work.

Pembroke, however, established some early territorial advantage and, after some excellent work by the forwards, ball was released to number 10 Toby Smith close to the COBRA line in midfield, he made a break and fed inside to skipper Scott Powell, who charged through a flat-footed defence to crash in for the first, converted score of the game, to a crescendo of noise from the travelling support.

Minutes later, Pembroke were doubly penalised for transgressions in the loose, providing the home outside-half with an opportunity to pop over a penalty from 20 yards out for the home side’s first score.

Soon after, Pembroke’s own outside-half Toby Smith kicked a penalty from 40 metres, after some very good combined play forced an infringement in the loose from the home forwards.

Pembroke continued to apply pressure and play a territorial game, by kicking deep and turning the home defence; then after 24 minutes, a poor home throw at a lineout 15 metres from their own line, allowed Jonny Palmer to make a charge and from the ruck, quick ball was moved wide to centre Sean Dalling, who jinked through the defence to score a converted try, again to rapturous applause from the ecstatic travelling support.

Minutes later, Pembroke were awarded another penalty after COBRA infringed in the loose, but the kick at goal was missed.

At this time in the game the scrum battle was quite even, but the visitors were beginning to dominate possession and play most of the attacking rugby, forcing the home side to defend for large periods.

COBRA had built their sporadic attacks around their centres and fullback, and after 34 minutes mounted a concerted attack, which took them deep into the Pembroke 22 area, where visiting scrum-half Tom Lewis was yellow carded for a red zone offence.

However, to the noisy delight of the away supporters, Pembroke produced a miraculous exit as their forwards managed to wrestle the ball, allowing Toby Smith to clear their line with a kick deep into COBRA’s half.

A couple of minutes later, the rampant Pembroke forwards produced a string of phases and the home number six Chris Morris was given a yellow card for infringing in the loose.

Pembroke retained possession after that incident and a charging Dom Coleman forced his way deep into the home last quarter, where Toby Smith picked up from a ruck, and fed brother, number eight Sam in full flight, for him to crash over through a crowded defence for an unconverted try, accompanied by a frenzied response from the travelling support.

This proved to be the last score in what had been an intensely contested half, during which a confident, aggressive and dominant Pembroke outfit had deservedly built a solid lead 22-3 lead.

COBRA started the second half very strongly and for the first five minutes stretchied the Pembroke defences, making them work hard to keep the home side try-less.

Minutes later, Pembroke broke out of defence and forced a lineout near the home line, only to lose possession at the critical moment and miss another opportunity to score.

Both sides then exchanged a short period of attack and defence, as COBRA desperately tried to get some points.

Pembroke’s determined defence, however, displayed the players’ passionate, unwillingness to concede points.

Then, after 17 minutes, the Pembroke forwards forced a turnover just outside their own 22, scrum-half Tom Lewis picked up, made a break and was tackled, flanker Rhodri Walters picked up loose ball and fed centre Dan Colley, who made a lovely break and fed co-centre Sean Dalling, who swerved past the defence to feed winger Barry John to carry on; he swerved infield wide right and fed Toby Smith on the switch and he dived into the right-hand corner through a few defenders to score the fourth try (and the try of the game for the visitors), which he converted himself, to thunderous applause from the team’s large band of supporters.

Pembroke now made a number of changes as the pace of the game and heavy ground took its toll; Max Hayward came on for Seamus Wiseman at hooker, Cyle Weatherall for Scott Powell at lock, Rhodri Walters for Dom Coleman at flanker and Jordan Gwilliam on for the hard-working Jordan Evans, also at flanker, and Barry John on for Elliott Evans at wing.

COBRA also made changes for the same reasons, hoping similarly to inject some more energy into their performance.

The COBRA team mounted a few sporadic attacks, but these were met with obdurate defence by the visitors, who became ever more determined not to allow the home side opportunities to score a try.

Twenty-seven minutes into the half, Pembroke secured a scrum on the halfway line; the ball was moved right, went through many hands to winger Barry John. who ran well, wide right, evading defenders, who under severe pressure conceded another penalty at the loose. Toby Smith quickly stepped up and took the initiative by taking a quick tap to himself and, after evading a number of defenders, dived over to round off a superb individual effort, which went unconverted.

Minutes later, COBRA, stung by their lack of opportunities, mounted a serious attack and seemed certain to score, but lost possession at the critical moment through some very aggressive defensive work from the visiting forwards.

The last 10 minutes saw both sides strain every sinew to create scoring opportunities, as the game ebbed and flowed between both halves, but through continually, determined defensive work, the visitors’ lead remained intact and when the referee blew for time, Pembroke had secured a thoroughly deserved victory by 34 points to three.

Both teams congratulated each other as they left the field to rapturous applause from both sets of supporters, who had been treated to a good old-fashioned cup battle; referee Gwion Davies, too, congratulated both sides on a magnificent match.

The Pembroke coaches were elated by their team’s dominant performance and the support received on the day, whilst the COBRA managers and players were understandably deflated by their loss, whilst acknowledging the competency, efficiency, and passion displayed throughout the Pembroke performance.

Everyone from the Pembroke side was extremely grateful for the very warm welcome and superb hospitality from the home club.

The COBRA players nominated Toby Smith as their Pembroke man-of-the-match for his very influential contribution and 19 points, whilst Pembroke’s coaches were unwilling to nominate one player to take the plaudits and very keen to emphasise that for them, the whole squad deserved that accolade for their superb all-round performance to claim the win; this was also the overall feeling of the massively influential travelling support.

Pembroke skipper Scott Powell, in his post-match speech, commented on how much the mood and determination of the whole playing squad had been affected and influenced by the effort made by so many people to make the long journey to provide the massively vocal support, which had impacted on them all throughout the whole match.

The Pembroke coaches then awarded Toby Smith the Pembroke Player of the Month Trophy (sponsored by Tim Mable) and bottle of bubbly, for November and December.

Afterwards, the squad travelled to Chester for a celebratory evening, whilst the supporters made the long journey home via a refreshment stopover in Llandeilo.

A jubilant Pembroke outfit now await the draw for the quarter-finals, which are due to be played on March 10, hoping to get a home fixture, having had to battle through away matches for the previous rounds. Thankfully, the only other North Wales team, Wrexham, were knocked out by Deri RFC, so any away game would now at least be somewhere in south Wales.

The senior team has no league fixture this weekend, when the Scarlets will be taking on the mighty Toulon at home for a treasured place in the European quarter-finals, after their recent magnificent win away in Bath.

The weekend after, January 27, Pembroke will be playing St. Davids away, kick-off 2.30 pm. There will be some space on the players’ bus for supporters wishing to travel; anyone intending to travel should contact Nick Shiels, the team manager, in advance.

The first team also have a large number of fixtures to make up. Dates for ‘extra’ fixtures will be posted on the club noticeboard, website and in future reports in this newspaper.

PEMBS KO CUP

SEMI-FINALS

Meanwhile, in the Pembs KO Cup, Pembroke have been drawn in the semi-final to play Pembroke Dock Harlequins away, with the game to be played prior to April 16. The other semi-final is between Aberystwyth and Tenby, in Aberystwyth.

The Pembs KO Cup Final is provisionally booked for Friday, May 11, at a venue to be decided after the semis.

SECOND XV

The ‘Tigers’ will take on Crymych at home tomorrow (Saturday), kick-off 2.30 pm.

YOUTH TEAM

The Youth team have now completed their league programme and they will be taking on Cwmtwrch in the last eight of the WRU National Youth Cup at home on Saturday, February 17, kick-off 2 pm.

In the coming weeks, under the control of the new local WRU GMG (Game Management Group), the Youth teams in our District will be put into three conferences, based on their positions from the pre-Christmas League programme, and will then play off in a newly-created round robin cup competition in the coming months; the fixtures for this competition will be posted on a regular basis in this weekly report.

BLUESTONE CHARITY MATCH

A Bluestone XV will be taking on the club’s ‘Tigers”’ (Second XV) on the morning of Saturday, February 24, kick-off 11 am, prior to watching the Ireland v Wales international on TV in the afternoon.

The game is a charity event in aid of the Bluestone Foundation that donates funds raised through their many activities to local charities, children’s groups and other organisations doing work in the community. Gate entry, proceeds from a raffle and other activities organised by the Foundation staff on the day will all go into the Foundation’s funds.

We hope to see lots of people here to support this very worthy cause and to watch the match afterwards.