FIRST XV

The squad travelled to play St. Davids last Saturday in misty, very breezy, cool conditions. The city’s main pitch was deemed unplayable, so the game was played on the reserve pitch, which, whilst it had a longer than normal covering of grass, allowed the match to proceed.

Pembroke made a number of changes from previous weeks, some due to injury and unavailability, which presented opportunities for some squad (including four 19-year-olds) players to get much needed game time.

Pembroke supporters had travelled in large numbers again, much to the delight of the players, who valued their vocal input at games all season. St. Davids, meanwhile, whilst not expecting to get a result against their confident opponents were determined to make it a tough day for the visitors.

Pembroke started the game at pace and after four minutes of pressurising the home defence, a quickly taken penalty by Toby Smith was fed to centre Dan Colley, who jinked past a few defenders to feed a charging Dom Coleman to crash through a packed defence for a try, converted by Toby Smith.

Pembroke maintained territorial advantage and after 12 minutes, a trademark charge from number eight Sam Smith made inroads, he fed Dan Colley on an angled run, which led to a ruck close in and quick ball was fed to Cyle Weatherall to crash in for another try, again converted by Toby Smith.

Sadly, after 15 minutes, Pembroke’s hooker Max Hayward and lock Will Edwards clashed heads and Max fell awkwardly making a joint tackle; the outcome was a broken ankle for Max, who had to be taken to Withybush by ambulance.

Pembroke had not been out of the home half for the first 20 minutes and their pack had already established total control and dominance in the set-piece. After 22 minutes, they shoved the home scrum backwards near their own line and, having taken the ball against the head, allowed Dom Coleman to drop on the ball to score an unconverted try wide left.

St. Davids then mounted a period of pressure of their own and got into the visitors’ 22, where their forwards forced an error in the loose and centre Scott James kicked the ensuing penalty to get on the scoreboard, to loud cheers from their supporters.

Pembroke responded and took the game straight back into the home side’s final quarter; after 33 minutes they forced a scrum, when a clearance kick was blocked and touched down by defenders. Sam Smith picked up from base, forced a ruck and quick ball was scooped up by Dom Coleman to crash through a packed defence for his hattrick, which was converted by Toby Smith.

Six minutes later, a drive in midfield by stand-out flanker Rhodri Walters, took Pembroke to the home 22 line, loose ball was secured and moved down the blindside to Toby Smith, who fed winger Barry John to weave his way over for a great team try, converted by Toby Smith.

Two minutes later, just before the break, Sam Smith fielded the ball from the kick-off deep in his own half, ran 20 metres, fed his brother Toby, who ran 40 metres before offloading to scrum-half Tom Lewis, who ran well to complete a tremendous score, converted by Toby Smith, to huge applause and loud cheers from the travelling support; leaving the half-time score deservedly at 40-3 to the visitors.

The organisation, fitness and pace at which the visitors played the game impressed their own and many of the St. Davids supporters. Whilst despite the score, both sets of supporters also acknowledged the determined and committed defensive work of the home side.

The second half saw Pembroke start very strongly, but failed to capitalise on two well-worked opportunities to score from close in, through their own mistakes and continued, obdurate defence from the home side.

Pembroke lock Cyle Weatherall was yellow-carded for holding on in the loose in one of these attacks. However, after eight minutes, quick-thinking Toby Smith took a quick tap penalty and fed the shadowing Dan Colley, who ran in unopposed close to the posts, which Toby converted.

Then came a huge swing in performance by St. Davids as they produced a period of sustained pressure in the visitors’ half during the second half of the third quarter; from a quick tap penalty, St. Davids centre Neumann dribbled the ball and fell on it to score an excellent, individual effort, which went unconverted.

Shortly after, a huge clearance penalty by St. Davids number 10 Scott James took them to within 15 metres of the visitors’ line, but they lost possession in the loose after a lineout and an opportunity to add to their total was lost.

Encouraged by this, they maintained a period of pressure in the Pembroke half, but were unable to penetrate an equally determined Pembroke defence.

Then after 25 minutes, Pembroke broke out of their last quarter through excellent interplay between their forwards and backs, releasing the eager, charging Sam Smith to break tackles and create space for the shadowing Dan Colley to go in under the posts for another team try, converted by Toby Smith.

Five minutes later, after a number of phases, quick ball was again fed to a rampant Sam Smith, who made a lot of ground and forced a ruck, from which ball was fed to the ever-present centre Dan Colley on the blind side in space, allowing him to run in unopposed wide left; converted again by the accurate Toby Smith.

Four minutes later, Pembroke, again on the front foot, took a quick tap penalty on the halfway line, retained the ball through a number of phases, releasing winger Elliott Evans to make ground and offload to Toby Smith to go over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Minutes later, St. Davids, who had been under the cosh for a lot of the final quarter, mounted a concerted attack, which saw them release quick ball from the loose near the visitors’ line for centre Neumann to crash through a packed defence for an excellent try, greeted by respectful applause from both sets of supporters; this was converted by Scott James.

Pembroke completed their scoring after 38 minutes, with another team try, created after some very good inter-play between forwards and backs, which forced space for Dan Colley to go over for his fifth try wide left; this went unconverted.

Not to be outdone, the home side, mounted a surge of their own in the final minutes; their backs intercepted a Pembroke attack and kicked ahead, deep into the visitors’ territory; a foot race developed between Scott James and Toby Smith for the touchdown. However, Smith was clearly held back by James just prior to minoring the ball. But to the amazement of the Pembroke coaches and spectators in that area of the ground, the young referee awarded a penalty try to St. Davids and a yellow card to Smith, as he judged that Smith had held James back in the chase! Thus leaving a bemused Pembroke support and an ecstatic home crowd reflecting on the final score, which showed a deserved win for the visitors by 71-22, in what had been a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining match

Flanker Rhodri Walters was deservedly named man-of-the-match for the visitors, which was totally endorsed by the travelling support, for his immense contribution throughout the game, despite a number of other eye-catching personal performances from his team-mates.

St. Davids, meanwhile, named their captain Rhys Price and Tommy Reynolds as their joint men-of-the-match for their leadership and determined work under pressure, respectively.

Despite the final scoreline, the visiting coaches and travelling support were also very quick to congratulate and credit the whole St. Davids outfit for their commitment, determined defensive work and never-say-die attitude throughout the whole match.

The Senior XV have a week off for the Wales v Scotland weekend, but then play Llangwm at home on February 10, kick-off 2 pm, prior to the England v Wales match, which can be watched on the many screens inside the clubhouse.

The Aberaeron home game, scheduled for February 17, will now be played away on this day, to allow the Youth to play their WRU National Cup quarter-final at home, kick-off 2 pm. The next fixture will then be March 3 away at Haverfordwest, kick-off 2.30 pm.

There will be room on team buses for away games if supporters wish to travel, but please notify team manager Nick Shiels in advance of travel.

Other league fixtures which have been rearranged include, April 7 - Cardigan (home), April 14 - Laugharne (home) and April 21 - Aberaeron (home), all kicking-off at 2.30 pm.

Pembroke will face Deri at home in the quarter-final of the WRU Bowl on Saturday, March 10, kick-off 2 pm, when a large crowd will be expected to cheer on the local lads as they attempt to reach the semi-final for the very first time. The semi-final is on the last weekend in March on the 31st, whilst the final of the WRU Bowl has been moved from its original date to Sunday, April 29.

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 holders Tenby United, who met in last year’s final.

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’ are due to play Milford away tonight (Friday), kick-off 7 pm. Supporters wanting to travel should call the clubhouse to confirm that this fixture is taking place. There will be no team bus.

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 funds.

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

YOUTH SECTION

The Youth have had a couple of weeks off, whilst other teams have completed their league fixtures.

Recently, the new Pembs GMG group met and put the local teams into three Conferences, the top section will play for the Cup, the middle for the Plate and the lower for the Bowl (as WRU National Leagues do at present).

Pembroke have been placed in the middle tier after their league programme performances. Whitland, Neyland and Aberaeron have also been added to this same tier. In the months to come, the teams will play home and away to decide the eventual trophy winners.

The Youth will be playing Aberaeron away on February, 10, kick--off 2.30 pm.

Meanwhile, in the Pembrokeshire Youth KO Cup, Pembroke have drawn Whitland at home in the first round. If they beat them, they will play Fishguard or Quins in the quarter-final, venue yet to be decided.

The club has been drawn against Cwmtwrch in the quarter-final of the WRU National Youth Cup competition and this game is due to be played at home on Saturday, February 17, kick-off 2 pm.

The club and our young team are hoping to see a large crowd there to cheer them on as they hope to make a little history of their own and progress into the semi-final draw.

Prior to this game, the coaches are hoping to get a number of testing fixtures so that the lads can prepare thoroughly for this huge challenge.

The annual Pembroke ‘Monkton Old Boys’ Youth Sevens competition will take place at Crickmarren on Monday, May 7, this year, starting at 2 pm. Teams from all around the county will be taking part, so we hope to see a large crowd to support the teams during the day, when there will be a BBQ and other refreshments available on the field.

UNDER 17s

The eager squad entertained Tenby last Sunday at the Pembroke school pitch, as club pitches were unplayable. The game turned out to be a credit to both sides in testing conditions.

The Pembroke team’s coaches were very happy with the effort that their lads had put into the match; the whole team demonstrated good skills and determined defence against a lively Tenby side.

Both sides made numerous handling errors, but then conditions did make it difficult for both sides.

Pembroke scored some well-constructed tries, based on the hard work of their pack, who forced some excellent turnovers in the loose and forged positions for their backs to exploit.

The team will now play Fishguard at home this Sunday, kick-off 12 noon. Supporters should call the club in advance, as the game might be played at the club or at Pembroke School.

JUNIOR SECTION

The atrociously wet weather of recent weeks has rendered many pitches unplayable across the area. Consequently, this has curtailed the Junior programme to a large degree since the start of the new year, much to the dismay of the eager youngsters and their coaching groups.

In Pembrokeshire, District Junior Cup matches are due to begin in weeks to come, with the preliminary matches to be played on March 4, the quarter-finals on March 25, the semi-finals on April 15 and the Finals Day to take place on May 6 at Haverfordwest RFC.

Our teams have all been drawn away from home to play the following fixtures in the preliminary round, U12 v Cardigan or Llangwm, U13 v Cardigan, U14 v Tenby, U15 v Tenby.

Everyone at the club wishes them good luck in their competitions this season, hoping they can emulate past successes.

150-PLUS CLUB

Congratulations to the following winners of the bumper prizes in this month’s draw:

£500 - Ryan Wilkins; £250 - Elwyn Smith; £170 - David Williams, £100 - Richard Johns.

Anyone wishing to add their names to the monthly draw should see Mary James in the club on match days for the relevant mandate forms.

FUNERAL DATE

The funeral of Diane Ball will take place at Parc Gwyn Crematorium on February 9, at 2 pm, followed by a wake at Pembroke RFC. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.