FIRST XV

Pembroke travelled to Llangwm, on a rainy, windless day, to be greeted by heavy conditions underfoot, difficult handling conditions and a home team determined to avoid a repeat of the very heavy defeat in the last encounter.

Despite knowing that Llangwm were well below them in the league, Pembroke’s players were under no illusion that they would be no pushover on their home turf.

Pembroke started with intent, pressurising the Llangwm line for the first five minutes and creating a few scoring opportunities, which they failed to convert into points due to lack of accuracy.

Then after 14 minutes, from an attacking lineout and driving maul, quick ball saw Harry Owen charge and pass on to centre Tom Kinnear, who put in a beautiful delayed pass to send co-centre Simon Hooper in under the posts; the try was converted by fullback Luke Hartland.

Play then see-sawed for the next 10 minutes, until from an attacking scrum, Pembroke number eight Sam Smith picked and fed Tom Lewis (scrum-half) on the blindside, who expertly put Mathew Lewis into space to score a well-deserved, but unconverted try.

Five minutes later, after more pressure starting on the halfway line, the Pembroke forwards recycled quickly from loose play a number of times, to set Dom Coleman away wide out and he fed on to Mathew Lewis for another excellent try, again converted by Hartland.

With seven minutes to the break, Llangwm lost their hooker to a yellow card, for an offence at the breakdown; this seemed to invigorate the home side, who pressurised the Pembroke line right up until the half-time whistle, but to no avail, leaving the score at 19-0 to the visitors.

Llangwm started the second half very briskly and were camped in the Pembroke half for a good 10 minutes, without being able to penetrate a determined and resolute defence.

Pembroke then made a change, bringing Lewis Davies on at number 10, with a view to him controlling the game with his long range boot, which he did almost immediately as he kicked the visitors deep into the home 22 area. From the resulting lineout, Pembroke’s pack, now dominant in most phases of the game, decided on a driving lineout, which saw Dom Coleman eventually crash over from close in for a deserved try, again well converted by young Hartland.

Pembroke then suffered a blow as young scrum-half Tom Lewis was forced to retire, leaving centre Hooper to take over the number nine duties.

After 25 minutes of the second half, fly-half Davies kicked Pembroke deep into the home 22 again; from the resulting lineout, Will Edwards secured ball and Dom Coleman crashed over following a concerted drive from the visitors’ forwards. Hartland again planted a magnificent conversion from wide out.

Llangwm, to their credit, never gave up and continued to put up a stout defence in the face of relentless pressure.

With only minutes to go, Pembroke’s number 10 put them deep into home territory and from a resulting scrum, number eight Sam Smith picked up and fed a charging Dom Coleman, who crashed over for his personal hat-trick and the last of Pembroke’s tries; this was again very ably converted by Hartland, who had given an excellent demonstration of concentration and technique in very difficult conditions.

Despite the seemingly one-sided scoreline, which left Pembroke the emphatic winners by 40 points to nil, Llangwm had given a very good account of themselves in what had been a hard fought encounter.

Referee John Griffiths also commended both teams on their effort, skills in difficult conditions and the good spirit throughout the game.

Pembroke’s coaches were more than pleased with a bonus point win, which brought them back into contention at the top of the table and agreed that this had been a good workout prior to playing their old rivals, the Pembroke Dock Harlequins, at home next week.

YOUTH XV

Pembroke Youth’s recent winning run came to an abrupt end on Saturday in very heavy, muddy conditions at Haverfordwest.

The Haverfordwest team began well and scored two early tries in the first 10 minutes after the Pembroke team showed a lack of experience when attempting to play the game in their own half instead of playing the territory game.

After their initial poor start, Pembroke came into the game and after Tom Harding-Jones had kicked the team into a good attacking situation, winger Dan Evans was unlucky to be tackled into touch at the corner flag.

Both teams tried to handle the ball and attack whenever possible in the worsening conditions, but there was no further score in the first half, with Haverfordwest leading 10-0.

The second half continued with both teams continuing to play expansive rugby.

Pembroke had a couple of chances to score after strong running from centres Fraser James and Billy Kinnear. However, they could not break down the determined Haverfordwest defence.

Haverfordwest then scored a further two tries in quick succession after good work at their dominant lineout. No conversions were kicked, leaving the score 20-0.

The Pembroke lads continued to battle in the heavy conditions against a heavier, more experienced Haverfordwest pack, with no reward.

Haverfordwest added one further score right on the final whistle to make the result a resounding win at 25-0.

All players on both sides deserved credit for performing so well in such atrocious conditions and they were all glad to run off into the hot showers.

Under 16s.

Pembroke continued their fine run of form and remain top of the U16s league with a hard fought 24-15 win over Haverfordwest.

The game was played in difficult conditions on the bottom pitch at Pembroke against a huge Haverfordwest pack that were well-drilled and intent on keeping the ball tight in the muddy conditions.

Pembroke’s open running rugby philosophy was difficult to implement, but the team continued to play expansive rugby that saw them score three tries through Curtis Palmer, Harry Turner and Ryan Gammer. There was excellent kicking from the tee, with a hundred percent success rate from Harry Turner (two conversions) and Jared Sherratt (one conversion and one penalty).

The Pembroke coaches were really pleased with the determination, hard work, commitment and defensive work all players showed, putting their bodies on the line to stop a very big Haverfordwest side, whilst the referee commended both sides for their endeavour in difficult conditions.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE

There are not many tickets still available, but they will be on sale in the clubhouse on Saturday.

TURKEY TROT WINNERS and

BOTTLE DRAW

The winners of the turkeys can pick up their birds from the clubhouse on the evening of December 23, starting at 7.30 pm.

The president, Mr. John Colley, chairman Darrell Willington and the general committee would like to take this opportunity to thank the club staff, all coaches and players at all levels, the ladies committee, the many sponsors, all other volunteers (first aiders, etc), the club sports masseus, and all our members and friends, for their continuing efforts and more especially wish them a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.