THE First XV was the only senior side in action last weekend, travelling to Cardigan on Friday night to play their hosts in the new District H organised Pembrokeshire Plate competition.

Both teams had not met for many seasons, because they are presently in different National Leagues, but the home side, under new coaching staff, were very determined to forge a win against their old rivals. The match was played at a high intensity, with both teams playing adventurous, exciting rugby and testing each other’s metal throughout. The home side scored first, Pembroke struck back with a converted try and consolidated the lead with a second minutes later. Cardigan lost a prop to a red card at the end of the first quarter, but this spurred them to score the next try, which they followed by scoring a penalty and another full length of the field try to take a well deserved 20-14 lead. Pembroke built pressure and kicked a penalty; then with eight minutes to go, after failing to finish off a number of attacks, they forged a converted try to take the lead. In the dying seconds Pembroke’s flanker Tommy John executed a superb last ditch tackle to deny the home side what would have been a winning score, leaving his side victors by 20-24, in part thanks to some excellent place kicking by Luke Alderwick, who did not miss one attempt.

Last Sunday’s Panthers home WRU Cup fixture was cancelled as Tondu could not raise a team.

On December 10, the First XV will play Felinfoel at home; the whole day will be a tribute to the late, great Phil Bennett, who was a frequent visitor. Sections of our club will be fundraising in many ways on the day and week following and all of the proceeds will be donated in his honour to a charity nominated by Phil’s wife Pat. The club’s thanks go to the Scarlets who have donated a signed shirt and ball, and to Richard Allen for donating an All Blacks shirt signed by Ardee Savea; both shirts will be auctioned off after the match in the clubhouse.

November 26 is Ladies Night at the club, December 2 there’s a Quiz Night starting at 7.15pm, Dec 4 sees the return of the Christmas Market, which proved such a success last year; this kicks off at 11am. The limited number of tickets for the New Year’s Eve Party, which features two marvellously, entertaining vocalists and lots of music are now on sale at the club bar.

President Dilwyn Williams was recently the focus of a Pembrokeshire Sport website article that chronicled his pride at holding this office after many years of sterling service following his playing career.