With promotion to Division 1 West secured after a thrilling win way at Pontyberem two weeks ago, the squad next travel to St Clears to play their final League fixture of this season.

St Clears have not enjoyed their best season and have already been relegated, however, the Pembroke coaches, squad will remove any complacency as they and the supporters know that a bonus point result could yet yield a second League Title, provided that Pontyberem beat rivals Penclawdd the same day; everyone can only hope Pontyberem can raise themselves for their last battle of the season.

Everyone that has followed the squad during the season would like to thank all of the players, who have represented the club with distinction, throughout what has turned out to be another tense, exciting and memorable journey, which has yielded more well deserved success. There has also been a lot of success in other sections of the club and so the annual club dinner in May will be yet another where players, coaches, members and supporters will be able to reflect on and celebrate together.

THE TIGERS

The Tigers travelled to St Davids last weekend to play the home club for the very first time for the “Willington Slate Trophy”. The match was played in memory of Pembroke ex-player Gareth “Spike “ Willington and his son Daniel, who sadly died in a tragic fishing accident off the St Davids coast in April 2016. The beautifully, sunny, very warm Easter weather had continued, so the conditions were perfect for running rugby. St Davids were at full strength, whilst the Pembroke side had a full complement of regular Tigers players determined to rest another inter-club trophy to add to the ones they had already won earlier in the season. A large crowd, including members of the family, club members and many friends had travelled from the south of the County in anticipation of a well fought match. Whilst Spike’s mother and members of the Willington family, and the St Davids rugby club lead by Jack Dudley and President John Williams were well prepared to raise funds for the Fisherman’s Mission (Milford Haven). Prior to the game both the Pembroke Chair Darrell Willington and John Williams spoke to the large assembly in front of the clubhouse, to thank St Davids for agreeing to play for this trophy on an annual basis, to put this special match into context and to point out that this was a celebration of the lives of these two dedicated professional fishermen, who had perished in a stormy sea doing what they were really passionate about. Darrell also thanked Murray Taylor (friend) and the EC Thomas Undertaker’s craftsmen for their assistance in constructing such a unique trophy, which was made from Rosebush slate and Pembrokeshire oak and cherry wood from Angle.

The match was a very exciting affair, with both sides willing to spread the ball wide from the outset. Pembroke were shunted backwards in the first scrum, but then settled and their pack generally improved a s the match progressed. Both sides gained solid possession at the set piece and showed some good skills in the back line, with Pembroke’s backs really looking sharp and having the upper hand as the game developed, because their pack supplied quick, clean ball more often in loose play. The game see sawed throughout the two halves and both fully tested each other’s defences. However, the visitors were more clinical wide out, where slick handling and offloading were a hallmark of their expansive strategy.

Once they settled the visitors dominated the scoring in the first half, scoring four tries to one to wrestle a 8-26 lead at the break; there were some excellent tries from Yori Roberts, who finished off two sweeping moves that saw some beautiful offloading an support play, one from livewire flanker Tommy John, who took a wonderfully timed slip pass from his No 10 Lewis Davies close in, and one from fiery haired winger Darcy Langston, who again finished off another excellent team try wide out.

The second half saw the home side make a determined response and the try count ended up at three apiece, with both sides showing genuine ambition, throwing the ball around in flamboyant style and finishing really well. Backs and forwards got on the score sheet for St Davids after some exciting offloading and support plays, whilst for the visitors Lewis Davies finished off a marvellous team try that had seen five people handle and guest Richard Jones finish off two, marvellous team tries, which again had seen many people handle from a long way out. Kicker Lewis Davies ably converted four of his team’s tries. With both sides using all of their substitutes wisely, St Davids scored the last two tries of the match, finishing very strongly, despite the hot conditions, which certainly took its toll on all of the players.

Referee Martyn Williams (Saundersfoot) had a marvellous match and was the ideal character to have refereed this memorial match, as he knew Spike and had a real empathy for the situation and ethos of this match. There was one comical moment in the match, when the Pembroke linesman (ex referee Jonathan Willington) called Martyn’s attention to a knock, but only after play had progressed seventy metres to near the try line; he returned to the spot to call a scrum, but only after a red faced, totally breathless Martyn had recaptured his breathe and was able to actually speak to the teams! Later, he congratulated both teams on a very enjoyable encounter, played in great spirit; this was soon echoed by the many supporters on both sides, who applauded the teams from the pitch. Pembroke’s coaches Tosh Rowlands and Simon Edwards were delighted with their squad’s performance and congratulated the St Davids outfit on theirs, in what they felt had been a tough encounter, despite the final scoreline.

Pembroke: Simon Stanford, Darcy Langston, James Davies, Yori Roberts, Barry Alderman John, Lewis Davies, Rhys Cadogan, Jamie Brayford, Sean Beynon ©, Owain Johns, Harry Dawe, Nathan Rowlands, Dan Gosnold, Aaron Williams, Tommy John. Subs: Timmy SAharpe, Rhys Mainwaring, Richard Jones, Iwan Cole.

After the game, Jonathan Willington spoke emotionally on behalf of his family, Daniel’s wife and children and the wider family to thank everyone for attending the match, which would help to keep the memory of his two relatives alive in the future, their generous nature with regard to the fundraising and to thank the community in and around St Davids for their support in the weeks after the actual maritime tragedy in 2016. In response John Williams, pointed out that as an RNLI employee he had been part of the response team during that time and so had a real sympathy for the deceased and their families, whilst he thanked both teams for a marvellous game, the supporters for attending and looked forward to future battles between the clubs for this unique trophy. Finally, Daniel’s eldest daughter Roxy, presented the Willington Slate trophy to Sean Beynon, the Tigers captain, who had been a close friend of Daniel at a young age and he said a few words to complete the post match ceremony. The host club then laid on the usual generous hospitality for all of the players and visitors, and club stalwart Jack Dudley lead the post match activities by arranging a number of fun games that yielded yet more funds for the Fisherman’s Mission in a marvellously, convivial atmosphere. The players are also very grateful to ex-Pembroke player and ever present club sponsor George John, for his generosity in providing the celebration beers for both teams after the match.

The day yielded £986, due to the generosity of the host club that donated the gate and a sum of £210 collected prior to the day, Spike’s mother’s Raffle and monies donated from a post match auction and the fun games organised by Jack Dudley. Meanwhile a further £147 was raised from the sale of Fisherman’s Mission pin badges, which had been sold by Daniel’s daughters.

The whole family and all of the friends that travelled to St Davids would like to sincerely thank the host club for hosting a marvellous day, their generosity and to agreeing to play these fixtures in the coming years, because it serves to cement the rugby links between these communities and keep the memory of these two sportsmen and fishermen alive.

The BBC Scrum V programme the day after also carried a short piece, that framed the whole event and provided another reminder that the rugby community has the ability to reach out and make a positive contribution in many ways in our society.

WOMEN

The women’s squad are scheduled be playing Porth at home on Sunday, May 19, KO 2pm.

JUNIOR SECTION

With normal fixtures completed, the Junior Committee and club now turn their attention to hosting the annual County Junior Finals Day on Sunday, May 5, with games starting at 11 am. This day features a series of matches between age groups from Under 7 to Under 16s, which showcases all of the talent from around our District. The line up for Finals Day age group matches is as follows:

U7 Quins v St Davids, U8 Fishguard v Neyland, U9 Milford v Neyland, U10 Tenby v H’West, U11 Narberth v Neyalnd, U12 Pembroke v H’West, U13 H’West v Pembroke, U14 Whitland v Narberth, U15 Cardigan v Fishguard, U16 Crymych v Aberystwyth.

Matches on May 5th will start at approximately 11am. There will be additional parking available outside the club’s normal car parking areas, whilst we ask visitors to park carefully and thoughtfully to maximise access, freedom of movement and space inside the ground throughout what will be a very busy day. Entry on the day will be £3, which buys a programme with full details of all matches and the squads involved. The Club wishes in advance to thank all of its Junior section committee and many volunteers for their work in organising and facilitating the day, the many generous sponsors who have underwritten the hospitality for everyone and we hope that the weather remains fine to allow the players to express themselves fully and all visitors to have a thoroughly enjoyable day.