AFTER their loss at the Quins the week before, in front of one of the largest crowds ever to witness the local derby, Pembroke RFC’s First XV entertained St Davids, who were playing their first league match of this season.

A large number of Pembroke Former Players turned out and sponsored the match.

Thankfully despite a rough forecast, the weather stayed fair and another good crowd turned out for the first home league match, which saw Pembroke include seven 18-year-olds in their squad.

Prior to the game the RNLI crews from St Davids and Angle had relayed the match ball around the coast to Hobbs Point and then three Pembroke junior players carried and ran the ball from the castle to hand to the referee and team captains at the ground.

The Willington family were very grateful to them all for their time in prosecuting this lovely tribute to the memory of the two lost men. A bucket collection was held at the match raising £335, which will be divided and donated to the Fishermans Mission and Angle RNLI.

The Saints and Pembroke play for the “Willington Slate” over the two league matches, in memory of the two fishermen, who lost their lives in waters around the islands off Ramsey in April 2016.

Saints presently hold the trophy and were very keen to win the first leg.

They started very strongly with Griffiths scoring a try after four minutes, when the home defence failed to claim possession in their twenty two.

Pembroke replied minutes later with a Sherratt penalty and Saints wing Froy kicked another just after.

The game then settled down and both teams traded territory, but failed to penetrate each other’s defences, until in the dying minutes Saints were awarded a penalty close to the home try line and Raymond crashed over to give his side a well deserved 3-13 lead at the break.

The second half saw the home side start well with No 8 Sam Smith crashing over in the corner after multiple penalty awards early in the half.

Minutes later, Saints No 10 Joyce broke clear from his own twenty two and outpaced the defence to score a magnificent individual effort to extend his side’s lead.

The home side dominated territory for long periods, but poor handling cost them on multiple occasions and Saint’s forwards foiled many promising home attacks by forcing turnovers in loose play.

With 10 minutes to go, the home side pressed hard and Smith crashed over from close in for his second try, which Sherratt converted to give his side huge encouragement.

Saints then lost a player to a yellow card, which set up a very tense final minutes.

The home side failed to capitalise on a very late opportunity, leaving the visitors winners by 15-20 in what had been a thoroughly absorbing and entertaining contest.

The First XV have no match this weekend. The youths did not travel to Crymych last weekend, but are due to play Haverfordwest at home this Saturday KO 2.30pm. Panthers are due to play their next match away in Tondu on October 5.

The club was saddened to hear of the passing of long time supporter Lyn Childs (ex Stackpole School Head) a week ago; the thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and close friends.