PEMBROKE 29 pts. NEYLAND 22
ESS SAFEFORCE were unveiled before the start of the match as Pembroke RFC’s new senior club sponsor. Lee Skone (ESS representative) and Eifion Powell (long time PRFC stalwart who had celebrated his 80th birthday the day before) presented the players with their new shirts in the changing rooms prior to the start of the match.
After a very heavy downpour early on Saturday morning, which thankfully had little effect on the pitch, Pembroke started their league programme with a home match versus Neyland.
Neyland, under their new coach Steve Martin (returning from many years with Narberth), fielded a young, enthusiastic side, which also contained a few old heads to provide the experience.
Pembroke, meanwhile, despite some absentees, started with a strong XV, which dominated the opening exchanges, maintaining field position deep in their opponents half for the bulk of the first half.
Neyland put up a resolute defence for the first 20 minutes, whilst despite huge territorial advantage, Pembroke failed to capitalise on a number of chances to open their account.
Then the first breakthrough came at the start of the second quarter, when Dom Coleman crashed over after concerted pressure from an attacking lineout; Ryan Wilkins failed with the conversion.
Neyland responded with a try five minutes later, with quick-thinking skipper Steve Martin taking a tap penalty, with the Pembroke defence caught napping, to put their fullback Pat Bellerby in at the corner; the try went unconverted.
In the next 15 minutes, Pembroke asserted their authority and made possession pay. With the forwards rampant, three tries were scored in quick succession, the first by Dai Beynon (picking up in support after a Sam Smith break from the scrum), Dom Coleman (from a lineout drive) and Mark ‘Pello’ Williams (after a driving lineout, pick up and feed by Lewys Gibby at scrum-half). Two of these were converted by Ryan Wilkins.
Consequently, Pembroke ended the half deservedly up on 24-5, which was their reward for exerting pressure on the determined Neyland defence.
Neyland regrouped at half-time and came out determined to up their game. They exerted a lot of pressure and Pembroke’s dominance up front seemed to evaporate, which led to their winger Ben Goodridge scoring an early, unconverted try after repeated pressure on the Pembroke line.
During the next 20 minutes, a rejuvenated Neyland continued to press, whilst Pembroke made a few break-outs, but failed to capitalise on some good combined play, scorning two good opportunities to score.
Then the dangerous Neyland number 10, Ashley Sutton, scored an unconverted try after some good pressure and combined play.
Pembroke, stung by this comeback to 24-15, then scored a well-worked, unconverted try by centre ‘Pello’ Williams, who was set up after a big effort at an attacking scrum.
A few minutes later and with time running out, Neyland broke out of defence and Sutton scored his second try, after jinking his way through a poor Pembroke defence; he then converted it himself.
Very soon after, a tired Pembroke team were glad to hear the final whistle to end up winners by 29-22.
This was a memorable encounter enjoyed by both sets of supporters, with both teams taking positives from their first league match, whilst knowing they have things to work on to improve on their first showing of the season.
After the match, Harry Owen, making an excellent debut for Pembroke at openside flanker, was voted man-of-the-match by the Pembroke coaches, while Luke Dawes was voted MoM for the Neyland team.
Pembroke play Pembroke Dock Harlequins away at Bierspool next week, in the first leg of the league double; this year both teams will be playing for the newly inaugurated Eric Brown Cup (donated by the Brown family in memory of club stalwart Eric), with the winners being the team scoring the highest aggregate points over the two league fixtures each season.