PEMBROKE RFC’s first XV travelled across the Cleddau to take on Llangwm in round one for the Palmer Cup, which is played for annually in memory of Ray, a Llangwm man who was a fixture at Crickmarren.

The home side included a number of ex-Pembroke players in their squad, which added a little more spice to the affair.

Both teams started well, with the home side scoring first after excellent work from their forwards.

This seemed to galvanise the visitors and their forwards began to dominate in many phases providing really good ball for their eager backs to exploit, which they did scoring two well taken tries to establish a narrow lead in the first half against a spirited home side.

The second half started in the same way, with play continually shifting between both halves and both sides stressing each other’s defences.

Llangwm kept up the pressure and scored two more tries, whilst the visitors too put together some excellent phases of play, which resulted in more tries to maintain their narrow lead going into the last 10 minutes.

Pembroke lost a player to a yellow card and the home side raised their game and pressed hard for the last 10, but could not break down Pembroke’s obdurate defence, and their solid rear guard action won the day by 17-22, giving their delighted players, coaches and supporters their third consecutive league win and one hand on the Palmer trophy that will be decided later in the season.

The Panthers were away to unbeaten West Swansea Hawks last Sunday afternoon, hoping to maintain their impressive record to date.

The match was a very hard fought affair, with both sides giving everything, but the home side, which included Welsh U20s and a number of Loughborough students proved a very capable outfit and after a match that swung both ways the home side eventually triumphed 41-17.

The Youth were in action last Friday night in Tenby in front of a very large crowd in beautiful autumnal conditions.

The first half saw the young Pembroke squad perform very creditably, scoring some well constructed tries against a strong, more experienced home outfit, who showed their full array of talents to establish a good lead at the break.

However, the home side scored two tries early in the second half that changed the match in their favour and they continued to dominate much of the second half scoring more excellent tries and eventually running out very worthy winners.

The junior section were at venues across the district. The U8s and 10s performed really well, the U9s, 11s, 13s and 14s had wins, whilst the 15s lost at home to St Clears in a tough match.

Four of the U11s performed very well for the county squad last week in Whitland.

The U16s scrum half Dafydd Killian will be playing for the Pembs Dewar Shield squad in Tenby this Friday night versus Swansea in the Dewar quarter final, KO 7pm.

Upcoming fixtures include: First XV v Quins home in Pembs KO Plate, the Youths play Haverfordwest away Friday night KO 7pm and the Panthers have been drawn to play Abergele away on 1 December.

The weekly Thursday coffee mornings continue to prove popular with local residents and other friends and anyone is welcome to come along between 10am and midday.

The first Winter Quiz will take place Friday, 29 November for teams of 4-6, starting at 7.15pm.