The senior squad entertained high flying Hendy last Saturday, in beautiful winter sunshine. With the ground in excellent condition despite the heavy rain over the last week, a large crowd were looking forward to some flowing rugby from two sides renowned for their ability to spread play. Both sides were at full strength, with Pembroke looking to create a solid performance and much needed win at home. Hendy’s record to date, clearly showed that they had been consistently performing at a high level, as prior to the match they were justifiably fourth in the League table, whilst Pembroke were in ninth spot.

The tempo of the match right from the start was high, with both sides as anticipated willing to move the ball wide. Both defences were put under strain in the first quarter, during which there was no scoring, because of the solid defensive work by both sides. Pembroke’s young fly half Kyran Gray missed an early penalty chance, whilst his backs put together a number of creative attacks, only to be met by very obdurate defence, which prevented any scoring. Throughout the whole first half, Pembroke’s forwards had established a degree of dominance in the set piece against a very good Hendy outfit and this was yielding lots of possession, which the speedy home backs were using to good effect. Then very late in the half, the home side were rewarded for their perseverance, from a scrum thirty metres out, the ball was taken dwon the blindside to centre Toby Smith, he fed winger Dalling, who in turn fed full back Harding Jones on a long looping run that took him past a few despairing defenders to score a marvellous try wide out; unfortunately the conversion was unsuccessful. The Pembroke side were delighted to have taken the lead and their coaches felt this just reward after so much creative play. Sadly for the home side, they failed to clear their lines from the restart and a clearance kick from a Pembroke defender was charged down under their own posts, allowing Hendy to snatch a converted try and an unexpected lead by 5-7 just before the whistle for the break, much to the annoyance of both Pembroke’s coaches and players.

Pembroke continued in the same vein in the second half, with their forwards producing good ball and the backs causing the Hendy defence real problems. Young Gray, after one such attack early in the third quarter, slotted a penalty kick to give his side a slender lead. During the next fifteen minutes Hendy responded with periods of sustained pressure, with their forwards and backs combining well in what was turning out to be a very entertaining match. The Hendy pressure was converted into points as their very able No 10 slotted two penalties to establish a clear lead. Pembroke however, again through their forwards created territory and combined well with the backs to score another try; from a driving lineout young No 10 Gray produced a pin point cross kick that was gathered by winger Dalling, who went in unopposed. Toby Smith stepped up and coolly slotted the conversion to give his side the lead by 15-13, with just over ten minutes to go in the half, in this very exciting and tense finish to a hugely entertaining match, which had captured the minds of all in attendance. Then with five minutes remaining, the referee pulled up Pembroke’s winger Alderman John, who had a clear run to the line, as he had apparently been given a forward pass. At the resulting scrum on the Pembroke ten metre line, having been dominant all game at the set piece, Pembroke’s front row were mystifyingly penalised and Hendy’s No 10 very coolly slotted a long range penalty to give his side the lead. The tense atmosphere in these closing minutes made both sides raise their levels of effort, as both worked hard to secure the result, which was still in the balance. Then in the dying minutes, at a lineout again on the Pembroke ten metre line, the home forwards were adjudged to have impeded a Hendy jumper in the air, which gave their very able kicker a chance and he again slotted a marvellous long range effort to seal the result for his side at 15-19. As the final whistle was sounded seconds later, the crowd showed their full appreciation for the show both sides had put on, in what had been in the words of the Pembroke coaches, “a real humdinger of a match”.

After the final whistle, the coaches and players on both sides congratulated each other, whilst the Pembroke squad were left feeling a little deflated after playing so well and getting so close to closing out a memorable and much needed home victory. Pembroke’s coaches however, were not despondent, because they had seen some excellent individual performances from their younger and more experienced players, and their Hendy counterparts had been quick to applaud and complement the Pembroke squad’s efforts and their overall performance. In their post match analysis, Pembroke’s players accepted that they had to be more clinical and make more of the many chances that they are consistently creating, if they are to “nail” victories in this very competitive environment. The match sponsors, The Regulars, nominated Pembroke’s No 8 Billy Kinnear as their Man of the Match, whilst the coaches nominated prop Lloyd Davies as their Player of the Month for October, for his consistently high level of performance throughout that time.

Pembroke now play Crymych away next Saturday, KO 2.30pm hoping to gain some points from what is almost a local derby in this League.

TIGERS (Second XV)

The Tigers entertained Llandovery last Saturday, with the weather dry, after heavy rain for most of week and no wind, and the pitch in perfect condition, the day was ideal for a game of running rugby.

Unfortunately, Llandovery had to postpone last week’s game due to lack of players, this week Pembroke had to loan them 5 players, and both sets of coaches were extremely grateful to those Pembroke players, who offered to play for Llandovery. The match was played under WRU Game On rules, with uncontested scrums, because the visitors could not field a front row.

Llandovery had a number of experienced campaigners and this paid dividends in the early exchanges, as they opened up with very direct running from their solid centres and speedy full back. Pembroke also started well and regularly attacked the blind side, but found Llandovery’s defence solid and unyielding. However, against the run of play in the first quarter after the match had seesawed between halves, Llandovery attacked and some weak home tackling let their centre in for a converted score under the posts. Five minutes later, after concerted pressure from Pembroke’s hard working forwards, prop Brayford and his pack moved the ball to No 10 Wilkins, who made a very good break to go in unopposed for an unconverted try. Soon after, home centre Rhys Johns produced an oblique run and cut back inside to score a marvellous individual effort, that was converted by Wilkins. Soon after Pembroke winger Steve Brown scored another, after a Llandovery player had dropped ball; he kicked loose ball ahead and scored wide out. Pembroke’s Yori Roberts also scored soon after, when his No 10 Wilkins had kicked ahead and he won the foot race to the line; Wilkins again converted after thirty five minutes. Minutes later, after a determined build up from the visitors, their centre broke through some poor tackling to score his second try, which was converted by his No 10 to make the score 24-14. Pembroke’s forwards went straight on the attack from the kick off and produced some quality ball, which was used ably to put winger Darcy Langston into space to cross wide out for an unconverted try. Then bizarrely , in the very last seconds of the half, a Llandovery centre went to grubber kick ball out of play, but it hit a Pembroke winger’s leg allowing an alert Wilkins to chip ahead and touch down for a real opportunistic score, which he converted himself to give his side a well earned 36-14 lead at the break.

Pembroke continued their scoring ways right from the kick off; from a scrum, backrow Arran Williams broke blind with no one in front of him and he went over unopposed, under theposts; Wilkins again converted. Not to be outdone, Llandovery then replied with some good build up play and scored a converted try by their centre, after weak Pembroke defensive tackling. Soon after, a marvellous piece of vision and an immaculate chip kick from Pembroke’s No 10 Wilkins, gave his winger Langston a clear opportunity to pick up and dive over for another try; Wilkins converted again to extend his side’s lead on fifty minutes. Llandovery bounced back within a few minutes, in this entertaining and pulsating second half, when after good build up involving forwards and backs, their full back crashed over for a converted try, to make the score 50-28. Pembroke’s forwards continued to work hard to forge territory and create possession and minutes later backrower Arran Williams finished off a flowing move to score, which was again converted by Wilkins. Llandovery however, bounced back again, with more great build up by their forwards allowing their centre space to run in unopposed for another converted score to bring the score to 57-35 in this amazing match. The home side then seemed to relax, thinking the match was won and the visitor’s took full advantage of this lax approach to deservedly score two more very well created tries (one converted) to bring them within ten points. Then young Pembroke scrum half Rhys Cadogan dampened any Llandovery aspirations with a quick fire blind side break, with only minutes to go, to score the final points of a marvellous match, leaving the home side deserved victors by 62-47.

The Pembroke players and coaches were delighted to have achieved a win, despite the side not having been convincing throughout the whole match, where their defensive work particularly had been frail. Llandovery had no complaints and their players had thoroughly enjoyed the contest and were very grateful to the home players, who had so ably performed for them, ie, I. Cole, E. Williams, A. Evans, K.Jones and S.Collinson.

Pembroke team: 15 N Morris, 14 S Brown x 1 Try, 13 Y Roberts x 1 Try, 12 R Johns x 1 Try, 11 D Langston x 2 tries, 10 R Wilkins x 2 Tries & 6 conversions (22pts), 9 R Cadogan x 1 Try, 8 A Williams x 2 Tries, 7 J Fielding, 6 D James, 5 H Dawe, 4 D Gosnold, 3 J Brayford, 2 S Beynon©,1 T Sharpe. 16 A Jeffrey

PANTHERS (WOMEN)

On a beautifully sunny afternoon at Crickmarren, Pembroke welcomed the unbeaten Whitchurch (Cardiff) team, who were looking for their ninth win in a row this season.

Pembroke kicked off and a good chase and tackle by Lauren Morgan set the tone for the day. Whitchurch knocked on giving Pembroke an early a scrum in their twenty two. A long period of pressure and a series of penalties ensued, before the ball was fed to Pembroke’s newcomer Bex Partridge on the wing, to score her first try, which went unconverted to provide an early lead.

A mistake at the kick off gave Pembroke a scrum on the half way line. A series of powerful runs from No 8 Pearl Van Ellis, supported by Isabelle Dufresney and Kirsty Fisher took us into the opposition twenty two, but a knock on at the breakdown led to the first scrum of the day to Whitchurch. The Pembroke pack led by the front row of Kirsty Fisher, Jamie Mosely and Angharad Scourfield drove them off the ball and launched another attack. Whitchurch however, managed to turn the ball over and attacked from deep, eventually scoring a well taken, converted try to take the lead 5-7.

Really good pressure from the kick off, allowed Pembroke to build pressure and field position, which eventually lead after good handling to a first try for Meg Boorman, which was converted by Chloe Jones to re-establish a home lead at the break.

Whitchurch kicked off and showed some serious attacking intent moving the ball and looking for space. Eventually they scored after a long period of pressure to bring the scores level at 12-12. A series of penalties against Whitchurch, which came straight after the kick off, were taken as scrums by the confident Pembroke pack as they developed real dominance in the set piece. This dominance allowed the home team to launch waves of attacks and these eventually led to a well created try for Pearl Van Ellis, which gave her team a five point lead going into the last quarter. Soon after however, the dangerous Whitchurch side scored a break away try, which allowed them to take a narrow lead deep in the last quarter, with only a few minutes left. Pembroke responded very positively right from the kick off; they pressurised the home defence, which lead to a Whitchurch player being yellow carded for persistent off-side. Eventually, from broken play flanker Lauren Morgan seized on a gap in the determined Whitchurch defensive line to force her way over for a try to take the lead, much to the delight of her fellow players and the crowd. Skipper Chloe Jones coolly slotted the conversion to establish a three point lead at 22-19 and seconds later the referee sounded his whistle to confirm the home side as victors.

Pembroke’s players and coaches were ecstatic at achieving a win against their tough opponents and taking their winning record away from them. To their credit, the Whitchurch players congratulated the home side and complemented them on their performance and deserved win. Kirsty Fisher was named Player of the Match for Pembroke, with Rhiannon Griffiths winning the less coveted accolade as Muppet of the Match for her side. After the match, the referee confirmed he would be posting a Code of Conduct complaint against the Whitchurch squad for persistent offside at the breakdown.

Team: Kirtsy Fisher, Jamie Mosely, Angharad Scourfield, Lucy Neale, Emma Taylor, Isabelle Dufresney, Lauren Morgan, Pearl Van Ellis, Gail John, Chloe Jones, Bex Partridge, Charlotte Johnson, Meg Boorman, Carys Slack, Rhiannon Griffiths. Subs all played, Leanne Panton, Abbey Price, Hayley Clark, Vicki Wetherall, Chloe Beynon, Sian Rees.YOUTHPembroke youth made the long trip, north to take on a strong Aberystwyth side. The home side began well using there bulky forwards to batter away at the Pembroke line. However, the Pembroke youngsters held them out with some excellent defence, with particularly strong tackling from prop forwards Liam Brunton and Evan Phillips. Pembroke eventually managed to create their own period of pressure and were awarded a penalty, which was narrowly missed by outside half Jared Sherratt.Aber were then awarded a penalty, which was successfully kicked by their out half Mason Jones. Aber continued to put together some attacking phases, which eventually resulted in winger Ryan Gilmore breaking through close to the posts; the conversion was successful again by Jones, 0 – 10 to Aber. Pembroke responded well and were unlucky, when the referee adjudged a forward pass when skipper JJ Jones scored under the posts. Pembroke continued to apply the pressure and after a series of powerful forward drives by Dewi Roberts, Jon ‘Judo’ Wood and Evan Sheldon the ball was delivered to the backs and Sherratt darted over for his first try of the season. His conversion was successful, leaving the score at 10 – 7 to Aber at the break. As in the first half the Aber forwards controlled early exchanges and after a period of pressure on the Pembroke line Austin Ellis crashed over; the conversion by Jones was again successful, 17 – 7 to Aber. After this Aber score the Pembroke lads upped their game and the forwards took control of the game with the back row of Theo Davies, Leon Stewart and Evan Sheldon involved in all aspects of the game. Good handling from forwards and backs and some excellent tactical kicking from Sherratt allowed the Pembroke forwards to set up a strong platform deep in the Aber twenty two, where quick ball allowed lock Leon Stewart dived over to score the second Pembroke try; the difficult conversion was missed, 17 – 12 to Aber. The Pembroke lads were now in the ascendancy and another try came shortly afterwards, when from another kick from Sherratt, good chasing from winger Morgan Owens and fullback Aaron O’Neill resulted in the ball spilling loose in Aber’s dead ball area and captain JJ Jones pounced to score his sixth try of the season; the conversion from out wide was successful, 17-19 to Pembroke. With only 7 minutes remaining, Aber threw everything at Pembroke and this eventually resulted in a penalty being awarded, which was successfully kicked by Jones. This proved to be the last kick of the game with Aber winning 20 – 19, in what had been a totally absorbing, tense and entertaining match, between two very good sides.Although very disappointed to have lost such a tight match and to have lost their unbeaten status, the Pembroke coaches were very praiseworthy of their squad, whilst acknowledging the solid home performance and win by their opponents.Pembroke’s next match is on Friday 29th at home to Tenby, KO 7pm.JUNIORSLast weeknd there were fixtures played on Friday evening and on Sunday morning, with all sides performing very well against teams from Neyland and Fishguard. The U8s played against Burry Port at Parc Y Scarlets and apart from being excellent ambassadors for the club, enjoyed a great evening at the Scarlets, on and off the pitch.