All credit to Haverfordwest for staging this match between their close
friends and rivals after the heavy rain of recent days.In fact soon
after the kick off the conditions became atrocious with gale force winds
and a down pour. Haverfordwest kicked off with the wind advantage but
the no nonsense approach by Laugharne had them penned in their own 22
for the first 10 minutes. During this period the Laugharne eight set
their stall out with the front row of props Richard Davies and Robert
Jones with hooker Martin Jones gaining the upper hand and driving into
the opposing front row. It was also the timely return of lock Sam Palmer
who made his presence felt. With the Laugharne forwards dominant during
this period they were unlucky to be denied a penalty try. Laugharne
maintained this stranglehold and were finally awarded with a penalty for
a Haverfordwest player straying offside at the ruck. With a difficult
kick against the wind, wing Alistair Chambers slotted over from just
outside the Haverfordwest 22 to give Laugharne a well deserved lead.
Laugharne, having overcome the horror show of the previous week, were
in total control and it was a pleasure to see them maintain their
discipline as they set about increasing their lead. Haverfordwest tried
to play with the limited ball they had through their backs, but it was
certainly not a day to throw the ball about in gay abandon. In the 27th
minute Laugharne increased their lead with Chambers kicking his 2nd
penalty from 35m for a Haverfordwest going offside at a rolling maul.
Haverfordwest did use the wind to their advantage and occasionally
pegged Laugharne back into their own 22, but they were not prepared for
the efforts of No.8 Kevin Pearce and scrum half Adam Davies who combined
well to steady the Laugharne ship. Pearce kept the Haverfordwest back
row on their toes by picking up from the base and driving into the heart
of the Haverfordwest pack and setting up the ball for the rest of his
forwards. Scrum half Davies rallied his forwards and kicked cleverly
when the need arose.
6pts-0pts in Laugharne`s favour was the score at half time.
Laugharne fly half Ross Harries restarted the second half in the
torrential rain and soon had Haverfordwest
pinned in their own 22. When Haverfordwest did escape, they kicked
aimlessly into space and were sent back packing with towering clearance
kicks by full back Shaun Lynch and wing Chambers. In the 50th minute,
Laugharne went for the jugular. After a series of energy sapping scrums,
with No.8 Pearce and skipper and flanker Chris McIlwrick driving at the
Haverfordwest line, they were lucky to survive this onslaught. With so
much pressure from Laugharne, something had to give and eventually from
the scrum. the ball went blind and that man Pearce combined well with
Davies and McIlwrick to cross wide out, to more or less close the game
down for Haverfordwest.
Haverfordwest did rally briefly, driving forward into the Laugharne
half, but the Laugharne defence remained resolute with centres Nick and
Deian Thomas bottling up the midfield and wing Mark Stephenson doing
more than his fair share of tackling. The last quarter also heralded the
welcome return of backrow forward Huw Phillips after a long layoff
through injury and he soon got back into the groove with some good ball
carrying runs. In the 71st minute Laugharne were awarded a lineout on
the Haverfordwest 5m line and with a clean catch by Palmer the ball was
smuggled to flanker McIlwrick and with the classic drive by his
forwards, he was propelled over the line for the final score, to deny
Haverfordwest any points and also for Laugharne to complete the `double`
on them for the 2nd consecutive season.
Next week, weather permitting, Laugharne entertain Newcastle Emlyn at
Wooford field, K.O 2-30pm
Alun Jenkins Team Manager Laugharne R.F.C.
