Monday, 1 April 2013

Swalec Leagues Round Up

Denbigh defied the North Walian weather to move 10 points clear at the top of Division Two North courtesy of a 59-0 hammering of relegation-troubled Llangollen.

With the weather putting paid to a lot of the sport in the region again on the weekend, some clubs were able to get matches played in what will have been a huge relief with the postponed fixture pile-up most are already facing.

They managed nine tries against the visitors, with Dan Jones, the aptly named Jamie Winning and Tom Seddon each grabbing braces. Osian Williams, Liam Arsup-Jones and Dan O’Sullivan rounded off the try count, with Seddon also converting seven of them.

Machynlleth were also big winners – 50-0 over another side fighting the drop, Shotton Steel.

In Two East, Bedlinog stretched their lead at the top to three points as Nelson didn’t play and they etched out a 6-6 draw at Senghenydd, who remain four points behind them in fourth.

Kicking was the name of the game in a match that saw Bedlinog fail to cross the whitewash for the first time this season, and it was a last minute Ian Smerton kick that drew the leaders level to earn a vital point in their fight for promotion.

Two second half tries for Rhiwbina by the prolific Brett Chatwin secured a hard-fought win and bonus point over visitors Fleur de Lys to take the Squirrels into third place.

Jake Chilcott opened the scoring with a penalty, and with some hard work from the forwards they crossed for two first half tries from prop Cameron Neal and No8 Dan Murphy, the second converted by Chilcott.  Adam Greendale replied with a penalty for Flower.

Both defences held secure in the second half until, after a great chip to the corner by Harry Trelawny, Chatwin raced through to pick up and touch down, and Chilcott converted superbly.

Flower’s Ben Papp then scored the visitors’ only try, but it was Chatwin who had the final say, slicing through under the posts to score his second try and secure a vital bonus point after more great work from the forwards, and Chilcott converted.

Elsewhere, Abercynon also climbed above victims Garndiffaith courtesy of a 31-19 victory at Y Parc.

Seven Sisters closed the gap on Builth Wells at the top of Two West to just a point with a 43-18 win over Maesteg Quins.

No8 Alun Jones was the star of the show with a hat-trick of tries, while Daniel Norton, Anthony Llewellyn and centre Kyle Davies added the others.

Crymych were also big winners in the division, running in seven tries in a 51-20 victory over Felinfoel, while Penclawdd also ran in seven tries in a 50-12 win at basement club Haverfordwest. Jonathan Terry grabbed a brace, while hooker Rob Morris, John Hughes, Gareth Evans, Jamie Moore and Chris Corbisiero also crossed.

In Three South West, Pencoed ran out 44-18 winners at Brynamman thanks in large part to Marc Davies kicking 19 points. They secured a bonus point by running in five tries – Gareth Prentiss, Chris John, Scott Narbeph, Ken Morris and Glen Hiscocks being the men to thank for those.

Leaders Trebanos were victorious at lowly Vardre, coming through 18-8 thanks largely to Brendan Murphy grabbing a brace of tries.

The top four all won, with Trebanos and Pencoed joined by second-placed Ystalyfera winning 21-17 at Maesteg Celtic and third-placed Mumbles just edging Bryncoch 24-20.

Amman United remain 10 points clear at the top of Three West thanks to a 20-8 win at Pontarddulais. After forcing a penalty try, Joel Forster and Sean Mangan also crossed to add to a drop goal by fly half Adrian Thomas.

At the bottom, Pontyberem picked up a vital win in the relegation fight of the day, beating Lampeter 30-17. The result moves them on to 25 points, with the bottom two Lampeter and Milford Haven both on 21.

Abertillery BG won the battle of the top two in Three East, triumphing 27-7 at Newport HSOB in a bonus point win that moves them nine points clear at the top. Greg Lane grabbed a brace of tries in the match many saw as a title decider, with Aled Lane and Chris Stevens grabbing the others.

Third-placed Gwernyfed cut the gap between them and Newport HSOB to seven points with an entertaining 46-38 win over Brynmawr. Both sides secured bonus points for tries scored, with the home side’s coming through a Craig Fuller hat-trick, centre Gareth Dodd brace and scores for Lee Hammond and Andrew Hill.

With Rhosllanerchrugog’s game postponed and Wrexham going down 20-3 at Harlech, Newtown opened up a three-pont gap at the top of Three North thanks to a 30-3 win at Bangor.

At the bottom, Holyhead finally won a league game at the 14th time of asking, 34-10 over Benllech, to move within five points of Porthmadog.

Second-placed Pontyclun ran out 59-10 victors over Penarth in Three South East, while leaders Dowlais beat lowly Tonyrefail 45-8, scoring seven tries. David Butler (two), Jim Kelly (two), John Flanigan, Chris Williams and Simon Griffiths were the scorers.

The Swalec Bowl semi-final line-up has now been completed. Cilfynydd set up a date with Fishguard as they overcame Cambrian Welfare 11-6 in their re-arranged quarter-final. Mark Burton scored all their points via a try and two penalties.

In the other delayed quarter-final, Blaenavon set up a date with Wattstown as Jamie Noble and Lee Wright tries gave them a 10-3 win over Penlan.

Pontycymmer ran in eight tries in a 53-8 victory over lowly Taffs Well in Four South East, while leaders Tycroes scored nine tries in a 53-0 thrashing of Betws in Four West. Simon Cooper and Tristan Morgan both scored braces, and Grant Williams, Stephen Roache, Matthew James, Aaron Price and Dean Bromham got the others.

In Five South East, Pontllanfraith’s sorry season continued with a 53-10 loss at Caerau Ely, while in Five South Central, Glyncoch kept up the pressure on Dinas Powys at the top courtesy of a 64-0 home win over Tonna. Daniel Jones scored a hat-trick of tries in an impressive victory, with Neil McGrath (two), John Milton, Mark Rowlands and Peter Cummings also scoring.

In Five West, Swansea Uplands put 14 tries past St Davids in an 80-6 victory at the relegation threatened club. Paul Beck celebrated the birth of his fourth daughter with as many tries, one for each of them. It was also a brilliant day for the Edmunds brothers. Tom (three), Sion (two) and James all scored, with Ian Lewis, Harry Lees, Ben Davies and Jamie Boyle finishing off the rout.

Baglan had an even bigger win in Five South West, 14 tries again contributing to a 103-21 victory at bottom side Llangadog. Neil Gadd bagged five of them, with Dean Wood (two), Rhodri Rees, Daniel Blethin, Dan Gulley, Jamie McLean, Nathan Dare, Sam Owen and Kevin Thomas also crossing the whitewash.

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