Haverfordwest RFC lost their Division 3 West top of the table clash at their Merlins Bridge ground on Saturday (Jan 3), 18-5 to Tumble, writes Jonathan Twigg, and with the defeat they also lost their unbeaten ground record this season. The visitors now have a seven point lead over the Blues for the second promotion place, although Haverfordwest do have a game in hand, both clubs a distance behind unbeaten league leaders, New Dock Stars.
The game on a crisp winter’s afternoon settled quickly, both sets of backs trying to spearhead into opposition territory where the defensive lines held firm and the ensuing battle on the ground in lose play keenly contested and without respite. Referee Ben Clement from Ogmore Vale marshalled the offside line to allow the game to establish both a rhythm and style, youth centre Liam Hughes combing with the experienced Iestyn Arnold in midfield, scrum half Liam Eaton cajoling his peers onwards and his half back parter Adam Phillips intent to keep the ball in front of his hardworking pack, where openside flanker Ioan Hawkridge-Jones had a fiery input as he was invariably the first man to support the line breaks, where Scott Candler showed a good turn of pace in his attacking intent.
The home side opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes, flying winger Logun Young supporting an electric break from full back Jake Morgan, the ball quickly recycled and Hughes popped a clever inside ball to number 8 Mikey Phillips to touchdown, Phillips missing the conversion from a wide angle.
The next 15 minutes saw a down spiral for the Blues as they conceded too many penalties, veteran full back Steve Hewitt used all of his 42 years of experience to find prominent field position and it was from one such infringement on 25 minutes he reduced the arrears with a 35m penalty. The line out set piece was one in fairness where Haverfordwest jumpers Jake Evans and Jack Clancy, alongside Phillips and backrow forward Dev Willimas held parity against their opposition jumpers in Ryan Williams and Ryan Lewis, it was the ball secured from the throw which proved a problems as their route away was stifled by the tireless engagement from the Tumble backrow unit of Leonard Ellery, Daf Griffiths and number 8 Steff Owen did the hard yards.
A telling facet of the encounter was then how ‘The Magpies’ ability to use the off the top ball and not become strangled at the first phase breakdown, skipper Steff Price and outside half James Owen connoisseurs with ball in hand to open channels, scrum half Iwan Morgan having the vision to set the attack in motion time and time again. The scrum set piece was a problem for Haverfordwest, props Harri Thomas and Garin McPherson-Willimas alongside hooker Daf Humphries having the upper hand over home skipper Dan Berry, fellow prop Jamie Zambas and Iori Curtis between them, the home eight pushed backwards and wheeled leaving Eaton under constant pressure.
It was rich pickings for ‘The Piod’ who had pace aplenty on the wings through brothers Rhys and Aled King and it was the former who touched down for their first try just after the half hour mark, which Hewitt converted from wide out for a 10-3 lead, front row stalwart Thomas held up under the posts by some desperate home defence, Morgan finding centre Scott Jones and his midfield partner Price who released the speedster to touchdown.
Haverfordwest needed the next score to make a fist of the game, also as often happens in tight encounters, Tumble secured the all important score through Aled King, his pace out stripping the cover defence where Price was again the baton twirler in the lead up to the try. Hewitt missed the conversion from close to the touchline, making amends when he turned pressure into points with his second penalty to end the scoring for the afternoon, his black and white shirted troops content to absorb the final hurrahs from the Blues, for whom young outside half Ian Willimas came into the amphitheatre to show some soft hand skills and vision to bode well for the club’s future.
Haverfordwest
Jake Morgan: Iori Curtis; Dan Berry ©️; Jake Evans; Jack Clancy’ Dev Williams; Ioan Hawkridge-Jones; Mikey Phillips; Liam Eaton; Adam Phillips; Scott Candler; Iestyn Arnold; Liam Hughes; Logun Young; Jake Morgan.
Replacements
Terry Lovell; Andrew Edwards; Matty Phillips; Isaac Kelso-Jones; Iafn Williams.
Tumble
Steve Hewitt; Aled King; Scott Jones; Steff Proce ©️; Rhys King; James Owen; Iwan Morgan; Steff Owen; Daf Griffiths; Leonard Ellery; Ryan Lewis; Ryan Williams; Garin McPherson-Williams; Daf Humphries; Harri Thomas.
Replacements
Ifan Samuel; Iago Richards; Joe Collins; Owen Bunford; Jack Morris.
On the adjoining pitch, Haverfordwest Youth lost their encounter with visitors Aberystwyth, 17-12. Both sides endeavours were warmly received by those watching, the visitors having the edge in the second half to ensure the victory. The young Blues tries came through openside flanker Caio Jones before the half time oranges, vice-captain Alfie Thomas slotting a conversion and a late second half try from his scrum half berth.
Haverfordwest Youth
Connor Symmonds; Logan Symmonds; Iassac Mills; Manny Davies; George Luff; Connor Wesley; Alfie Thomas; Thomas Davidson; Caio Jones; Jack Robinson; Ewan Griffiths; Ollie Warlow; Finn Bruins; Harri Evans ©️; Josh Slater.
Replacements
Cruz Findlay; Freddie Goodridge; Tyler John; Lucas Albrey; Harvey Thomas; Iestyn Preddy; Henry Backen.
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