Haverfordwest emphatically opened their rugby season in the Pembrokeshire Cup on Friday (Aug 29) when they travelled to the Observatory Ground and defeated hosts Milford Haven 28-3.

Games between these two rivals always has a certain amount of needle which came to the fore at times, but it was the dominant visiting pack of forwards and man of the match, Liam Eaton who should take the plaudits, the diminutive scrum half scoring a second half try, one of four for the visitors, in the encounter sponsored by local family company, DSR Batteries & Electricals.

There were several penalty infringements called by match referee, Martyn Rudd in the early exchanges, Haverfordwest full back Owain Roberts threading the ball sponsored by Hadleys Building and Plastering between the uprights with his left boot to open the scoring inside the first ten minutes.

Within five minutes of home pivot Ieuan Davies restarting the Blues scored the first try for an 8-0 lead, which Roberts failed to convert from a wide angle, centres Iestyn Arnold and his captain Jack Evans showed their ball playing skills to create the space for speedster on the wing Guy Barrons to touchdown, the graft of youngsters Kieron Harries and Iori Curtis setting the platform for Eaton to release his back division, Brandon Cooper and Zac Davies themselves doing sterling defensive work for the Mariners.

Both teams settled into a rhythmic pattern which saw them wrestle for territory advantage through kicking exchanges as a duel emerged between Davies, scrum half Dan McClelland and full back Johnny Thomas for Milford and their counterparts, Eaton, outside half Jake Morgan and Roberts. The visitors did run the ball at times, Logan Young given his legs a stretch but he was equalled by opposite number Owyn Griffiths accompanied by his skipper Dan Jenkins and Robbie Jones, the frustration for Griffiths reaching boiling point as the tackles reigned in and he incurred the wrath of Freystrop based whistler Rudd when he decided his fists were of more use than his legs and he spent ten minutes reflecting on his actions which caused the melee.

The home side endeavours intensified, the back row of Zac Davies, Dylan Evans and Scott Buirds combining well, alongside veteran second row Jonathan Fawcett to keep the game ensconced in the visitors 22. The Blues front 3 of Jamie Zambas, Curtis and Terry Lovell found their dominance of the scrum set piece had diminished, from a lineout prop forward Lovell was over eager in the maul, meaning the Blues were down to 13 players as halftime approached, veteran second row Karl Busch using all his guile to muster to mentor his boiler house partner James Hart in the art of defensive play, which kept the scoreline to 8-0.

Within minutes of the second half kicking off, the lead was extended, Zambass and Curtis doing the work which set the platform for Eaton to touchdown, Roberts missing the kick for the extra two points. McClelland guided over a penalty minutes later to reduce the scoreboard to13-3 but with a full compliment of players the Haverfordwest flankers, Devin Williams and Mike Griffiths linked well with teenage number 8, Harries as the set piece was once again stabilised and Eaton became the conductor, Busch driving forward alongside eighteen year old hooker Curtis, before Eaton set up the space for another of tender years, Morgan to extend the lead to 18-3.

Both sets of coaches used their impact players during the final quarter, the game sealed when Curtis touched down and replacement kicker Jack Codd adding a penalty for the game to end 28-3, both sets of players and the large gathering of supporters resoundingly sharing applause for the efforts of all the players, Milford making the short trip to take on Neyland at the Athletic ground next week as the Division 3 league fixtures begin, Haverfordwest themselves on the road over the Preseli Hills, to take on Cardigan at the King George IV field off Gwbert Road.

Match Referee 

Martyn Rudd (Freystrop)

Milford Haven

Josh Palmer; Dylan Evans; Aaron Mayne; Jon Fawcett; Brandon Cooper; Zac Davies; Dylan Moragn; Scott Buirds; Dan McClelland; James Williams; Ieuan Davies; Dan Jenkins ©️; Robbie Jones; Owyn Griffiths; Aaron Cookson.

Impact Players
Luke Ryan; Jordan Davies; Ven Groves; Ethan Aldred; Jordan Palmer; James Trueman; Jonathan Thomas; TR Quinn McGrath.

Coaches
Zac France-Miller; Jonathan Thomas; Jimmy Buirds.

Haverfordwest

Jamie Zambas; Iori Curtis; Terry Lovell; Karl Busch; James Hart; Devin Williams; Mike Griffiths; Kieron Harries; Liam Eaton; Jake Morgan; Logan Young; Iestyn Arnold; Jack Evans ©️; Guy Barrons; Owain Roberts.

Impact Players
Andrew Edwards; Rhydian Watkins; Kai Robinson; Ioan Hawkridge-Jones; Jack Codd; Teifion Owen; Scott Candler.

Coaches
Simon Le-Pettit; Mikey Jones; Matty Phillips; Dan Birch; Steve Williams.

Match Sponsor

DSR Batteries & Electrical

Remaining Pembrokeshire Cup Round 1 Fixtures

Aberaeron v Neyland
Crymych v St. Davids
Pembroke Dock Quins v Whitland
Cardigan v Tenby United

Photo Gallery (click to view in full)