Haverfordwest 38.
Llanelli Wanderers 3.
Haverfordwest bounced back to winning ways as two tries from diminutive winger Mike Venables helped them score six tries and claim a bonus point as reward for their inventive play against Llanelli Wanderers.
The Blues had half-backs Richard James and skipper Steve Williams ever-ready to exploit hard-won possession from the tight five of Dan Miners, Graham Jenkins, Gareth Green, Tom Pellowe and Gareth Phillips, with a deserved interval lead of 26-3 for playing some entertaining rugby where forwards and backs handled well.
It was Llanelli Wanderers who took the lead in the second minute with a simple penalty kicked by outside-half Jeremy Phillips.
But the lead was short-lived as five minutes later the Blues scored their first try when No 8 Dafydd Bowen took a short pass to charge 20 metres to the line for a try which Williams converted.
Williams was the catalyst for Haverfordwest’s second try when he launched a clever diagonal kick which was taken by Mike Venables, who cleverly kicked ahead and won the race for the touchdown. Williams was unable to add the extras but soon made amends when he added the conversion of a try by full-back Robbie Neil after winger Chris Shewry made the initial break and slipped the ball inside for the lurking Neill to strike.
The Blues made sure of a welcome bonus pint before the interval as the ubiquitous Mike Venables latched onto a midfield dropped pass, kicked through and raced 50 metres for his second try so that Williams could add the conversion attempt.
To be fair to the Wanderers they played their part in a lively tussle but were unable to break the home cover and the Blues stretched still further ahead after 74 minutes when a lineout take by Gareth Phillips set up a forward drive from which flanker Richard Brazell emerged with the touch-down for an unconverted try.
Haverfordwest completed a good day for their hardy band of supporters when Shewry again featured to set up the chance for centre Dan Harries to slice through – and Williams converted from the last touch of the match to give the Blues a welcome win.
Haverfordwest: Robbie Neil (Jonathan Venables), Mike Venables, Dan Harries, Jamie Dalton, Chris Shewry, Steve Williams (Capt), Richard James, Dan Miners, Graham Jenkins (Dai Owen), Gareth Green (Tim Phillip), Gareth Phillips, Tom Pellowe, Matthew Lewis, Dafydd Bowen (Dan Devonald), Richard Brazell.
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