The First XV travelled to take on Dreigiau Emlyn (Newcastle Emlyn’s second string), hoping to continue their run of good form and eight consecutive wins. Weather conditions were favorable and the pitch wet and heavy. The squad was forced to make a few positional changes due to injury, but were confident this would not hamper their progress.
The first half saw the visitors build on previous performances and score some well constructed tries, whilst restricting the home side’s opportunities through some determined defense. Pembroke’s pack were dominant throughout, causing the home side many problems at the set piece and combining well with the backs to build many attacks. The home side were mostly on the back foot for the half, but they did threaten on numerous occasions, their reward s were a good try and penalty, leaving them 8-19 adrift at the break.
The home side raised their game from the start of the second half, putting together some fluid phases of play, which brought them a converted try to narrow the gap. Soon after they were awarded and converted a penalty to bring them within one point. Pembroke responded really positively scoring a well taken, converted try after excellent work from their forwards and backs, to give them a six point lead going into the dying minutes of the match. Pembroke’s intensity in defence had dropped during the second half and their error rate at critical times had too, and both factors impacted on the flow of their game in this half. Then very controversially, with only a few minutes remaining, the home coach declared his team would be going uncontested, which was questioned by the referee; but Emlyn were allowed to go uncontested and from the final phase of play scored a result defining, converted, try to snatch the victory by 25-24 to the consternation of the visiting players, officials and supporters.
The squad are now looking forward to the local derby this Friday at home to the Quins to try to restore their winning ways.
The Youth travelled to Tenby, where they met a mature, well drilled and accomplished outfit that gave them very little chance to get into the game throughout the first half and ten minutes of the second half, when the game was halted by the referee. Despite this loss there were some small positives for the visitors, with some individuals performing really well.
The juniors were performing at home and in Whitland on Sunday morning, with the U12s and u11s winning at home against Whitland and Llandovery respectively, with the U11s breaking their opponent’s long running unbeaten run of 30 games to an end; whilst the U7 and 8 enjoyed excellent games in Whitland, and the U9 losing and U10 winning in Whitland.
Upcoming fixtures include this Friday evening First XV versus Quins at home in the Pembs KO Plate quarter final, winners are away to Cardigan; the following Saturday the First XV entertain Llangwm in the Palmer Cup decider. The Panthers are training hard in readiness for their WRU National Bowl semi-final away to Taffs Well on February 16.
Congratulations to the big annual 150 Club January Draw winners, £500 Keith Nicholas, £300 Barry Gwilliam, £260 Kyle Davies and £200 Matthew Lewis. There are still places available in the draw, anyone interested should see Mary James.
People are very welcome to come to the very popular Thursday Coffee Mornings between 10am and midday and the final Winter Quiz, which will take place on Friday February 21, starting at 7.15pm for teams of 4-6.
The U11s Pembroke and Llandovery squads after a tremendous game that saw the home team play some excellent rugby to win and break the Llandovery winning record.