A superb performance by scrum half Gruff Jones helped Aber into the semi-finals of the Pembrokeshire Knock Out Cup at the expense of a Fishguard & Goodwick side which led on two occasions but then conceded three quality tries to the Mid Wales’s side midway through the second half. They came when the Seagulls led 13-10 and looked strong up front but then the game took a significant change when Aber were unable to provide a prop replacement and referee Adrian Slade, who had an excellent game, had to call for uncontested scrums.
It took a lot of impact out of the home pack in which young Jac Evans was outstanding, closely followed by Simon James and Chris Shousha, and at this stage Gruff Jones created two tries out of nothing with his skills at the base of the scrum. First he picked up at a set-piece 35 metres out and put in an intelligent diagonal chip which bounced perfectly for right-winger Adam Carvell to score an unconverted try, and then sniped away from another scrum, this time 65 metres from the try line, and supplied the perfect scoring pass for Carvell to race over the whitewash and around to the posts for full back Llyr Thomas to add the extra points. Carvell then turned try creator in conjunction with centre Carwyn Evans so that No 15 Thomas had an easy run to the posts for a quality try which he also converted.
Fishguard did manage to have the final say in a highly entertaining clash when the ubiquitous James and Shousha were joined by replacement Mark George and centre Ben Jones in giving lively prop Owain Rowlands to slide over for an unconverted try. It was The Seagulls who made the brighter start as Luke Freebury, Gwilym Evans, Neil Perkins and skipper Gavin Walsh also played well – and they deservedly took the lead when a period of concerted pressure saw No 8 James crash through for a try which Kial Keane converted.
Aber took a while to respond but eventually managed a penalty from Thomas – and took the lead close to the interval when outside half Connor Pitt put a penalty into the left corner and from a concerted lineout drive it was their skipper and No 8 Lee Evans who was impelled over the line for an unconverted try that nudged them into an 8-7 lead. Fishguard made the better start to the second period and were rewarded Keane landed a penalty – but the taking of wrong options or mishandling saw other half chances go astray. The uncontested scrums were a pivotal moment in the match which helped Aber regain their composure, however, and their 19 points in ten minutes eased them nicely into the last four of the KO Cup! Fishguard & Goodwick: Ed Bendall: David Evans; Mike Jenkins; Ben John; James Reynolds: Kial Keane; Andrew Williams: Owain Rowlands; Gavin Walsh (Capt); Neil Perkins: Gwilym Evans; Jac Evans: Luke Freebury; Chris Shousha; Simon James. Replacements: Matthew George; Mark George; Adrian Squelch; Richard Hunter; Alun George. Aberystwyth: Llyr Thomas: Steffan Rees; Carwyn Evans; Tom Slinger; Adam Carvell: Connor Pitt; Gruff Jones: Matt Roberts; Steffan Bonsall; James Plumbridge: Robbie Parry; Arwel Lloyd: Bryn Shepherd; Jordan Thomas; Lee Evans (capt). Replacements: Rob Sutton; Huw James; Gareth Jones; Steffan Evans; Ifan Thomas. Referee: Adrian Slade (Milford Haven).
MAN OF THE MATCH : JAC EVANS
REPORT BY BILL CARNE OF PEMBROKSHIRE SPORT
http://www.pembrokeshiresport.co.uk
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