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Haverfordwest 41 - Llangwm 10

Haverfordwest beat near neighbours Llangwm in this local derby clash with some positive running that will have pleased new coach Steve Barnett – but opposite number Bruce Evans will have seen enough of his Wasps’ team in defeat to anticipate a better season than they had campaign.

Indeed, Llangwm made a decent start where No 8 Josh Hicks made a good break out of defence and minutes later almost scored at the other end after a Blues’ move had broken down in midfield and Wasps’ winger Will Ridge kicked ahead to put his side on the home line.

Luke Hayman, as solid as ever at outside half, opened the scoring with a penalty but the lead was to be short-lived as The Blues used their pacy backs to carve holes with some slick handling where Lee Summons Adam and Matthew Clark were involved before flanker Jack Clancy scored a try converted by Dan Richards.

Richards, making a welcome return after a year out with injury, added more points with two tries, one of them which he also converted, after good work by hooker Matthew Clayton, Liam Manwaring, Gareth Owen and Dave O’Leary were involved.

Then a touch-line burst from Manwaring  set up Haverfordwest’s fourth try, this time for  Manwaring in support.

But Llangwm kept plugging away as Hicks twice went close from a tapped penalty and there was sufficient pressure exerted that powerful prop Ieuan Power ploughed through for a deserved try which Hayman converted to reduce the home side’s lead to 24-10 at half time.

The Blues’ greater ball-winning capacity and solid defence made sure that they kept a clean sheet in the second half and they also added three more tries via Manwaring, who completed his hat-trick, and skipper Matthew Clark, alongside another Richards’ conversion.

The day was also shared by both teams in wearing training tops in support of ‘Get The Boys A Lift’, the local charity to help youngsters with mental health issues, and even had a joint picture – something that rarely happens in these local derbies!

Pembrokeshiresport.com