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Scarlets take a step towards winning Palmer Cup 
 
Llangwm 17 - Pembroke 22
 
Llangwm and Pembroke have for many years contested the Palmer Cup, donated in memory of the well-known family who featured in both clubs, and in this first of the two legs it was The Scarlets who took a five-point advantage back to Crickmarren for the return fixture later in the season, writes Bill Carne.
 
This local derby was played out in front of a large crowd at Pill Parks and both teams were flat-out in attack and defence, as is expected in these local derby games, with both teams having chances before the game ended with The Wasps camped near Pembroke’s try line but unable to penetrate some desperate defence that was well led by Lloyd Davies, Will Edwards and replacement Scott Powell, using his experience as a Scarlets’ skipper over seven seasons.
 
The tone was established from the outset as Pembroke failed to tidy up the kick off and the Wasps’ pack piled in to establish an excellent platform from which prop James Morgan emerged with the touch-down.
 
Harry Makepeace converted and the young No 10 also featured alongside Dan Richards and George James in a number of attacks – but it was Pembroke who responded with a close-range attack from which veteran Jamie Brayford gained the touch-down.
 
Jarred Sherratt missed the conversion but made amends from Pembroke’s second try, which followed a scything run by centre Lewis Davies and ended when back-rower Robin Badham crashed over.
 
But The Wasps had the final word of the half when another powerful forward surge saw several players retain possession well before No 8 Dan Richards ploughed over at the posts and Makepeace converted to extend the gap to two points at half time in favour of the Wasps.
 
As fortunes ebbed and flowed, Pembroke went in front again thanks to their forward power as they set up a lineout drive some 20 metres out and stayed controlled to the try line for Brayford to claim his second try.
 
For some reason Llangwm spurned two kickable penalties and their attacking policy came to nought as Pembroke defended well – and increased their lead with a try by talented young No 9 Josh Greenwood.
 
George James then landed a Llangwm penalty to see his side trail 17-22, which set up a strong period of late pressure where they had some penalties just five metres out but were somehow denied by the Scarlets, to give them a third win on the trot, whilst condemning Llangwm to a sixth defeat in their seven matches.
 
Llangwm:  Breig Matthews: Josh Griffiths; Dan Richards; George James; Elliott Evans: Harry Makepeace; Rhys Power: Joe Newton; Rhys Manwaring; James Morgan: Ashley James (Capt); Jason Mock: Jordan Evans; Jordan Cornick; Dan Richards. Replacements: Callum Jenkins; Matthew Rees; Morgan Rees; Steffan Williams; Jack Roberts.
 
Pembroke: Rhys John: Zach Evans; Jack Nicholas; Lewis Davies; Barry Alderman-John: Jared Sherratt; Josh Greenwood: Lloyd Davies (Capt); Seamus Wiseman; Jamie Brayford: Ethan Brown; William Edwards: Robin Badham; Jack Oliver, Rhydian Eynon.  Replacements: Dan Gosnold; Deryn Williams; Kieran Cookson; Scott Powell.

Joy for The Scarlets, despair for The Wasps

Report by Pembrokeshiresport.com