Fixture

On a glorious afternoon in November both sides offered up a serving of open attacking play interspersed with a catalogue of missed tackles and an assortment of general errors which added to the spectacle. Milford won the toss and decided to play up the noticeable slope in the 1st half. Milford are one of the leading sides in the league and soon started probing at the Laugharne defence using their bigger forwards as battering rams. Laugharne resisted this early onslaught and in the 9th minute took the lead. With fine intervention in midfield by wing Gareth Davies the ball was spread wide with quick thinking fly half Owain Thomas in the van. Wing Gareth Spiers got involved in the action who then brought No.8 Mikey Williams to the fore. As he moved towards the tryline he got the pass away to flanker and skipper Carl Smith who juggled with the ball as he scored in the corner. With a fine effort centre Ross Michael converted from the touchline. For the next 15mins or so, Laugharne endured a forward battering from the bigger Milford pack but still they resisted. Finally, on 30mins flyhalf Craig Barnett put Milford on the front foot as he orchestrated proceedings and put No. 8 Mark Wonnacott over near the Laugharne posts. Barnett converted to bring the scores level. But Laugharne are made of sterner stuff these days and in the 34minute regained the lead. Full back Tom Davies broke out of his own 22, conjuring up space for himself as he beat would be tacklers as he made way into the Milford 22. He found centre Michael up in support who took the final pass to crash over near the Milford posts. Michael converted his own try and for good measure kicked a penalty from half way for being impeded illegally as he scored his try. The  Laugharne momentum continued where from a solid scrum on the 22 scrum half Grant Waters got his half back partner Owain Thomas away. Taking the ball at pace he side stepped desperate tacklers as he danced his way to the Milford line. Centre Michael converted and at 24pts -7pts to Laugharne it was job well done for them.

     Milford know their pitch as they restarted the 2nd half and within 2 minutes flanker S.Dolling was over for a try after sustained forward pressure. This score was converted by Barnett. Some Laugharne players may have felt overawed by their bigger opponents as at crucial times they `fell away from tackles` which ultimately cost them. This was borne out with hooker L.Ryan crossing over for an unconverted try on 10mins. Despite the effort of props Rhys Thomas and Ben Lloyd and hooker Tom Waters forming a resilient front row with locks Tomos Rees and Rhys Roberts giving their all,it was an uphill struggle against a heavier and more robust front five. Bringing the scores level at 24pts - 24pts lock A. Smithies scored an unconverted try in the corner. In the 25th minute the deadlock was finally broken by No.8 Wonnacott from a push over scrum. Flyhalf Barnett converted much to the delight of the Milford faithful. It was not all one way traffic as Laugharne centres Tom Jameson and Michael combined with flyhalf Thomas as they probed with some success assisted by the back row of flankers Lewis Owen and Smith and No.8 Williams   In the 30th min Laugharne did get second half points on the board with a penalty from R.Michael. In the 35th minute flyhalf Barnett extended Milfords` lead with a penalty and on the stroke of full time dropped a neat goal to secure the match and prevent Laugharne from gaining a losing bonus point.

 Next week Laugharne entertain Cardigan Sat 3rd December K.o.2-30pm

 

Alun Jenkins Laugharne R.F.C