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On yet another fine day, the Mariners kicked off up the slope against a slight breeze. Laugharne, ignoring reputation showed early promise as they ran at the Mariners but were let down with crucial passes going to ground. But they battled on keeping an even tempo gaining respect from their bigger opponents. Flanker Barry John and skipper and No.8 Carl Smith were always in the thick of the action but they were blessed to have flanker Karle Williams covering and making telling tackles.In fact the whole team put their hands up for the cause and locks Lewis Owen and Tomos Rees were prominent supporting props Gary Jones and Rhys Thomas and lively Tom Waters at hooker. The Mariners are a good settled team and did pose questions as they took the game to Laugharne but the backs were relishing the contest. In the 14th minute centre Tom Jameson in his own half kicked astutely to the corner putting pressure on Milford. The ensuing clearance kick did not go far and with a good lineout take by flanker Williams, fellow forwards props Jones and Thomas and flanker John worked their way into the corner and through a melee of players lock Owen forced his way over for an unconverted try. In the 18th minute the Mariners got their first score with flanker S.Dolling outpacing the cover defence from halfway to score at the posts. Flyhalf L.Broome converted to put the Mariners ahead.

 

From the restart Laugharne worked their way into the the 22 and again prop Jones, flanker John an lead No.8 Smith were in the vanguard. The rampaging Laugharne forwards took the game to the Milford posts and with scrum half Aled Rees got flyhalf Owain Thomas away to squeeze into the corner for an unconverted try. From the restart the Mariners regained their slender lead with flyhalf Broome crossing for an unconverted try. In the 32nd minute with good harrying from wing Gareth Davies, hooker Waters and flanker John, Milford found themselves back in their own half.  Instinctively, flyhalf Thomas using centres Jameson and Ross Michael as decoy runners cut a fine line to cross at the posts for his 2nd try. Jameson converted. From the restart Laugharne continued to take the game to Milford with centre Jameson cutting good angles and wing Davies looking for work. To cap a good half Laugharne went further ahead. From a lineout on the Milford 22 lock Rees towered above everyone to win the ball. Scrum half Rees got his pass away to flyhalf Thomas. With a deft kick ahead through the 10-12 channel Thomas re-gathered the ball to  score at the Milford posts. This try heralded Thomas`s hat-trick and also secured the bonus point. Jameson converted and at half time  the score was Laugharne 24pts Milford 12pts. Unfortunately on half time flanker and talisman John andits the industrious Davies left the field with fairly serious injuries.

 

      Laugharne restarted the 2nd half and were soon desperately defending their lead but in the 51st minute flanker Dolling  picked up in loose play to race to the Laugharne posts to score giving Broome the easy conversion. The bigger Milford pack sensing victory began to pose questions of Laugharne. Flanker Williams tackled valiantly but the Milford juggernaut was difficult to stop or even slow down. Despite sterling efforts from props Jones and Thomas, locks Owen and Rees the Laugharne defence began to fragment under the relentless pressure and in the 55th minute centre D. Sweeny crossed for an unconverted try. With the scores level Milford went for the jugular and using its bigger pack to good effect got themselves into the Laugharne 22. In the 64th minute wing D.Jenkins put Milford back in the lead with a try under the posts. In the 66th minute from the restart Milford secured the all important win with a fine solo effort by flanker Dolling who burst through from his own half to score an unconverted try. For the closing minutes Laugharne continued to battle but can be fairly satisfied with the result, the bonus point and respect gained.

 

Next week Laugharne entertain Pembroke K.o to be arranged

 

Alun Jenkins  Laugharne R.F.C