PEMBROKE RFC’s first XV entertained Pembroke Dock Harlequins on Saturday in the return of a much anticipated local derby for the first time in five seasons, writes Darrell Willington.
Both squads and their vociferous supporters created the special atmosphere that has always been associated with this fixture. Despite the atrocious rainy conditions both teams served up a real cracker of a match.
The home side repelled an early Quins onslaught during which their No 10 Rogers kicked a penalty.
Pembroke responded with a try by No 8 Walters from a scrum close to the Quins line, converted by Alderwick to take the lead.
The hosts lost flanker Fielding to a yellow card, then Quins lost centre Price to injury before missing a kickable penalty.
The frenetic pace was maintained and Quins squandered a number of real opportunities due to poor handling wide out.
Late in the half, the home side lost prop Phillips to a red card, but held out to lead 7-3 at the break.
The game continued at a high tempo and Quins No 10 scored an excellent individual try from thirty metres, which he converted to take the lead.
Quins then lost lock Scourfield to a yellow card and the home side took advantage, with their skipper prop Davies crashing over after good work by his pack; again Alderwick converted.
The home side maintained pressure and kicked another penalty. Quins responded late, attacking from their own twenty two, but again poor passing cost them a golden opportunity to get a draw in the dying seconds, leaving the delighted fourteen man home side victors by 17-10, in front of the huge crowd.
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