Newsquest Cup.

Penybanc Panthers 7 Whitland Ladies 31

THE first ever Newsquest Cup meeting went the way of Whitland Ladies as they overcame a stern challenge from Penybanc Panthers.

The scoreline failed to do justice to the combative nature of the contest, which saw the Borderettes lead just 10-7 after 50 minutes before running in three further tries in a one-sided last half hour.

Whitland went into the game clear favourites after four successive bonus point wins in the Super Cup – but it was the Panthers who began with greater intent and took the lead seven minutes in.

A period of pressure culminated in centre Brittony Price putting Angharad De Smet in space out wide, and the winger showed impressive pace to skip around visiting full back Jodie Evans to score.

Scrum-half and Panthers skipper Catrin Rees converted.

The same combination threatened again moments later, but this time De Smet was hauled down by the cover defence – before the Borderettes struck back.

The visitors’ scrum was dominant from the outset, and another surge in the Penybanc 22 created the platform from which scrum-half Emma Summons popped a pass to centre Catherine Morely, who crashed over from close range.

Second row Becca Norris was wide with the conversion, but Whitland then took the lead from another set piece platform, as No 8 Angharad Williams picked up from a five-metre scrum and darted over in the corner.

This time full back Evans tried to add the extras but was just off target.

However, the Panthers continued to attack out wide and De Smet again weaved her way through but was halted by a superb ankle tap from Whitland centre Karen Mayze, and Rees quickly spread play to the other wing where Holly Roderick was bundled into touch by the cover defence.

At the other end, Williams came perilously close to adding another Whitland try when she powered through in midfield, but her 40-metre run to the line was stopped by a brilliant cover tackle by De Smet.

But moments later, it was the turn of Williams to produce a try saving tackle, when she dragged impressive home centre Price into touch when she seemed destined to score in the corner.

On the brink of half time, the Panthers turned down two chances to kick three points and go in level, a decision they perhaps lived to regret as the subsequent tap penalties came to nothing.

The Borderettes made changes at the break and it was one replacement, scrum-half Keeley Evans, who sparked a frantic period of play early in the second half when she took a quick penalty and powered into the Penybanc 22. From the ensuing pressure, home full back Jodie Williams intercepted a pass and seemingly raced clear – only to be called back as referee Gareth Daniels adjudged the home defence to have infringed.

Whitland went for the jugular as Evans kicked for the corner, but after outside half and skipper Alice James was penalised for a double movement, Penybanc chose to run a penalty from underneath their own posts.

The move backfired as the Borderettes won turnover ball and prop Sara Davies drove over for a try that Evans converted to make it 17-7.

And midway through the half, more Whitland pressure saw home full back Williams slip when trying to clear from behind her own line, and from the resultant five-metre scrum, the Borderettes again powered forward and referee Daniels awarded a penalty try after the home side halted the charge illegally. Evans converted.

The win was sealed late on by a fifth Whitland try as flanker Natalie Walsh, whose powerful running caught the eye throughout, surged into the Penybanc 22, before the Borderettes spread play wide and replacement centre Jenny Collins provided the scoring pass to Welsh squad member Sioned Harries – who had switched to No 8 after starting the game on the wing.

Evans again converted to complete the scoring.

The fixture will now become an annual meeting between the two sides.