In a change to the format of the competition, the top four sides played each other in a semi-final stage, with the Scarlets beating the current champions the Ospreys 16-11 and the Blues North overcoming the Dragons 5-3.
The Blues North had ended the normal league season joint top on points, wins and bonus points with the Ospreys, with eight wins out of 10 games and only two tries separating the two, while the Scarlets were the dark horses of the semi-finals, having finished in fourth position with six wins out of nine games.
Scarlets head coach Rob Walters said, “With the change in the format of the competition, we were able to give more players more game time throughout the season which helped to develop players. We knew with our best players performing to their potential, we could beat anyone on our day, and that’s what we did in the semi-final. This is our third final in three years and we haven’t won a trophy so far so it would be great to come away with another impressive performance and a win.”
Gethin Watts, Blues North head coach said, “A place in the final is just reward for a lot of hard work put in by the players and coaches throughout the season. The side is strong throughout, similar to the Scarlets side, playing rugby at a high tempo, with all the players able to express themselves. The Blues North were victorious two years ago and to emulate the recent success of our Under 18 squad by performing well and winning on Wednesday would be the icing on the cake, but whatever happens, the coaches and staff of the Region are firmly fixed on developing all aspects of the players’ development.”
Blues North: Shane Hutchinson (Pontypridd HS / Pontypridd); Garyn Smith (Pontypridd HS / Pontypridd), Aled Summerhill (Porth County HS), Sam Edwards (Ysgol Garth Olwg / Pontypridd), Ollie Smyth (Y Pant / Pontyclun); Sam Withers (Mountain Ash CS / Mountain Ash), Shaun Clarke (St John’s / Aberdare); Leon Crump (Tonyrefail / Gilfach Goch), Alex Gibbs (Tonyrefail CS / Treorchy), Dillon Lewis (Ysgol Garth Olwg / Pontypridd), Aiden Luxton (Builth Wells / Builth Wells), Matthew Jeczalik (Tonypandy/ Ystrad Rhondda), Brad Llewellyn (Ysgol Gyfun Cymer / Ystrad Rhondda), Jack James (capt, Ysgol Rhydywaun / Aberdare), Tom Samuel (Builth Wells / Builth Wells)
Replacements: Nathan Mason (Mountain Ash / Mountain Ash), James Smedley (Builth Wells / Builth Wells), Jonathan James (Gwernyfed HS / Brecon), Ieuan Evans (Pencoed / Pontypridd), Jordan Jones (Tonyrefail / Gilfach Goch), Jay Harris (Ysgol Gyfun y Cymer / Ystrad Rhondda), Connor Lawrence (Tonyrefail / Gilfach Goch)
Team management:
Coaches: Gethin Watts, Geraint Lewis, Greg Prosser, Chris Anderson
Team Manager: Nigel Way
Physio: Jon Hill
Fitness: Martyn Broughton
Scarlets: Jamie Evans (Queen Elizabeth High School / Carmarthen Athletic); Joshua Adams (Ysgol y Strade / Pontyberem), Steffan Evans (Strade / Felinfoel), Craig Woodall (Amman Valley / Ammanford), Javon Barnes (Sir Thomas Picton / Haverfordwest); Jack Maynard (Bro Myrddin / Carmarthen Athletic), Gareth Rees (Amman Valley / Ammanford); Javan Sebastian (QEHS / Carmarthen Athletic), Elgan Lewis (Pantycelyn / Llandovery), Cieron Evans (Gwendraeth / Pontyberem), Alex Washbourne (QEHS / Pembroke Dock), Josh Helps (Dyffryn Taf / Narberth), Torin Myhill (Glan y Mor / Burry Port), Will Boyde (Dyffryn Taf / Narberth), George Kenniford (Pembroke / Pembroke Dock)
Replacements: Bradley Davies (Maes yr Yrfa / Pontyberem), Dexter Thomas (Amman Valley / Ammanford), Carwyn Davies (Maes yr Yrfa / Pontyberem), Charlie Randall(Amman Valley / Ammanford), Lee Taylor (Aberaeron / Newcastle Emlyn), David Treharne (St Michaels / Felinfoel), Morgan Griffiths (Dewi Sant / Haverfordwest), Morgan Griffiths (Dewi Sant / Haverfordwest), Iwan Bowen Rees (Dyffryn Taf / Narberth)
Team management:
Head coach: Rob Walters
Forwards coach: Marc O’Kelly
Backs coach: Deiniol Evans
Conditioning coach: Louie Tonkin
