This inspirational performance was led by former Welsh international Jenny Davies of Coleg Menai along with WRU and Scarlets Ladies coach Daryl Morgan. The squad was made up of players from five Welsh colleges, Coleg Sir Gar, Coleg Y Cymoedd, Bridgend College, Pembrokeshire college and NPTC Group.
The Welsh girls got their defence of the ground in the best possible way, running in eight tries without reply against South East England. Leading the charge with a hat-trick of tries was the impressive Keyleigh Powell of Bridgend College.
Any thoughts that the tournament was going to be easy were soon dispelled in round 2 against a tough and uncompromising Yorkshire outfit. In a fiery encounter the Northern English girls’ aggressive and physical brand of rugby looked to unsettle the Welsh team, but to their credit the girls in red maintained their composure to eventually run out winners 20-10. Cymoedd outside half India Berbillion grabbing a brace of tries.
Normal service was resumed for the Welsh team in round three as they demonstrated the class by putting South West to the sword, outscoring them by 8 tries to 1 to record a 44-5 victory and go into the midway break unbeaten.
A lack of concentration and possibly some complacency on the part of the Welsh squad saw them falter in round 4 against a vastly improved South East team. The Southern English girls launched into their counterparts from the start running up a 17-5 half time lead with the solitary Welsh try coming from Pembrokeshire College flier Katie Thicker. To their credit, the Welsh girls fought back to level the game in the second half, but a break away try by South East removed any chance of a remarkable come back on the part of Welsh colleges.
Injury and fatigue were taking their toll on all of the squads and no more so than the Welsh contingent as they went into the rematch with Yorkshire. After an early score by NPTC’s Hannah Jones, The Welsh dominated possession and territory, but some poor decision making allowed Yorkshire back into the game to take a 7-5 half time lead. Coleg Sir Gar’s Carys Lloyd restored the Welsh lead only for Yorkshire to hit back immediately with a converted try to lead by 14-12 going into the final minute. The Welsh girls gathered the kick off, slick interplay eventually saw NPTC’s Jasmine Hare put clear to race in from 60 meters to score under the posts with the final play of the game. Hare adding the extras herself to give Welsh Colleges a 19-14 win.
When South West England failed to appear on the pitch for the final round of games, Welsh Colleges were awarded a 20-0 walk over victory, which secured their historic 8th consecutive title.
An ecstatic Jenny Davies said, “Daryl and I are extremely proud of the girls, they demonstrated some excellent phases of rugby and performed at a high standard. The girls were a pleasure to coach and were positive throughout the day. The standard of rugby is improving and all teams demonstrated composure and scored some exciting tries but also put some big hits in. It was a privilege to be involved with this talented group of individuals and I’m certain that some of them will go onto represent Wales. The development of rugby in Wales is looking promising”.
“The players have been fantastic throughout the programme. Their willingness to learn and adapt to any given situation along with their determination and composure under pressure was the difference today, and allowed them to achieve this incredible feat. They have been a credit to themselves, their colleges and Womens rugby in Wales”, added Morgan.
