Reigning champions Coleg y Cymoedd gave notice they will be tough to beat this season when they beat Gower College 38-24 at Sardis Road in the first round of the WRU Development Under 18 Midweek League.But even though Cymoedd came through in the end, the star of the game was Gower centre Callum Carson who helped himself to a hat-trick of tries. That helped the visitors cut the gap to 24-19 at one stage in the second half, but Cymoedd hit back with a brace of tries from their front row.
The reliable boot of outside half Cavan Slade was also vital in the home success as he kicked four penalties and converted three of his side’s four tries for a match haul of 18 points. Full back Cole Swannack and wing Eddie Francis crossed for first half tries and then hooker Iestyn Harris and tight head prop Tom Stacey ensured there was no way back for gallant Gower.
The performance by Gower was exactly what the Cymoedd director of rugby, Clive Jones, had predicted before the game as he gave his view on his team’s chances of retaining their title.
“It looks like being a much closer competition this season than last. We were out on our own last season with one of the best school teams with which I have ever been involved,” said Jones.
“Sir Gar have pushed us in recent seasons, but from what I’ve seen on TV there are at least half-a-dozen sides who look like pushing us all the way. Gower College have good a good back line and Pembrokeshire College have some great ball carriers.
“Cowbridge have a very tidy back division ánd Cardiff & Vale College look a very accomplished outfit. It is going to be a highly competitive season, which is what we all want and need.
“The ideal thing is to have eight or 10 sides on a par so that they intensity is there in all the games. We have a few of last season’s side back, including a very strong front row unit of Declan Thomas, Iestyn and Tom, and the captain Alun Lawrence is a real stand-out player for us.”
Coleg Gwent were too strong at home for Cowbridge CS as they ran out 29-13 winners, while last season’s beaten finalists, Coleg Sir Gar, picked up an away win at Neyland RFC against Pembrokeshire College. Their 19-6 victory included three tries, the clincher coming from loose head prop Rhys Davies in the 70th minute.
In the Trophy section of the tournament, Neath & Port Talbot College helped themselves to 10 tries in a 62-0 triumph over Bridgend College. Tiaan Wheeler grabbed 17 points with a try and six conversions, while scrum half Iwan Temlett crossed twice.
Ysgol Glantaf won the local derby 22-13 at Whitchurch HS. Sion O’Brien gave the visitors a flying start with a try
in the opening minute and Dafydd Manley converted.
Kane Teear-Bourge got Whitchuch off the mark with a penalty, but two tries in seven minutes for Glantaf from No 8 Owen Jones and wing Rhodri Skyrme put them in control. Tom Rogers hit back with a try for the home side, cutting the gap to nine points, and then skipper Sion Parry gave Whitchurch hope with a second score that made it 17-13.
Glantaf held their nerve and their third try from full back Ioan Davies made victory safe. It was the second home defeat this season for Whitchurch following the triumph by Cowbridge CS in qualification.
Coleg Llandrillo stunned Newport HS with their opening attack at Newport HS and opened the scoring with a second minute try from hooker Rhys Pomeroy that Armani Roberts improved. But that was as good as it got for the visitors, who then conceded half a dozen tries as Newport hit back.
Pomeroy added a second try after the break, and Roberts added a penalty, but Newport ended up with nine tries in their 55-15 victory. Centre Tom Hoppe and wing Corey Howells both scored twice and other tries came from No 8 Lennon Greggains, full back Sam Dinsdale, wing James McCarthy, skipper and flanker Harri Harding and replacement Reagon Mahony.
WRU Under 18 Midweek League
Cup Competition
Coleg Gwent 29 Cowbridge CS 13 (Ystrad Mynach)
Coleg y Cymoedd 38 Gower College 24 (Sardis Road, Pontypridd)
Pembrokeshire College 6 Coleg Sir Gar 19 (Neyland RFC)
Trophy Tournament
Whitchurch HS 13 Ysgol Glantaf 22 (Whitchurch HS, Upper School)
Neath & P.Talbot College 62 Bridgend College 0 (Llandarcy)
Newport HS 55 Coleg Llandrillo 15 (Newport HS)
Cup Teams
Coleg y Cymoedd v Gower College
Coleg y Cymoedd: Cole Swannack; Eddie Francis, Joe Vickers, Rhys Davies, George Thomas; Cavan Slade, Jamie Hill; Declan Thomas, Iestyn Harris, Tom Stacey, Thomas John, Regan Wilton, Alun Lawrence (captain), Sion Edwards, Jack Perkins
Reps: Nathan Griffiths, Liam Lloyd, Jack Shaddack, James Duggan, Ben Warren, Fraser Hughes, Calum James, Ioan Davies
Gower College: Lewys Edwards; Jake Tucker, Ben Cambriani, Callum Carson, Brandon Wood; James Eynon, Sam Cambriani (captain); Rhys Thomas, Connor Edwards, Morgan Griffiths, Rhys Laugharne, Will Griffiths, Sam Hyde, Evan Budge, Ryan Durston
Reps: Ollie Quick, Rhys Williams, Lloyd Dudley Jones, Dan Pritchard, Max Jones, Rhys Gear
Pembrokeshire College v Coleg Sir Gar
Pembrokeshire College: Osian Edwards; Tom Hughs, Sion Evans, Osian Davies, Alex Varney; Dan Evans, Mark Stobbs; Jimmy Buirds, Lee Griffiths, Kensley Mathias, Mattew Roch, Kieran Allen, Sion Collela, Jon Hill, Scott Buirds Reps: Owain Evans, Thomas Carrington, Matt Iorwerth Scott, Jack Flanagan, Llew Jones, Geraint Powell
Coleg Sir Gar: Harri Doel; Thomas Rogers, Joe Roberts, Scott Lloyd, Gino Setaro; Llew Smith, Glenn Williams; Rhys Davies, Callum Jenkins, Adam Thomas, Kingsley Powell, Lewis Ellis-Jones, George David, Dan Davies, Gethin Davies
Reps: Drew Jones, Garan Williams, Llyr Green, Steffan Richards, Dafydd Llewelyn, Tom Lewis
Gwent College v Cowbridge CS
Gwent College: Duane Thomas; Joel Whitcombe, Deon Smith, Matthew Lewis (captain), David Trollope; Evan Lloyd, Tom Bainton; Nathan Evans, Lewis Ball, Kyan Best, Llewi Maclean, Robert Brookson, Will Griffiths, Caelan May, Dan Sheppherd
Reps: Declan Hill, Jack Gillard, Ben Pugh, Cole Jones, Cobi Edwards, Iwan Burgwin, Luke Shore
Cowbridge CS: Bevan Howells; Harrison Stevens, Max Cunnington, Joe Nott, Jack Roberts; Cai Evans, Ioan Lewis; Owain Leyshon, Will Bryant, Josh Evans, Owain Thomas-Jenkins (captain), Cameron Roy, Ellis Reed, James Holder, Ruben Williams
Reps: Dan Marshall, Cai Jones, James Harrison, Harrison Ashby, Evan Williams
Trophy Teams
Newport HS v Coleg Llandrillo
Newport HS: Sam Dinsdale; Corey Howells, Tom Hoppe, Matt Williams, James McCarthy; Lewis Hopkins, Will Davidson; Jamie Luckett, Ryan James, Josh Reynolds, Will Fishlock, Calum Hague, Liam Derrick, Harri Harding (captain), lennon Greggains
Reps: Luke Keevil-Morgan, Josh Lewis, Luke Yendle, Luc Slocombe, Rhys Jones, Dan Babos, James Barrett, Reagon Mahoney
Coleg Llandrillo: Morgan Kirkham; Peter Jones, Henri Roberts, Armani Roberts, Elis Roberts; Sam Rogers, Iago Davies; Patrick Maguire, Rhys Pomeroy, Shaun Thomas, Joe Bancroft, Robin Williams, Liam Davies, Joseff Powell, Conor Hinchcliffe
Reps: Dillon Edwards, Will Sanderson, Kieron Roberts, Jake Bamber, Tomos Williams, Andrew Mcminimee, Gethin Owen
