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Champs get defence off to winning start

Champs get defence off to winning start

Coleg Sir Gar kicked off the defence of their Welsh Schools and College League title with a 24-7 win over Newport HS at Church Bank, Llandovery last night.

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Full back Osian Knott raced through from 35 metres on the narrow side of a scrum for the opening try in the eighth minute and then Wales U18 international Joe Roberts crashed over for a second five minutes later.

A penalty made it 17-0 and it was 24-0 by the break thanks to a second try from Roberts. Newport HS hit back in the second half with a close-range score from replacement lock Dylan Bartlett and they managed to stop the champions from adding to their score throughout a very wet second half.

Now the attention turns to the rest of the Round 1 fixtures with Neath Port Talbot College hosting Whitchurch HS at The Gnoll and Coleg Llandrillo entertaining Ysgol Glantaf at Parc Eirias (all games kick-off at 2.30, Wednesday, 13 September).

Llandrillo will be looking to avenge two defeats by Glantaf last season and rugby co-ordinator Andrew Williams, who plays for RGC 1404 in the Principality Premiership, knows there will be a different pressure on his players to produce the goods with promotion and relegation introduced to the competition.

“It was a tough season for us last year. I thought we had a group of players that were capable of performing better than they ultimately did, so it was disappointing int he end,” said Williams.

“It’s great tot start at home and, given we lost twice to Glantaf last season, there is plenty of incentive to right some wrongs from last year and give our season a great start. We’ve been working harder than ever before in the gym and on the training ground to ensure we improve.

“It will be a great experience for the boys to play at Parc Eirias. It is a great surface that’s conducive for running rugby.

“We know it is going to be a battle for survival this year. That’s good in many ways because it will bring out a different pressure in game management.

“All the players realise they are not only playing for the College, but potentially playing for contracts. They are in the second year of 1st XV rugby and they know that if they play well they can go on to play in the Premiership for RGC or professional rugby for anyone else.

“George North is s a shining example of what can be achieved from someone growing up in North Wales and we’re delighted to have a former student, Afon Bagshaw, helping us out this season. Afon is another great example, having played for Wales U20, Wales Sevens and RGC, and he is a role model for these young players.”

Last season’s beaten finalists, Coleg Y Cymoedd start with a home tie against Gower College, while Llandovery College host Cardiff & Vale College.

Welsh Schools and Colleges League – Round 1
Wednesday, 13 September (2.30pm kick-off)
Llandovery College v Cardiff & Vale College
Coleg Y Cymoedd v Gower College
Neath Port Talbot College v Whitchurch HS (The Gnoll, Neath)
Pembroke Schools v Gwent College
Coleg Llandrillo v Ysgol Glantaf   (Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay)

Teams

Llandovery College v Cardiff & Vale College
Llandovery College: TBC
C&VC: Anthony Lamerton; Jack Dixon, Max Cunnington, Jac Roberts, Cain Sutton; Jake Beetham, Josh Nolan; Connor Brooks, Owen Harvey, Dylan Nelson, Tent Jones, Anthony Cox, Arron Churchill, James Bartlett (captain), Reuben Williams
Reps: Luc Williamson, Ellis Simon, Barney Langton, Cameron Roy, Elis Reed, Cavell Sinclair, Ioan Williams, Evan Thomas

Coleg Y Cymoedd v Gower College
Teams TBC

Pembroke College v Gwent Gollege
Pembroke College: Gwent College: Luke Shore; Deon Smith, Duan Thomas, Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser; Evan Lloyd, Dylan Davies; Nathan Evans, Will Griffiths, Taylor Hansen, Llewi Maclean, Dylan Shorthouse, Matthew Jefferies, Callum Barton
Reps: Leo Williams, Kyan Best, Morgan Thomas, Adam Young, Lewis Ryan, Ethan Clayden
Coleg Gwent Cross Keys: Nathan Evans, Will Griffiths, Taylor Hansen, Llewi Maclean, Dylan Shorthouse, Matthew Jefferies, Callum Barton, Dylan Davies; Evan Lloyd, Joel Whitcombe, Duane Thomas, Ewan Rosser, Deon Smith, Luke Shore
Replacements: Ryan Best, Morgan Thomas, Adam Young, Lewis Ryan, Ethan Clayden, Scott Bowden, Jack Gillard Leo Williams

Neath College v Whitchurch HS
Neath College: Dewi Cross; Frankie Jones, Bradley Roderick, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Kyle Jones;  Luke Scully (captain), Iwan Temlett; Callum Evans, Garin Lloyd, Tom Sly, Ben Heywood, Ioan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Will Pope, Jac Morgan
Reps: Scott Mahoney, Jae Key, Sam Michael, Alex Morris, Ki Morgan
Whitchurch HS: Will Young; Sam Gasston, Owen Walrond, Ruari O’Flynn, Matt Bennett; Nat Ahmed, Morgan James; Nathan Williams, Harry Boxall, Tom Vanstone, Lewis Jameson (captain), Emyr Jones, George Riley, Nathan Crothers
Reps: Will Dungey, Ethan Cowan, Ashley Power, Ewan John, Jake MacPherson, Harri Hill, Tom Powell

Coleg Llandrillo v Ysgol Glantaf
Coleg Llandrillo: Sam Earl-Jones; Bailey Rae, Rhys Henderson, Mathew Buchanan, Peter Jones; Sam Rogers, Andrew Mcminimee; Will Sanderson, Dillon Edwards, Shaun Thomas, Jake Bamber, Oscar Crowe, Tom Lydford, Shaun Owen, Leon Shaw
Reps: Deio Terfel, Tomos Walker, Liam Davies, Carwyn Owen, Kai Lewis, Owen Randell, James Andrew, Pedr Jones
Glantaf: Ioan Davies; Tomi Owens, Drew Stephens, Jay Jones, Iwan Burrows; Jake Hillman, Aled Evans; Adam Conway, Jake O’shea, Cai Davies, Gruffydd Roberts, Teddy Williams, Ffinli Barber,  Rhys Morgans, Dylan Rigby
Reps: Matthew Lincoln, Rhys Mckenzie, Cadan Manley, Dylan Maidment, Tom Callow, Dan Thomas,  Chris Paddison
 

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